Page 9 of Test the Ice
I remain quiet as I turn onto his street, the tall apartment building standing like a beacon of light.
“I can tell you don’t put up with anyone’s bullshit.”
I used to, but I’m much less likely to do so since leaving that run-down trailer on the south side of town. I took my sister, gave my dad the middle finger, and removed us fromtrash,as Benedict likes to refer to it.
I park in front of Malaki’s apartment building and end the ride. His phone pings, but he doesn’t touch it. Instead, he stares at me from the side. The longer I look at him, the faster my heart beats. It isn’t until he grins that I turn away.
“It’s sort of hot,” he admits.
I roll my eyes, pretending like I don’t care that he just referred to me as hot.
Get a grip, Reese.Just because it’s been nearly two years since I’ve been with a man, or had an interaction with one that didn’t make my skin crawl, doesn’t make me desperate.
I donotcravea man’s attention or his compliments.Nope.
“Let me take you out.”
I freeze in the driver’s seat. The butterflies in my stomach, unfortunately, do not. Apparently, Idocrave a man’s attention.
My refusal comes swift as I turn toward him. “No.”
His lip lifts, and I hate that it makes him so much more enticing. I could totally see myself getting lost in his blue eyes, and paired with that smirk?Jes-us.
“How’d I know you’d say that?” His half-grin turns into a full-blown smile. His teeth are bright white and perfectly straight. Some hockey players have missing teeth, but not Malaki. That’d be such a shame, considering his smile makes my head spin.
I turn away and stare out the windshield to get out from underneath his spell.
“I don’t date,” I say.
“So you’re taken.” He says it like a statement instead of a question.
A laugh erupts from my mouth, as if I have the time to date.
He hums quietly. “So you’re not taken…”
I think he’s talking to himself more than he’s talking to me.
He shifts in the passenger seat, his knees nearly hitting the dash. “Why don’t you date?”
The excuses are endless: I don’t have time to date. I have an overbearing ex who is threatening to take custody of my daughter if I don’t force myself to love him. Oh, and then there’s the little tidbit thatI have a baby!
What Malaki won’t understand is that he and I aren’t compatible even in the slightest. Maybe we could’ve been if I didn’t drop out of college to wash bottles and change dirty diapers several times a night. I have responsibilities that leave zero room for a fling with a guy like him.
A few seconds of silence pass before he blurts, “Are you a lesbian?”
I’m shocked, but only for a second. I slowly turn toward him and raise an eyebrow. “You think that’s the only logical reason as to why I won’t let you take me out?” I cross my arms and scoff. “Talk about arrogant.”
His jaw drops slightly, but I still see the hint of mirth lingering on his face. “I didn’t say that. I was just throwing out suggestions.”
Instead of getting out of my car that’s still idling in front of his complex, he seemingly grows more comfortable. He leans back in the passenger seat and pushes his legs apart a little, this time his knees actually brushing against the dash. I stare at his fingers as they tap against his jeans, and I have no idea why, but it’s sort of attractive.
“Dinner and a movie?”
My gaze slides from his hand, all the way up to the grin on his face. When our eyes catch, he shakes his head. “Okay, not your thing. What about…”
I hate that I want to laugh.
“Bowling?” His eyebrow hitches, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep him from knowing I’m amused.
