I wanted to yell at her, demand an explanation. Was she intentionally angering me in a head game of sorts? Had I upset her, and she wanted revenge? I didn’t appreciate that at all. Not with a big game Friday.
Fuck this.
I huffed, the sound drawing their attention.
“Hey, Luca,” she said in her cheery, sing-song voice. “Oh, I like your sweatshirt.”
Her gaze trailed me head to toe, but instead of the rush of heat like I normally got when she did that, uneasy, uncomfortable knots of tension formed in my shoulders.
“I’m leaving,” I blurted out.
Don’t look back.Marching upstairs, regret had my shoulders slouching. She wasn’t shit to me, just a hookup buddy. I didn’t do feelings, even ones like anger or jealousy.
She didn’t want to talk to me? Fine. She could talk to everyone else for all I cared. I had football to worry about and my grandma! Yeah. I’d call her, remind myself of the goal. The endgame.
Scoffing, I rubbed my temples as I entered my room. I’d call my grandma and work out. Yes, that’d pass time until my mood improved.
It didn’t.
I did a thirty-minute set in my room, but that only made me angrier. Not at Lorelei though but at myself. I’d done this. I put myself in this position. I had no one to be mad at but me.
A low whistle came from my door, Lorelei leaned against the doorframe as she wiggled her eyebrows. “Hey sexy.”
“What do you want?”
Those dark brows rose three inches as she tilted her head. “Um, are you okay?”
“Fine.”
“Oh, are you?” Her gaze tightened, and she crossed her arms.
She still wore her hood, and it made her so fucking cute I couldn’t stand it.
I stared at her hard, my pulse racing through my veins. I had enough adrenaline to run a mile. I knew the rules, the consequences of developing feelings for her, yet they’d crept in, and I needed distance. “You here to fuck or what?”
“Wow, someone’s being a butthole today.” Her initial surprise molded to hurt. “I’m not hereto fuck,but I wanted to share some awesome news. Clearly,clearlythat’s not happening.”
She didn’t give me a chance to respond before she was out the door, taking her peach lotion with her. It’d be way easier to stay mad if she didn’t smell so damn good.
“Wait. What’s the good news?”
Did she get the internship? Had something happened?
“No.” She spun around, her finger in the air. “You don’t behave like an asshole and get the good parts of my day. I asked if you were okay, to which you saidfine,so you can sit with your attitudealone.Why don’t you fuck your hand if you need it that badly?”
She let out a sigh, one that sounded like she was done with me. It was the same disgust she used when she talked about her ex. It was like a cold hand reached into my throat, fisted my heart, and yanked it out with the force of a linebacker.
“Lorelei.” I jumped up, not caring that sweat dripped all over me. She shut her bedroom door, the click of the lock like a slap in the face. “Can we talk, please? I’m… sorry.”
She flung it open, the movement making me lose balance. Her face gave nothing away, her skin bare and flush and perfect. She'd taken her hood off, and her hair was in braids, making me want to tug on them and pull her into my arms. How had this become so confusing? I was madat her,but I was now apologizing.
“This is why I don’t do this,” I said, out loud and instead of my head. I froze, wishing I could take it back.
“Dowhat?”
“That’s not how it sounded. I mean, Christ.” I scrubbed my face. “I’m shit at this.”
“I don’t even know whatthisis but yes, you’re the worst at it.”
