I look at him, the sincerity in his eyes, the ridiculousness of what he’s suggesting, and something inside me eases just a little. Maybe Icantrust him, at least for this.
“Fine. Let’s go get tested. But if you think this means anything more than what it is, I will kick your ass.”
He grins, pushing himself off the bed and holding out a hand to me. “Noted. Come on. Let’s make this the weirdest date ever.”
SEVENTEEN
We leave the testing facility into the bright late afternoon sun, the Strip buzzing around us, the chaotic energy of tourists and locals blurring together. Hottie stretches his arms over his head, and a grin spreads across his face as he looks at me. “Well, we’re both in the clear. Gotta say, Sparkle, knowing that is hot as fuck.”
I laugh, shaking my head at him. There’s something about him that makes even getting tested for STDs kind of fun. I’m not used to this, to laughing at life, even the shitty parts. But he just rolls with it, no matter how ridiculous the circumstances. And even though my head is still pounding, and I’d kill for a drink, having him here makes it all a little more bearable.
“You know.” I nudge him with my elbow. “Hanging out with you is almost not terrible.”
He lets out a mock gasp, placing a hand over his heart. “Almost not terrible? Damn, I must be doing something right.” He reaches into his pocket with his free hand and pulls out his phone. “Here, give me your number.”
“Why?” I ask warily, almost regretting my positive thoughts about him a second ago.
“How else will you text me for late-night booty calls?” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I can’t help but laugh. Doing sofrees something inside me just enough that I only hesitate for a second before taking his phone, typing in my information quickly, with the nameSparkle,of course, and handing it back to him.
He studies the screen after he takes it, but before I can ask him to text me his number, his phone pings. His expression loses some of its light, his brows furrowing and shoulders slumping as he reads whatever text he received. Hottie sighs as he looks at me, a mix of frustration and apology in his eyes.
“I’ve gotta go do something for my brothers. Should I drive you home first?”
I shake my head, waving him off with a casual smile that feels more forced than I’d like. “Nah, it’s fine. I was actually thinking of grabbing a bubble tea and calling an Uber. Might be nice to enjoy some time alone for a change.” The lie rolls off my tongue easily enough, but inside, that lonely girl screams for him to stay, his sunlight to linger, even as hurt briefly flickers across his face at my easy dismissal.
Internally, I wave that off too. I can’t have him seeing how much I don’t want him to go.
Which is so fucking crazy.
What the hell is he doing to me?
His face shifts, that flash of disappointment disappearing. Then he smooths his expression and nods with a smile that is tighter than all the others he’s had today.
“Okay, baby.” He steps closer, cupping my cheek as he leans in. His lips brush mine gently, and I close my eyes, letting myself sink into it for a second. He pulls back, his forehead resting against mine for a beat. “See you soon,” he whispers, then steps away.
I watch him walk to his bike, disappearing into the crowd, and I let myself smile. The street feels quieter once he’s gone, even with the chaos of Vegas swirling around me. I linger therefor a few seconds longer, watching the world move. People laugh as they pass, their footsteps blending into the steady hum of the city. Then I turn on my heel and head toward the small bubble tea shop down the street, weaving through the crowd as I go.
My mind buzzes with thoughts of him, replaying how his lips brushed mine, and his thumb traced the edge of my jaw.
Fuck, Nova, stop that shit.
The bubble tea shop is bright, and I order my usual and wait, tapping my fingers on the counter to the beat of some pop song playing over the speakers, smiling to myself at the thought of Hottie vibing to the Backstreet Boys on his bike right now. By the time I’ve got the cup in my hand, the memory of his touch is starting to fade, but I work diligently to replace it with the familiar comfort of sugar and caffeine.
So damn good.
Stepping outside, I walk down the Strip and sip my bubble tea, savoring the burst of sweetness. The cold drink helps soothe my headache, and I’m about to lose myself in the joy of tapioca pearls when my phone vibrates. My heart does a traitorous flip when I think Hottie has already texted me, but opening the text from an unknown number makes me realize it’s not Hottie at all.
Unknown Number
Ready for your test today?
Levi?
No, but a friend of his.
Okay?
Thanks for giving out my number like candy, Levi.
