Sweetheart?That was quite the change from her walking in and him thinking she was a potential stripper.
He grabbed her glass, and a minute later he placed her cola with no ice in front of her.
“Thank you.”
“Food should be out in a minute.” He eyed her face, slightly smiling when he looked down at her wrist. “You must be Ghost’s girl.”
“She’s not,” Wraith snapped, and he furrowed his brows, glancing back at Cleo.
“Alright, Wraith.” He held up his hand then pointed to Cleo’s arm. “Just figured she was since he bought those here.”
He did? Barry must’ve read her confusion. He hooked his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the counter behind the bar. There was a small rack with similar beaded bracelets.
“Oh, Ghost gave them to me for my birthday. It was a few days ago. But we’re just friends.”
Barry flattened his lips and nodded, side-eyeing Wraith. Then he left to retrieve their order. It may not have been anything fancy but it was the perfect hangover remedy. She didn’t realize how hungry she was until she started eating. She barely took a breath.
Cleo expected Wraith to take her home once they finished eating. Instead, he ordered another beer and was focused on the game on the large screen TV.
“Who are you rooting for? The blue or the green team?”
His lips twitched. “The blue or the green?”
“I don’t know their names. Sports isn’t my thing.”
The corner of his mouth curled. “No shit.”
This was a first. Wraith teasing her.I like it.
“I’ve only been to high school football games.” She paused, twisting her lips. “Actually, only one game. I’m pretty sure I was banned from the rest after I made the mistake of cheering for therival team. But in my defense, both teams were wearing red and white. Being my first game, I couldn’t really tell them apart.”
“No wonder you got your ass banned.”
“It was awful. At first I was just going along with the crowd. When they cheered, I cheered. But toward the end, I thought I had the basics of the game nailed down. The teams were tied, and in the last part they kicked a field goal.” Her face heated. “I jumped up and started screaming while everyone else groaned.”
It was easier to find the humor in the scene years later.
“It was a good game though.” Cleo laughed, reaching out and grasping his leg. They were sitting so close she hadn’t even realized she was doing it until she felt the denim against her palm. Wraith glanced down at his leg, and she pulled her hand onto her own lap, fighting against the rising heat from her chest to her cheeks. They were having such a great time, and she’d ruined it, taking liberties with him. Wraith wasn’t hers.
He looked up at the TV, grabbed his beer in one hand, and slipped his other over her thigh. Warm heat spread throughout her body, zoning straight down to her core. He was the epitome of calm while she was nearing a panic attack. As if he sensed it, his hand massaged over her thigh. She grabbed her glass, chugging the remainder of her cola in hopes it would cool her down.
It wasn’t until the game ended that Wraith called over Barry for the bill. Cleo offered to pay half, but Wraith ignored her. The ride back to Killcreek wasn’t eventful. In fact, she spent the majority of time mulling over everything from lunch. Wraith hadn’t mentioned her attempt at a kiss the other night. But he was different. A little softer. For Wraith. He’d touched her twice which had never happened in the past. Neither had the two of them spending any time alone.
When they pulled up to the clubhouse driveway, disappointment set in. She’d had such a good time with him, Cleo didn’t want it to end.
He parked between Cross’s and Cue’s bikes and shut down the engine. She grabbed his shoulders and got off the bike, takingher helmet off and shaking her hair. It was always a mess after a ride.
“Thanks for taking me out.” She smiled. “It kind of felt like a date.”
The second the words slipped from her mouth, nervous energy raced through her blood.
“I mean, I know it wasn’t. That you wouldn’t take me out on a date.”
Wraith hooked his helmet over his handlebar and rested his arm on his leg. “Why wouldn’t I?”
What?“I just mean, you taking me out isn’t a date, and I know that. I don’t want you to think that treating me to lunch after I tried to kiss you is giving me any weird ideas about us.” She paused, cringing slightly. “Not that I think there’s an us. We’re just friends. I know that.”
Cleo was a rambling mess. She brushed her hair away from her face, prepared to make a quick getaway.
