Spencer’s green eyes dance as they skate over me from my face, down to my tennis shoes, and then back up, passing over my skintight black shorts, and stopping for a second on my top.
His lips curl up at the corners as if he’s just now reading the message. One eyebrow quirks upward as he asks, “A paramedic?”
The friend is a good-looking guy. He’s maybe an inch shorter than Jake with a similar muscular build, but while Jake has a 5 o’clock shadow, Spencer’s face is clean-shaven.
“She’s not a paramedic.” Kaleb rolls his eyes. “She’s an idiot. Ignore my sister.” He elbows Jake in the ribs. “We all do, don’t we, bro?”
“Yeah, sure.” Jake’s eyes land on mine again and then dive to the bottom step as if he just remembered he’s not supposed to look at me.
“I’m going to paramedic school as soon as I graduate in May.” I descend the remaining stairs as my tennis shoes thump on the wooden steps. I’m not about to let my brother derail my mission. “And I’m on my way to work out. That’s why I have on perfectly acceptableworkout clothes.” I say the last two words with emphasis because my brother is a moron.
“Dear, be sure to grab a jacket. It’s cold outside.” At least my mother has the decency to hold back from commenting on my shirt. “I’ll be in the kitchen finishing brunch.”
The second she’s out of the room; my brother crosses his arms over his chest. “I hope you’re meeting the girls in that outfit and not going to hang out with some loser.”
“Yes. I’m meeting Bella and Ruby at the gym. We’ve decided to start our New Year’s resolutions a couple of weeks early.”
“It’d better be a private gym at Bella or Ruby’s house.” Jake’s eyes flash with what I’m going to call jealousy as I bite back the smile that’s fighting to bloom across my face.
He always claims that he’s jumping onto my brother’s overprotective bandwagon whenever complaining about what I’m wearing or where I’m going. I’m his pseudo kid sister. But big brothers don’t look at their sisters the way he looks at me.
“No, the gym on Main Street.” It’s the only public gym in town.
“All the guys there are after one thing.” Jake’s hands ball into fists at his sides. “Stalking young girls. Like the old guys at Rusty Nail Tavern.”
“Please….” I swipe my palms on the sides of my shorts. “You act like I can’t handle myself around a bunch of jerks.”
“Jake’s right.” My brother joins so that he’s not left out of the lecture. “The guys at that gym are all in their thirties and forties and preening for barely legal girls. It’s gross. Not to mention, wearing that shirt makes you look immature and cheap. No self-respecting guy would want a girl who’s advertising she’s easy.”
Jake’s eyes narrow. “You’re brother’s not wrong. Your shirt reeks of desperation, and those shorts are a clear invitation for something you don’t want to ask for.”
My eyes sting at his jab. Did I read everything wrong over the summer? That moment on the front porch. When we were alone. Our legs touched. He leaned closer. But then, he left. A pain jabs me in the chest.
“Go change.” Kaleb points toward the stairs. “Put on something decent that covers more than your ass.”
“Guys….” Spencer waves his hand toward me. “I think Em’s outfit is fine for the gym. I see girls wearing clothes like this all the time to work out or run around town.”
“Her name is Emily, and this is none of your business.” Jake glares at his friend. “You don’t knowEmilylike we do. She’s a tomboy. Not a girly girl.” He emphasizes my given name again as if to make a point.
I swallow over the lump in my throat. This is the first time that Jake has flat-out insulted me, and I don’t like it. It’s not like we’re best friends or anything, but we’ve always gotten along.
I blatantly shift my attention to Spencer. “Thank you. At least there’s one decent guy in this house.”
“You’re welcome.” He winks as he shifts his stance, emphasizing the thickness of his thighs in his gray sweatpants. If only I were interested in him rather than Jerkface Jake over here.
“Butt out, Spencer.” Jake returns his attention to me as his eyes rake over me once again. “This is what I’m talking about.” He waves his hand dismissively toward Spencer. “Spencer has a different girl every weekend. That’s not the type of guy you’re interested in, but that’s the kind of guy who’s going to notice you.”
I slap my hand on my hips. “Seriously? You both think I’m a clueless child? I’m eighteen. Don’t tell me the eighteen-year-old girls you’ve hung out with were naïve and had no idea what men wanted to do with them.”
Jake’s face is red as he openly glares at me. He’s dead wrong if he thinks I’m a clueless little girl. I know all about sex and the guys who push girls to put out. Just because I’m still a virgin doesn’t mean I haven’t had to junk punch more than one boy who thought he could take what he wanted.
But they’re right about one thing. I am naïve. I foolishly thought Jake was interested in me. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
“By the way, since we’ve not been formally introduced, my name is Spencer.” The friend shoves out his hand and stepsforward. “You must be Emily. Jake has told me so much about you.”
“Really?” Somehow, I don’t think it was complimentary. I accept his greeting and shiver when his calloused palm caresses mine. He tugs me slightly closer and rubs his thumb along the back of my hand before letting go.
I’m not going to lie. The man exudes sex appeal, so it’s impossible to ignore him. Even though Jake is right, Spencer isn’t the type of guy I’m interested in. I’m looking for a long-term commitment, not a spot in someone’s rotation.
