Page 57 of His Temptation
It might even be fun. Music, friends, and pool.
It didn’t have to be anything more than that.
***
“Here, baby,” Ryan said, standing behind Lexi and placing his hand over hers as she held the pool stick. “Let me show you how to do it. You wanna get down low.” He kissed the back of her neck and showed her how. “Line up your shot. Like this. Now gently tap the right side.”
Lexi pushed her ass back against Ryan and giggled when he gripped her hips tighter and whispered something in her ear. When she made her shot, she actually pocketed the ball. She squealed and bounced up and down before Ryan turned her around and kissed her, pushing her against the table.
“They’re cute, huh?” Faith asked, looking at them.
“I guess,” I answered with a shrug. I’d seen Ryan with too many girls to ever think one would last for long. Lexi was the first to hold his attention for that long, though. “Sorry you got dragged along for their make-out show. I hope you’re having some fun at least.”
“I am,” she answered, playing with the bracelet on her arm. It was silver and had little charms on it. Looked like anime characters. “I don’t get asked to go out much. So this is kinda cool.”
It seemed my first impression of her from Trev’s party hadn’t been too far off. She was a good girl who was also a bit socially awkward. Faith was artsy, into anime, and nice. If I had to be stuck on a fake double date with anyone, I was glad it was her.
“Areyouhaving fun?” she asked, before nervously chewing her bottom lip. “I’m always afraid I bore people. No one’s ever into the same things as me.”
“Don’t worry about me.” I stood from the chair once seeing she’d drank all of her soda. “I need a refill. Want me to get you one too?”
“Sure! I can walk with you to get them.”
“Cool.” I grabbed our cups. “Come on. Looks like they won’t even know we’re gone.”
Ryan and Lexi were still making out against the pool table. Faith looked at them and shook her head, laughing.
“What’s your favorite anime?” I asked, as we walked through the arcade toward the concession stand. At her shocked look, I added, “Saw your bracelet. That one’s fromFairy Tail, right?”
“Oh my god, you speak my language. I knew you were awesome.” Faith fidgeted with her bracelet, beaming with a smile. “It’s too hard to pick a favorite. I love so many of them for different reasons. But I gotta say,Black Butleris for sure up there on my favorites list.”
I grinned. “Because you think Sebastian is hot?”
Faith blushed and adjusted her glasses. “No.”
“Uh-huh.” My grin widened. “Real guys don’t have a chance compared to hot anime guys.”
She snorted a laugh. “Well, same can be said for hot anime girls. All big boobs, tiny waists, and round butts.”
Once at the counter, I asked for refills on our drinks, and we stood side by side waiting on them.
Noise from the arcade blasted through the room, the dings from the machines and the excited murmurings of people playing the games. It was a popular hangout for teens, since we couldn’t yet get into clubs. The place had a “no kid under twelve” rule for after nine o’clock, so that made it better too. Made it seem a bit more grown-up.
“Um, do you have a girlfriend?” Faith blurted out, her words running together.
“Here you go,” the guy behind the counter said, handing us the drinks.
“Thanks.” I took them and looked back at Faith. Her cheeks were bright pink, and she wasn’t making eye contact with me.
What should I tell her? If I said no, she might get her hopes up that she had a chance with me. If I said yes, it would be a lie that I’d have to keep telling more lies to cover up. Something told me she wouldn’t judge me if I told her the truth, but the thought of coming out to anyone other than Emery made me feel like I was going to puke.
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” I responded after a super-awkward stretch of silence. “But I’m kinda seeing someone. Nothing serious or anything, but… yeah.”
“Okay,” Faith said, her earlier bubbly mood a bit sad now. Or disappointed. “Just thought I’d ask. Oh my god, I hope things aren’t weird now.”
“They’re not,” I said, handing her soda over. “It’s good to get things out in the open so there aren’t misunderstandings and hurt feelings later on.”
Emery had taught me that.
