Page 144 of Most Valuable Players
“About?” she asks, sounding concerned but still smiling.
“Do you like Liam?”
“Sure. He’s nice.”
“Nice like you’d let him feel you up or…”
She laughs. Loudly and I think at me. She walks forward and pokes me in the chest. “You’re jealous.”
“Am not.” I don’t know why I bother denying it. Gut reaction, I guess.
She laughs again and moves to sit on my bed, digging through her purse. “I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your text earlier. I thought we needed a little space. We’re friends, but we’ve kissed, and I know you’ve probably already forgotten, but I haven’t and sometimes things with us feel messy. So, yes, I think Liam is nice like maybe someday I’ll let him feel me up, but I’m not going anywhere. You and I will still be friends, no matter what. You don’t need to worry about me dating Liam or anyone else and forgetting about my favorite cafeteria buddy.”
I grunt at being called her fucking cafeteria buddy. She pulls out a long tube of pink gloss and coats her lips. I’m mesmerized by the action and the way her lips catch the light. She rubs her lips together and puckers them and all I can imagine is her walking out there and every guy in the place wanting to kiss her and smear that perfect, pink outline.
She stands. “I promise not to be one of those people who ignores her friends when she meets a guy, or, in our case, another guy.”
“Don’t date him.”
“Why not?”
“He’s not good enough.”
“Good enough for what?” She rolls her eyes. “Thank you for wanting to look out for me, but I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. I swear, if it were up to you and my brother, I’d spend the next four years alone while everyone else hooks up and pairs off. I want to do those things too, go on dates and make bad decisions, and I know it’s possible that he’ll hurt me or he’ll be a total bore, but I won’t know unless I go out with him.”
“Don’t date him.”
She looks like she’s going to start arguing again, but I keep going before she can get a word in. “Don’t date him. We could…”
“We could what?”
“You know.”
“Date?” She fights a grin. “You can’t even say the word.”
I close the space between us and drop my mouth to hers. Her lips part in a surprised squeak and I take full advantage, sweeping my tongue inside. She tastes so good and so right. I’m breathless when she takes a step back. Breathless and filled with so much energy, my steps feel light as I fill the gap again.
“Wait.” She puts a hand at my chest. “I don’t understand. You don’t date. You told me that you weren’t interested in dating anyone, especially me.”
“I never said ‘especially you’.”
“It was implied.”
“Fuck no, it wasn’t. We already hang out more than I ever have with any other chick, so let’s do that and make out. That’s basically dating, right?”
She gives her head a little shake. “I’m confused. Is this some trick to keep me from dating Liam?”
“Hell no. I don’t care who Liam dates as long as it isn’t you.”
My mouth tingles. Fucking tingles. This girl… fuuuck.
“I said we shouldn’t date because you had just gotten out of a relationship and in the past, dating hadn’t really been my thing. Enjoying college has been my top priority. I only have a few years before I’m going to be married to hockey. I didn’t want us to hook up and then never talk again, and I wasn’t sure I was capable of more. I like hanging with you and I don’t want to mess that up.”
“Oh.”
“But I was overthinking it. If what you’re looking for is the same thing I am—to have fun, hang out, hook up.” I pull her against me so she can feel how hard I am. “Then of course I want to date you.”
“Really?” Her eyes light up.
