‘Nope,’ I reply, shaking my head.‘I mean, I’ve kissed a guy or two out in a nightclub before, but it never went anywhere further.’
‘Have you dated before?’he asks, eyebrows inching further up.
My face heats up.‘Sort of.’
‘Sort of?’
‘I was friends with someone online and it sort of developed into something more, but we never got to meet in person.Every time we tried, he bailed, so I ended things.It doesn’t count.’I exhale, averting my eyes.‘I’m a little traumatised by the experience, to be honest.Then there was a blind date a friend set me up on.The entire thing was awkward.It barely lasted a month.’
‘Why awkward?’
‘Neither of us were outgoing or confident people, so it was a constant battle of who was going to make the first move and most of the time, neither of us did.’I release a quiet laugh, shaking my head.‘I cringe thinking back to how awkward the both of us were and how difficult it was trying to have a conversation with him.’
‘Confidence does help,’ Zayden agrees, sweeping a hand through his hair.I can’t help but notice how his bicep flexes deliciously as he does.‘I’m not sure I’d say I’m confident, I just do things without thinking much about them beforehand.’He tilts his head.‘Impulsive, one might say.’
‘I’m the exact opposite of that,’ I admit, a sheepish smile on my face.‘I’m in the process of learning to be more spontaneousand adventurous, though.That’s why I’m out tonight.Trying to put myself out there.’
His gaze moves to mine and he assesses me for a moment.His eyes dip over me, and wherever I feel them on my body, my skin heats.
‘Good for you,’ he nods.‘That can be a hard thing to do.’
‘It certainly doesn’t come naturally to me.’
‘You seem to do all right,’ he says.‘I’m sure you don’t have a hard time securing a date.’
My heart flutters again, and a nervous laugh spills from my lips.‘I wish that were true.I rarely put myself out there.Then I do, and this happens.’I shake my head, taking a long swig of my drink, enjoying the coolness on my tongue.
‘It’s all part of it, I’m afraid.The good and the bad.You just have to roll with it and keep on moving forward.’
Nodding, I smile.‘That’s a good point.’
Hands clamp down on Zayden’s shoulders, and his friend lightly shakes him as he leans forward, coming between the two of us momentarily.
‘You ready?’the guy asks, staring down at Zayden.
Zayden finishes his drink in one long gulp, placing it down on the bar.My stomach sinks slightly.I’ve been enjoying talking to him.
‘Yeah,’ Zayden replies, shrugging out of his friend’s hold and getting to his feet.He turns his attention to me.‘We’re heading to a party off campus, over in Lakeswood.You want to come?’
I blink at him.His friend glances at me but doesn’t seem to care that I was just invited to tag along.My mouth opens and closes a few times as I try to think.
‘Come on,’ Zayden encourages, a playful smirk dancing around his lips.‘Let’s go have some fun.’
Meeting his eyes, I nod.
‘Sure,’ I smile, finishing my drink and getting to my feet.‘Why not?’
Playing beer pong with my best friend’s brother, in a house I don’t know, owned by people I’ve never met, is not where I thought I’d end up this Friday night.The loud music seems to rattle my brain as people shout and laugh.
My vision blurs slightly as the lights wildly dart around the room.I sway a little as I try to aim.Zayden’s hard chest presses against my back as his arm moves to touch my hand.He guides it into the direct line of the cup.
‘There,’ he murmurs.His hot breath fans across my earlobe, causing a shiver to inch down my spine.‘You got this.’
Taking a steadying breath, I jerk my wrist and the ball flings forward, landing daintily in the cup in front of people.A grin takes over my face and I spin, beaming up at Zayden.He looms over me – not that this is an uncommon occurrence for me – with his sloping grin and messy hair.I don’t think I’ve found a guy this attractive for a long time.It’s a shame he’s so painfully far out of my league that we practically aren’t even in the same universe.
‘See?’Zayden grins, raising a palm towards me I slap mine to it.‘Told you that you could do it.’
‘Only with your help,’ I laugh.‘I am quite possibly the most uncoordinated person you will ever meet.’
