Page 99 of Collide
Her nose scrunches. “That is so cheesy. Is that what you offer all your fuck buddies?”
That lights an uncomfortable fire in the pit of my stomach. I want that damn word out of her vocabulary. “No.” My jaw ticks. “The offer is exclusively for you.”
“I’m honored,” she says dryly. “But no, you can make that in your sleep.”
“Aw, is that a compliment?”
She shoots a scornful look at me. “Don’t act humble now. I heard you comparing yourself to Crosby the other night.”
When I laugh, she finally does too. The soft melody is a symphony to my ears and a much needed contrast to her previous unimpressed expression. “Then how about a bet?”
Intrigue lifts her head. “Stakes?”
“Two goals, and we go on a date.”
“What?” she sputters.
In all honesty, I didn’t plan to say that, but now that it’s out there, there’s nothing I want more than to be alone with her without the excuse of school or sex. Not that I’d mind if the date ended with the latter.
I level her with a serious look. “I want to take you on a date.”
“Why?” The look of repulsion on her face should be off putting, but I’m a determined man.
“You’re the first girl to sound disgusted by the proposition.”
“You’ve never dated. How would you know?” she counters.
“Actually, I’ve been on plenty of dates. I just haven’t been in a relationship.”
Her bored look is amusing. “And let me guess, those ‘dates’ ended in hookups?”
I purse my lips. “That’s not important. So what do you say?”
“No.”
Can’t she pretend to think about it? Jesus, this girl is something else. “Didn’t take you as someone who backs out of a challenge.”
“Seriously? You’re trying to reverse-psychology me into this.”
“I don’t think you can use that as a verb.”
She mutters something under her breath. “It’s too easy for you, no.”
“Pumping my ego already? Are you sure you don’t want this date?”
She stares blankly.
“Fine. What’s your counteroffer?” Going on a date with this girl would need a high-stakes presentation and a lot of balls.
“Three.”
I shoot her a questioning look.
“Make a hat trick, and I’ll go on your date,” she grimaces. “No hat trick and I get your truck for a week.”
“Had that one ready to go, did you?”
The joyful look on her face tells me she expects me to sink. It isn’t lost on me that she once referred to my truck as a jock mobile.
