Page 10 of Test the Ice
He rolls his eyes when I stay quiet. “Bowling isn’t my thing either. I suck.”
I feign surprise. “Admitting you aren’t good at something? Wow.”
His flirty gaze slices to me. “There are plenty of things I’m not good at…but there are also things I’mverygood at.”
A rush of heat whips at my cheeks, and he winks, as if he knows exactly where my mind went. My thoughts have taken a sudden detour, and somehow, I’ve ended up in a porno with Malaki Young. A coil of lust pulls at my belly, and my pulse quickens. It’s been too long since I’ve done anythingwith anyone. The last time I was kissed was by Benedict, and it ended with a slap to his face.
Malaki’s growing list of date ideas pulls me from my dirty aspirations. I hear the tail end of his next idea. “Water park?”
“Water park?” I give him a wary look. “There’s a water park here?”
He chuckles. “No, but I’m running out of options.”
“I’m not dating you,” I repeat.
There’s a challenge in his eyes. He squints and then smiles. My lips beg to smile, the dimples I’ve had since I was a baby threatening to appear.
“Then let’s hang out as friends,” he suggests.
I laugh sarcastically. “Said no guy ever.”
“You haven’t been around the right guys, then,” he says matter-of-factly.
I sigh and reach for my Skittles. The bag crinkles, the Skittles tacky in my hand. I pop a few into my mouth and suck on the ends of my fingers.
I catch Malaki’s eye, and he’s staring at me. He blinks once, twice, then slowly turns away and stares out the windshield.“Fine,” he sighs. “You pick the activity, and text me when you figure it out.”
I snort. “You’re not getting my number.”
He turns toward me with one eyebrow raised. “Who says I don’t already have it?”
I pause.Does he?
I mentally shake my head. There’s no way he has my number.
My phone pings, and his attention snaps to it. Before he has a chance to grab it and text himself my number, I snatch it from the dashboard mount and press it against my chest. His cheek twitches, like he wants to smile.
I glance at the screen and read Zoe’s text asking when I’m coming home.
She probably wants to go out with her friends, because that’s what college girls do. Instead, she’s at home, babysitting her niece.
“Oops, looks like I have another ride request,” I say.
Malaki’s mouth turns down into a disappointed frown, and I hate to admit that I’m kind of bummed to see him go too. But it’s better this way, and I know it.
“Alright,” he says.
The door opens, letting in the Chicago city air, and just when I think he’s accepted that I won’t go on a date with him, he leans toward me with his elbow on the center console. His low voice slips into my ear. “Thanks for the first date. It was fun, Dimples.”
A surprised gasp leaves me when he backs away.
“This was not a date,” I argue.
“Felt like one to me,” he says, sticking his hand into my bag of Skittles.
“Hey!” I blurt.
He pops a few Skittles into his mouth, winks at me, and then shuts the door.
