Dirty Curve

“This could take a hot minute, Meyer.” Coop winces.

“You guys, seriously stop.”

“But I’m your wing woman.” Bianca stomps.

“B, go.”

Cooper doesn’t let her protest again but drags her out the door and then it’s just me.

Roaming the room, I say hi to a few people I recognize, and engage in light conversation when I’m drug into one by a girl with purple hair and breath that smells of a good time.

Every step I take, though, I’m keenly aware of the shadow that follows.

Curious, I leave the crowded living areas, cross the threshold into the kitchen, and like I thought it might, that shadow comes closer, blanketing my body from behind.

I reach for the handle on the sliding door, but another’s hand falls just above mine, holding it in place.

I look up and over my shoulder, finding a black hat pulled low and a smirk too deep to be honorable. His eyes are probably worse, full of innuendo, but I can’t see them behind the dark bill he’s hid them under.

The guy is so tall, towers over me with ease, and smells of sun and sea breeze, of summer nights. His scent is fresh and inviting.

And then the beast speaks, and I can feel the gravelly tone down to my toes.

Yeah, this man’s a scorned girl’s weakness.

Or best friend.

Probably the first.

When that smirk of his grows, I blink, blush, and squint, remembering right then he had spoken, but what I don’t remember is hearing a word.

“Sorry ... what?”

His chuckle is low. “I said, hi.”

“Hi,” I deadpan, tipping my head slightly. “You’ve been following me around all night, and ‘hi’ is the best you’ve got?”

“So, you did know I was tailing you.”

“You’re ... kind of hard to miss.”

“I never miss.” He grins.

“Okay ...” I chuckle, and this time, when I go to step out the back door, he lets me.

As I thought he might, he follows.

“If you knew I was watching you, why didn’t you call me out?” He stumbles slightly, laughing at himself when his arm darts out to grip the patio post.

I fight a grin. “I figured if you had something to say” —I turn to face him, leaning against the fence edge— “you’d get to it eventually.”

“What if I wanted to say I think you’re gorgeous?”

“Then I guess you’d have to repeat it to someone else, because that’s not a line that would work on me.”

He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, his smile wide. “Yeah, and what line would?”

I smother my own smile, dropping my gaze to the grass for a moment. When I look up, it’s only with my eyes, and I give a small shrug. “How about a real one?”

“A real one.” He tests the thought out. “’Cause you’re gorgeous isn’t real enough for you, all right,” he teases, and then he reaches up, spinning his hat backward on his head, finally revealing his full face to me.

I’m struck, my words, if I had any, clogging my throat as riveting, ocean-blue eyes meet mine. My pulse leaps in my chest as recognition sets in.

This is what Bianca meant when she said the great white.

This is Tobias Cruz, Avix University’s new superstar pitcher. I recognize him from the posters.

He’s supposed to be this major party boy, but if that’s true, why is he out here with me instead of in there with the rest of his crew?

Tobias starts walking farther out in the yard, and when I don’t move, he pauses, glancing at me over his shoulder. “You comin’?”

“To the darkest corner of a house that isn’t mine with a complete stranger? No.” I laugh. “I don’t think so.”

He turns, now walking backward so he can face me.

“Except I’m not a stranger. You know my name, that’s why you haven’t asked for it, and about you not thinking so ...” He cocks his head, his words slurred, “I get the feeling you didn’t come here tonight to think, but go ahead, gorgeous girl, correct me if I’m wrong.”

I run my tongue along my teeth and this time, my grin breaks free. “You’re not wrong, but I’d have to be blind not to recognize you from the posters, so that’s not very fair.”

“Forget all that.” He shrugs. “What about the last part ...” He trails off, a curious gleam in his crazy blue eyes.

Something pulls at my muscles, but I manage to answer. “You’re not wrong about that either.”

“Then there it is.” He holds his arms out wide in playful banter. “That was a whole lot of real. Do I get lucky now?” His smile couldn’t be wider.

Laughter escapes me and he joins in, jerking his chin.

“Come on, gorgeous girl. Take a walk with me.”

He might just be the last person I should be walking with tonight, but it’s not like he knows this or ever will. It might be a really bad decision to join him, but I’ve made a crap ton of those lately, so what’s one more?