“You think you run everything. I’m not scared of you,” he spits in his face, but Jayden just shrugs.
“Good for you. Bye.”
“Fucking douche,” McCarthy says then before pushing off the bar and heading back to the table.
Looking back at Jayden, I grin. “Now who’s jealous?”
He chuckles as he nods. “Of course, I am. It’s you.”
He says it so simply, like I should have known that, but still my cheeks warm with embarrassment as I wave him off. “Wow, are you drunk?” I ask, and he shrugs.
“A little, but it’s the truth. You’re gorgeous, and I don’t want anyone stepping in, messing up my chances with you.”
Like that would happen. If I can’t commit to liking him, no one else stands a chance.
“Ugh, okay,” I say, shaking my head.
Jayden then rolls his eyes. “Can’t take a compliment to save your ass, can you?”
I smile shyly. “Guess not.”
“Which is crazy because if I told you that you’re the best player I know, you’d agree with me. But I tell you you’re the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever set eyes on, and you get all weirded out.”
My heart stops in my chest as I suck in a deep breath. “Not used to hearing that, I guess.”
“Well, you should be. Someone should tell you that every day.”
Looking over at him, I bite into my lip as he grins back at me, sending me a wink before taking a long pull of his drink.
“You deserve that, you know,” he says and my brows go up.
“What?”
“Someone who will tell you you’re beautiful and then more. You deserve a good guy.” Looking away, I try to control my breathing as he leans toward me, his shoulder touching mine. “You know you don’t have to hide from me. You don’t have to hold back.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I look over at him. His eyes are such a dark shade of green, one that makes me think of pretty, expensive emeralds. Swallowing loudly, I decide to take his advice and not hold back. “You know you scare the living shit out of me, right? And yes, that’s me being honest.”
He nods. “I know, we’ve already determined that. But you have to ask yourself, with me this close to you, what do you want to do?”
When I don’t answer, my eyes falling to his lips, I know what I want. I want to feel his lips on mine, but before I can say that, he says, “I want to kiss you, but I don’t think you’re ready for that. Plus, I’m always worried you’ll kick me in my balls.”
Grinning hard, I start to laugh as I nod. “Maybe.”
“No, no maybe, you’d do it because you don’t want to feel for me. It makes you mad and scares you because you can’t control it. But it’s cool, you know how I feel, so hopefully it will help you figure this out.”
“I do?” I ask, confused by it all. I mean, I know he likes having sex with me, and that he might want to do it again. Oh and that he’s attracted to me, but that’s not really feelings, I guess.
“No?” he asks and I shake my head.
“No,” I say before looking down. “I kinda ran out on you and made up every excuse in the book this afternoon.”
He laughs as he nods. “Yeah, classic Baylor right there, but you know I’m not letting it bother me.”
“You’re not?”
“Nope,” he says, turning to me. His dark eyes are trained on mine as he leans into me. “You’re a planner, you have to weigh out the options, see if I’m worth the risk. And the thing is, I am.”
Shocked by his bluntness, I sputter, trying to get my wits about me, but he goes on, “I told my mom and my brother today that I won’t be a doormat. No matter how much I want to wait around for you to realize I’m worth it, I know I can’t.”