When I finally get enough courage to look up from my feet I realize it’s way more than just the few friends I was expecting. My palms manage to grow even clammier.
His “crew” takes up the whole back half of the diner. There’s ten of them! Ten! I know because I counted them. Twice! My legs stop moving on their own accord. My heart pounds in my chest and I think I feel a little dizzy.Shit.I’m sure I look like a freaking deer in headlights right now and that’s exactly how I feel. Caught in a bright light with nowhere to run and danger up ahead.
I feel his fingertips graze across the small of my back before his breath whispers across my ear. “I promise they don’t bite.”
I work to keep my mouth as still as possible as I whisper out, “I don’t know if I told you this but I’m super awkward in social settings.”
His soft chuckle helps to ease a little of the tension growing in my chest. “You don’t say.”
I huff, something between a half laugh, half cough comes out. “This is all your fault.”
His chuckle isn’t as soft anymore. He stands up straight and throws his arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his side. “How so?” he asks as he starts leading me towards the table.
“I cannot be held responsible for what comes out of my mouth tonight.”
“And I should be?” he asks with mirth.
“I just want to make sure you know, in case you try to change your mind and not be friends with me after this.This is your fault.”
“Just be yourself and they will love you.”
My nose scrunches up, “Everyone always says that, but they don’t mean it.”
He turns his head towards me. His voice soft and sincere, “Well, I mean it.”
My heart warms and the nervous flutters in my belly finally settle just a bit. Before I can respond we reach the table.
I feel ten pairs of eyes swivel our way and my nerves kick right back up.
“Who’s your friend, Rowan?” a pretty brunette with glasses and a kind smile asks.
“Guys, this is Millie. Millie these are the knuckleheads I call my friends. That’s Lily and her boyfriend Luka, who also happens to be my BFF—”
“I thought I was your best friend!” a guy on the other side of the booth interrupts.
Rowan rolls his eyes and chuckles, “In your dreams Wyatt boy.” Rowan dramatically clears his throat. “I was saying that’s Luka, my best friend and certified homeboy. Next to him is Beau, Nash, Tessa, Lennon, Aiden and finally Stella and Wyatt, who so rudely interrupted me.”
He keeps an easy smile on his face, but I don’t miss how his body tenses up next to mine. His arm is still draped casually over my shoulders but his fingers dig into my skin.
I lift one hand up and push my fingers together slightly bending my hand and wave.
I feel his chin graze the top of my forehead as he leans his head down towards me and whispers, “Are you giving them the princess wave?”
Shit! I am! What is wrong with me?I groan, and respond just loud enough for him to hear. “I told you I suck at this.”
“Should I start calling youPrincess Daredevil?”
I suck in a sharp breath. “Don’t you dare.”
He really laughs then, some of the earlier tension leaves his body. I can tell because he no longer has a death grip on my freaking arm. I don’t know what that’s all about, but I’ll have to make sure I ask him later.
I don’t think it’s about me being here because his tone and easygoing vibe didn’t change until he introduced Stella or was it Stacy? And Wyatt? I internally huff, I’m going to need a flow chart to keep up with all these people.
“I kind of like it.”
He pulls over a chair from a neighboring table and places it in an empty spot on the giant makeshift table his friends are at. He gestures for me to sit as he turns around and grabs another chair for himself, putting it right next to mine.
It’s oddly quiet around the table as everyone watches us sit. I feel my skin start to itch from the attention. It’s difficult to keep my body from going into panic mode.
