Second Chance Love

“Oh shit,” I exclaimed, looking up at him. “I’m so sorry.”

It was only then that I locked stares with enticing hazel eyes. I’d never seen an eye color quite like his before. They were mesmerizing, luring me in without even trying.

“This is great! Get together, you two!”

Our gazes shifted toward the same voice that made me bump into him in the first place. Feeling shy, my cheeks blushed with heat.

“Caleb, pull her toward you!”

He glanced over at me, grinning, taking in my flushed expression.

“Can I?”

Oh my God. Even his voice was dark and dreamy.

“Can you what?” I blurted, instantly feeling like an idiot.

He smiled, showing off his perfectly straight white teeth.

I wonder if he wore braces?

“Can I grab you?”

“Grab me?”

He nodded toward the cameraman.

“Oh, right! Yes, sure, I mean, of course, you can grope me.” I shook my head, dumbfounded at how ridiculous I was being. “I mean, of course, you can grab me.”

He chuckled and reached around my stomach. In one strong hold, he tugged my body into the crevice of his arm, right against his muscular chest.

I gasped slightly, not expecting him to be so forward. He didn’t let me go either. His hand stayed firmly grasped on my hip. I had no idea what to do with my own, as it awkwardly hung in front of us.

The scent of his whiskey breath assaulted my personal space as he leaned over into my ear and whispered, “You can grab me too, but I could go for the groping as well.”

I faintly chuckled, getting lost in the sound of his voice. I couldn’t move—I was barely breathing. When I didn’t react fast enough, he grabbed my hand and laid it on his chest.

“Perfect!” the cameraman hollered, snapping a polaroid of us.

The flash brought my attention back to the cameraman, but it was too late. He’d already taken the photo.

“Here you go,” he said, handing me the picture.

The image came into focus, revealing a handsome-looking Caleb, smiling directly at the camera, while I stared up at him all doe-eyed and infatuated. You could see it clear as day.

“Ugh,” I groaned, feeling embarrassed. “That’s a horrible photo.”

Caleb snatched it out of my grasp, stating, “It’s mine now.”

I nervously chuckled, realizing I was still in his embrace. I watched as he slid the picture inside his suit jacket.

Was he really going to keep it? Why?

I was the first to pull away, immediately feeling the loss of his warmth and smell of his cologne.

“Let me buy you a drink,” he offered, smiling at me again.

“I’m only eighteen. I mean … I’m almost nineteen, though.”

“Then let me buy you a Shirley Temple...” Cocking his head to the side, he silently asked me for my name.

“Evie. Evie Monroe.”

“Is that a yes, Evie Monroe?”

I smiled, knowing this guy was going to be my kryptonite.

Chapter 4

Evie

I nodded, easing the anxiety of feeling like an idiot. I was confident he was as attracted to me as I was to him.

Caleb didn’t hesitate as he grabbed my hand and led me to the corner of the bar. The bartender took his order instantly even though there was still a crowd of people waiting to order drinks.

“Do you have some sort of pull or something?”

“You could say that.” He grinned. “I’m alumni to this fraternity.”

“Oh, that would make you…”

“Twenty-five. Almost twenty-six.”

“Wow.”

“Does that make me old?”

I giggled, feeling a little brazen. “Ancient.”

He chuckled. “Is that right?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Does that make me too ancient for you?”

“No.” I smiled, playfully joking, “I actually have daddy issues.”

“I see… So you should come with a warning label? Is that your red flag?”

“No, my red flag is flirting with old men.” I winked.

“Lucky for me then.” He smiled and grabbed our drinks from the bartender. “Add it to my tab.”

The guy nodded.

“Do you want the cherry?” I asked as he handed me my Shirley Temple, pulling it out of the glass. “I don’t like it.”

With a mischievous expression, he leaned forward and bit the cherry from between my fingers. I watched in awe, thinking it was odd he was going to eat the stem too.

After a few seconds, I questioned, “What’s your red flag?” before taking a sip of my cocktail.

He didn’t falter in replying, “I love to eat pussy.”

I choked on my drink, causing him to laugh again.

I tried to recover quickly, clearing my throat. “And that’s a bad thing why?”

I never expected what happened next. He pulled the cherry stem out of his mouth, showing me it was now in a knot.

My eyes widened as he answered, “Women fall in love with me.”

“I can see why. That’s a pretty impressive magic trick you have up your sleeve. Does that mean you’re a one-time kind of ride?”

“No, by all means you can ride me all night.”

I scoffed out a snicker. “I don’t know if you’re saying this to shock me or you’re being serious.”