Page 60 of Wild Catch
“Yes,” I admit through gritted teeth.
“Fine,” she says with a touch of something. When a sardonic smile takes over her features I figure out why. It’s because of me and my inability to compliment her. “I’ll figure something out to evade her. Happy?”
“No.” My whole body is tense, and I try to alleviate that by running a hand down my face, then my hair, massaging my scalp. “I owe you an apology.”
Still with the same half annoyed and half amused air, Rose asks, “For thinking I’m naive enough to not know how to deal with a mean girl?”
“What? No.” I motion with my hand as if I could turn back time. “For what I said in the truck.”
Her eyes turn up like the scene is replaying in the air and she can’t pinpoint what I mean. “Wait, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“When I saidfine,” I spit out, and in case that’s not clear enough, add, “That you looked fine.”
“Oh!” She jumps a little, unaware of what that does for her curves. I force my eyes to stay on her face, but I wouldn’t be a professional baseball catcher if I didn’t have superb spatial awareness. An awkward laugh comes out of her. “Don’t you worry about that. I was just joking around when I was fishing for that compliment. I know you don’t find me attractive.”
I freeze.
The only part of me that moves is my eyes widening as far as they can go, then blinking hard.
“Who said I don’t find you attractive?”
Now her eyebrows rise. “I mean, it’s just obvious.” I continue to look at her like she grew five heads, and color starts to rise up her throat. Motioning at herself, she says, “I don’t look like the models I’ve seen you date. I’m too… big. And loud, I guess.”
Huffing, I tear myself from the wall. She watches me with the same wariness of a lion tamer who isn’t sure if her beast is going to pounce.
Our terms don’t allow for me to touch her nilly willy, which is fine. I don’t need to. I grab the belt loop of her jeans again, my eyes taking a quick peek at how the fabric stretches and exposes the skin of her side just a notch more. Just by pulling her belt loop, I position her in front of the mirror.
I stand behind her and take a step back, stuffing my hands in my pockets. I don’t care that she can see me, I allow myself do what I haven’t all night—I let my eyes get their fill of her. From the glorious curls that shine like tendrils of honey under the light. Down to the light purple blouse thing that I know must have some type of French name, cinched tight around her chest and flaring out over her waist. To the sliver of skin revealed between the blouse and her jeans. Down to the flare of her hips and lower. My hands tighten involuntarily, and I’m glad I don’t dare to reach out. I’m afraid I’d grab handfuls of her ass if she let me.
Slowly, I travel my eyes back up, committing her shape to memory. I’m not even embarrassed when I meet her eyes again. I’m a red blooded guy and she gets my blood pumping furiously.
“I’m not very good with words or with gestures or with much of anything that isn’t catching a ball,” I say, my breath catching a curl and making it swing. “But I’m really sorry for not telling you how hot you look.” I shrug. “Not just tonight. You look hot every day.”
Her breath hitches. Color explodes in her face. “Wait, are you for real?”
“Why would I lie?” I cock an eyebrow.
“No, you’re right. You’re too… tooyouto lie just to make someone else feel better.”
“You didn’t have to compliment me in return.”
Her face scrunches up and she gives out one of those twinkling little laughs that I’ve never heard tossed my way. It’s a lethal combination with the blush still lighting up her cheeks. A blush that I put there.
I force myself to retreat even farther, until the back of my calves hit the end of the bed. I cough into my hand. “Maybe we should go before people start suspecting that I just couldn’t wait to have my way with you.”
She turns around to face me, hands on her hips. “Right.”
Wordlessly, I offer my arm to her. She stares at it for a second and it reminds me of the rule. I’m not supposed to do shit on my own here, so I start to lower it.
But then she links her arm with mine and tugs me the way we came, not minding that this puts us much closer than we’ve ever been while sober and on firm land. Also not minding that we stay that way the rest of the night.
CHAPTER21
ROSE
I’m at my desk editing the wildest video of my career.
I’m sure a third party’s opinion would differ—we have actually posted some pretty incredible plays that almost seemed like Hollywood CGI. But none of those videos have attempted to murder me by embarrassment.
