Page 22 of The Playbook

“Get back in the car, and I’ll take you. It’s not safe to walk. I promise not to say anything assholish the rest of the way to your house. Besides, it’s cold out.”

She paused for a minute, clearly mulling it over. I let out a breath of relief as she pulled the door open and slid back inside. Once she was safely belted in, I maneuvered back onto the street and drove in the direction of her house.

“I know you said you wanted to go home, but how about we get some pizza with your friends?” I ventured carefully. “They’re waiting for us.”

Her stomach grumbled and I shot her a look. Her cheeks flushed pink before she nodded.

“Fine. But you don’t need to stay. I know you have Piper’s party to get to and all that. It’s cool if you just drop me off. I’ll get a ride with Noah.”

“Your boyfriend?”

She wrinkled her nose at me. “Noah isn't my boyfriend. Don’t you think if he was, I’d be with him right now and not you?”

“Does that mean you want me then?” I teased, feeling relieved.

She rolled her eyes at me. “In your damn dreams.”

I took the chance. “Why not?”

“What?”

“Why couldn’t I be your boyfriend?”

She let out a laugh that shook her entire body, her head back, her exquisite neck on full display. I immediately imagined what it would be like to kiss her neck, her jaw, her lips. Internally, I groaned at the prospect. Then I quickly pushed the thought out of my head.

Focus, Walker. One step at a time.

“Do you have a concussion? Did you get hit too hard tonight?” she asked after she’d quieted down.

“No.” I frowned over at her.

“Listen, I’m not one of you guys. I don’t even want to be. Plus, I’m definitely not your type.”

“How do you know you’re not my type?” I pressed, curious of her answer.

“Well, I’m not supermodel pretty like Nikki. All of my body is real. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t rise from the bowels of hell.” She ticked off each point on her fingers.

“That’s not my type,” I scoffed, slightly offended she thought so.

“Whatever. We’re just going in circles here. Your tongue was massaging her windpipe earlier.” She snorted and shook her head.

“Listen, I just like to have fun. Nikki isn’t my type. I mean… uh… I have lots of types. I like hot girls for sure. But I also like smart, funny, and slightly weird girls as well.”

She pursed her lips, not saying anything for a second. “You’re calling me fucking weird?”

“Th-That wasn’t what I meant. I meant you’re different, unique.” Shit, I wasn’t getting any of this right. I was fucking it all up. I realized I was coming off like an asshole. It was no wonder she wasn’t taking the bait.

“You’re an amazing drummer,” I blurted out as I parked my Jeep in a space at Babbles.

“What?” She looked at me in surprise.

“You’re an amazing drummer,” I repeated. “I honestly had no clue you could play like that. It’s incredible. Really.”

“Thank you,” she replied, surprising me.

I figured she’d roll her eyes again. Instead, my compliment was met with a scarlet blush of her cheeks that had my heart pumping fast.

“You’re welcome.”

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