Page 12 of The Chemistry of Us

“Who’s the girl?” she blurted out of nowhere.

I grinned, realizing she referred to the chick sitting at our table, too close to comfort next to me.

I didn’t hesitate to call her out. “Jealous?”

“You wish, buddy. I’m not one of your play toys.”

“That you aren’t,” I replied with a hard edge.

“What do you want anyway?”

“Can’t a guy just say hello to a new friend?”

“We’re friends now? When did that happen? I can already tell that I don’t like you.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, calling her bluff. “That really hurts.” I smirked, holding my hand over my heart in a dramatic gesture that had yet to fail me.

“You’re full of it.”

“And you’re beautiful,” I asserted, not missing a beat.

“So this is how it works, huh? I don’t know if I should be offended or flattered that you’re already hitting on me.”

I chuckled, a throaty sound escaping my lips. “If I had to choose, I’d prefer the latter.”

“Well, thank God you aren’t, then.”

I slowly nodded. “Is this how you’re going to play it? Because I’m trying to be a gentleman here, but your sassy little mouth is making me think twice.”

“A gentleman?” She looked around, pretending to see if someone else was there. “You might want to look it up in a dictionary because you’re doing it all wrong.”

I tugged on the end of her hair before we were interrupted by Steve, a fucking dumbass who had no business trying to get inher panties. Thomas called me back over to our table, so I left her with him. It was all I could do.

For far too long, I had to sit there and endure his unsubtle longing looks for her. He devoured her body with his eyes, and his constant touches made me want to break his fucking fingers. He just wouldn’t stop, and I was minutes away from being the person to stop him.

Our eyes connected several times. It was like she was doing it to get a reaction out of me. I couldn’t be around them much longer before I snapped. Jealousy washed over me, and the new emotion wasn’t lost on me. This wasn’t who I was or even wanted to be. This wasn’t me, yet I liked the challenge of wanting something and not getting it.

I watched her get up and make her way across the room into the hallway. Once again, before I knew it, my feet were moving forward. I found myself following her as she made her way to the restroom. I was grateful it was secluded in the back of the restaurant as I waited for her to come out.

“You trying to piss me off, sweetheart?”

She gasped, placing her hand over her heart. “Jesus! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

I cocked an eyebrow, leaning against the wall with my arms folded over my chest. Her eyes followed my every move.

“No, just trying to make you scream any way I can.” I purposely licked my lips.

She shrugged. “That’s awfully pretentious of you.”

“Is that right?”

“Damn straight.”

I nodded, narrowing my eyes at her. “Well, allow me to be more forward.”

“By all means.” Her amused smile said it all.

“You sure you have time?”

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