That has her laughing, and I laugh along with her as we both lean against the table, the sounds of the party overwhelming our laughter.
“I had that coming,” she says between her laughter, and I nod.
“You did.”
As my laughter subsides, I look up at the clear dark sky and suck in a deep breath, loving how relaxed I am and how much fun I’m having. The party is in full swing; people are everywhere and music is blasting. There is no way I can get to know her here. Also, there are people waiting for the table, so now the question is where do we go? Since I know suggesting my room will get me shot down quicker than a slap shot, I look around for a quieter spot. I see that only two people are by the bonfire, and I decide that’s where I want to go.
Looking over at her, I say, “No, really, I’ll go get my Jack and some Coke. Meet ya down by the fire.”
She glances over to where I’m looking and nods. “Sure.”
I eye her because for some reason, I have a feeling she’s gonna run.
“You aren’t going to run off, are you?” I ask her cautiously, and she laughs as she shakes her head.
“No, I’ll meet you there.”
“Promise?”
She looks at me, flabbergasted, and I have to say it’s quite cute. “How in the ever-loving fuck would me promising you do anything? We don’t even know each other!”
I smile, looking down as I shrug before glancing back at her. “Sure, but I feel like if you promise something, you won’t go back on it.”
Her hazel eyes soften a bit as her mouth pulls up at the side. “I don’t make a promise I can’t keep.”
“I know. So promise me you’ll be there.”
Holding my gaze for a moment, she then smiles fully at me before nodding. “I promise I’ll wait for you.”
I suck in a deep breath as I get lost in her eyes. It takes everything for me to step back so that I don’t kiss her, but the space doesn’t keep me from saying, “You’re quite possibility the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She blinks, obviously a bit taken aback by my comment, and then scoffs. “I think you’re drunk. I’ll meet you down there.”
She turns before rushing down the stairs, but once her feet hit the stairs, she glances back at me. I smile and she shakes her head, a grin pulling at her lips as she heads toward the fire. I’m not lying. She is the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen, and it’s obvious she doesn’t take compliments well.
She’s…well… She’s something.
I don’t even think there is a word to describe her. I’m sure if I didn’t have seven cups of beer in me, I could find the word, but I’ll do that later. Right now, I need Jack and Coke. As soon as I step away from the table, it’s overrun by guys trying to prove their awesomeness. Someone even yells, “Where you going, Jay? You don’t want to hold your title?”
I laugh as I shake my head. It was Bryan, one of the guys from the team. “Nah, man, got someone who needs all my attention.”
“Pussy,” is his response, and soon I’m getting called that by most of the other guys, but I wave them off, going into the house. I reach into the freezer, getting my bottle and then a couple cans of Coke before grabbing two cups. When I turn, Jude is watching me from the table, his phone in his hand and his brow up.
“Why don’t you just take her to your room?”
I scoff. “She doesn’t want to go there yet.”
“But she will?”
“I don’t know,” I say with a shrug. “I’d like her to.”
“I bet. She’s hot but a ballbuster.”
“True,” I say. “But I like it.”
He laughs and says, “Whatever helps you relax.”
I smile as I head out the door and down the stairs to the bonfire. Baylor could definitely help me relax. Hell, she already has.