I couldn’t stop the laugh that came out. She was goofy. “Lean on the bar. Put your arms there, lean forward a little bit, and tilt your head.”
“Oh. That’s much better. Yes. Like this?” She did what I said, the movement causing her tank top to drop in the front. Mack had nice tits. I usually saw her in sports bras or working out, and that hid the curves spilling out right now.
She stared at me, her brows furrowed.Shit.She’d asked a question. “Yes, much better.”
She ran a finger over her lip as she said, “Can I buy you a shot, buddy?”
“Don’t say buddy.” I laughed again. Three laughs in one night. 3L1N. “No dude wants to be called buddy.”
She groaned and rested her forehead on the wooden top. Her tank top dipped low in the back, so the movement showcased all her back muscles, and a wave of appreciation washed over me. Mack was talented as hell, strong, and a kickass athlete.
“My summer playbook is dumb,” she mumbled. “I can’t believe I agreed to this.”
I couldn’t either, but I learned early on with Lo that sometimes my opinion wasn’t needed. “Chin up, Mack. You can do this. Do the lean on the bar, hold my gaze, and ask if you can buy me a shot.”
She ran her hand over her hair, a blue ring on her thumb catching my eye. I wanted to ask about it, but she did as I said. “Hey, can I buy you a drink? I couldn’t stop staring at your eyes and figured a drink was an easy way to see them up close.”
Her normal chipper voice turned husky. Her cheeks pinkened at the tops, and she wet her bottom lip as her gaze dropped to my mouth. My stomach tightened as a bolt of interest pulled me toward her. This wasMack.My sister’s best friend, the tomboy, the soccer star, the girl who could probably outrun me. Her cloudy blue eyes widened the longer I stared, and I coughed to ground myself.
“Killed it.” I exhaled, worry churning in my gut. It had been so damn long since I felt anything like attraction that a simple, dorky pickup line worked. It wasn’t Mack. It was my long-lost libido coming back.
“Really?” She beamed. “That was okay?”
I nodded. The tequila shot hit me, the nice buzz easing the tension in my shoulders. “Mack, if you aren’t comfortable, you really don’t have to do this.”
“That’s the thing, Romano.” She chewed the inside of her cheek, her attention moving from my face to the TV in the bar. “I’ve played it safe for so long. I’ve only done things that make me comfortable. It’s time I pushed myself off the field. This is my final summer before professional soccer becomes my life.I’m doing the list they come up with. Plus, we’re all working through stuff, and you should’ve seen how happy the girls were to get on board with this. You should have one too, you know. Before you have your senior season here and get drafted. Life will be different. Now, wish me luck. I think I want the guy in the orange backwards hat. I’m a sucker for that look.”
She pushed off without sparing me a glance. The muscles in her back rippled as she moved about twenty feet toward some dude in a hat. I watched her. How could I not? If the guy said anything to make her upset, I’d intervene. Someone had to keep her safe. She was a pretty blonde with a heart of gold, who was too dang trusting.
Trust.
Betrayal.
And there went my mood.
Talking with Mack had distracted me more than I realized, but now my mind returned to the fall, and my twisted feelings of anger and sadness warped my personality once more. I ordered another shot, my max absolutely two because I never wanted to lose control again, and saw the guy laugh at Mack.
Was he laughingather or with her?
Her familiar cackle carried across the bar, and a sinking, annoyed feeling weighed me down. I liked her practicing with me, and I wanted her to succeed, so what the fuck was this?
“Dean Romano.” A woman slid up next to me, her voice sweet and sultry.
An aggressive wave of perfume had me coughing as I faced my new friend. She had bright red hair, large brown eyes, and a figure that would’ve made my mouth water. She was gorgeous, case closed, no notes. I scanned her head to toe, waiting for the flicker of desire to hit me. It had five minutes ago with Mack, so I knew my libido was trying to get back to normal, but not a thing occurred.
So why had it happened with Mack?
“What are you drinking tonight, handsome?” She scooted closer so our arms touched.
The bartender slid me my shot, and I downed it. “That. Last one for me.”
“Aw, are you sure?”
“Sweetheart, you are beautiful. It’s not you, it’s me, okay?” I tapped the bar, scanning to see Mack and her guy taking a shot together. I swallowed down the strange, unrecognizable feeling and forced a smile. “If you’re wanting some company, find Xavier. He’s new to town and needs to be shown around. I heard he has a thing for redheads too.”
She didn’t spare me a second glance, on to find her next mission. My jaw tightened, the need to warn Xavier gripping me in the throat. He had to be careful about who to trust, who to sleep with. People were vicious. They were cruel.
I’d learned that the hard way.
