Page 32 of Nerdy Dirty Valentine

Even if he looked downright pissed. I wasn’t sure why, but his eyebrows were furrowed, and a muscle leapt in his jaw. Which made me kind of mad in return. I was doing this, and it was killing me. Didn’t he appreciate it?

He was looking to meet guys and have an eventual relationship. And our time limit of Valentine’s Day was approaching, so I was fucking letting him take a step…

James moved away from me and toward some tall, skinny dude with a man bun. Aw, hell, was this his type? The guy honestly looked like a jackass. My whole body tensed. I wanted to grab James and carry him off and out of this stupid club. Of all the dumb ideas I’d ever had, this was by far the dumbest.

James leaned in and said something to him, and they headed to the dance floor. A Bee Gees song played, and they began to dance. James wasn’t even looking at me. You’d think he’d need my nod of approval or a quick thumbs-up, but no, it was like he’d forgotten all about me.

It was like a boulder on my heart.

“Wanna dance, big guy?” A voice came from my right, way too close, in my personal space.

“Fuck off!” I roared at the poor fellow, not even looking his way. I didn’t care about him, who he was, or what he looked like. The intensity of my focus was on James. Only James.

The man bun offered his hand. I stared like a fool at them, a hard, bittersweet ache in my chest as James clearly used the moves I’d taught him.

I could only watch helplessly at a situation I’d created as they danced.

James stepped on the tall dude’s foot, and they stopped dancing to exchange words. James patted his chest.

What the hell was he doing? He was supposed to dance with him, nottouchthe dude. The guy grinned—of course he did. Who wouldn’t smile when James touched them?

They started dancing again. I clenched my fists as I watched. This was agony.

James snuck a glance over at me. Then another.

Why was he looking at me? A shiver rushed through me. Maybe I wasn’t helpless after all.

I moved quicker than lightning, striding toward them, dodging dancing forms and writhing bodies.

Stopping beside the man bun, I tapped him on the shoulder. “I’m cutting in.”

I swear, I’d crush this guy if he objected.

He shrugged and moved away from us to dance with somebody new. James turned to me, a quizzical frown on his face, his glasses slightly askew, a hot look in his flashing blue eyes.

“What’re you doing? Isn’t this what you wanted?”

I briefly closed my eyes, my heart thudding louder than the music.

“No, fuck no.”

I used my full height to tower over him as James regarded me warily.

“Then what exactly do you want, Phin?” he asked, not backing down an inch. His tone was cool, though.

I didn’t want James’ coolness. I wanted him dorky, and intelligent, and sweet. And I also wanted him in my bed, his naked body on top of me, his soft mouth on mine.

My hand closed on his.

“Dance with me. Just with me.” I thrust my face right at his so we were nose to nose. “I don’t want you fucking dancing with anybody else.”

Surprise shot through his features, and then they eased into relief. “Good! ’Cause I don’t want to dance with anybody else, you big idiot.”

“I am. A fucking colossal idiot.”

James smiled and went easily into my arms.

“Babe. I got you,” I shouted over the music. “And I’m not letting go.”

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