Page 13 of Riley

But I barely knew Eric, and I certainly didn’t want to come off as one of those assholes who just took things without asking.

Eric clicked his tongue for a moment, before speaking. From this angle, I could feel the heat of his breath on my neck, the scent of whiskey and beer prevalent from his drinks earlier.

“Give me your phone,” he commanded.

Every bone in my body, including the unruly one throbbing against my briefs stood at attention.

Because it wasn’t what he said, it washowhe said it.

With authority, with demand. It was the sexiest tone I’d ever heard a man use, and it made me want to drop to my knees on his fucking porch.

Maybe the smutty audiobooks were warping my brain.

Wordlessly, I drew my phone from my pocket, handing it to him. My hands were sweaty as he pulled it from me, his fingers grazing over my knuckles, sending fresh jolts of electricity racing through my veins.

I watched the light fall on his face, my heart in my throat. He tapped away furiously before handing me back my phone with a stoic gaze. I had a good amount of height on him, and I couldn’t deny that the way he lookedupat me, his tongue darting out to lick his lips, his bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief, made me feel as if I could melt into a puddle on his porch.

“Well, if we’re going to do this, we should probably have a little fun with it. So, next time you want to stay out past your bedtime Cinderella, give me a call,” he said as he turned around, inserted his keys in the lock, and then left me standing there, hard and wanting in a state of blissful confusion as I stared at his number on my phone. Conveniently written in asEric Olsenwith a legit eggplant emoji.

What was the eggplant supposed to symbolize again?

CHAPTER 5

Riley

“You definitely need to call him,”Chris said, swiveling in my chair with his venti cold brew clutched in his fist. The scent of bitter coffee filled the room.

I stared at my phone on my desk in front of him, my arms crossed. “Yeah, but... what do I say?” I asked, my eyebrows furrowing.

Chris rolled his eyes. “You are hopeless, Riley, you know that right?” he said, bouncing his foot against his knee.

Glancing at the clock, I noted we had about fifteen minutes left for our lunch period. Fifteen minutes before a slew of seniors would traipse into my studio and destroy everything.

I swear high school kids are messier than the kindergartners.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I huffed.

“Just ask him out for coffee or something. Surely you are capable of that, and if not, well, I can’t help you there.”

I nibbled at my fingernail, considering his words. Surely I couldtexta man to meet for coffee. It wasn’t like I was asking him to marry me or something.

So why was I so fucking nervous?

“Yeah, coffee sounds good,” I said, swallowing nervously.

Chris smirked at me. “You got a little crush, don’t you?” he said with a laugh.

“I mean, yeah, I guess. He’s attractive and...” I could feel myself heat as the memory of his dark voice, his bright blue eyes, pushed forth. “He’s young,” I settled on that word, whispering it into existence.

Chris’s eyebrows furrowed. “How young?”

“Well, old enough to drink, for starters, but probably too young to know what a payphone is.”

Chris laughed, shaking his head. “And he’s got his own place in Jasper Springs Estates?” Chris whistled. “What is the guy a drug lord or something?”

It was my turn to roll my eyes. “God, I hope not,” I said with a laugh.

“Maybe he’s a high class escort,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

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