Page 143 of Steeling Her
When I meet his eye’s, I can feel the grin grow on my face. That’s when I see him slightly pick up his pace, separating himself from the guys. He waves them off as another group of girls come over and greet the guys. Pretty girls too. They’re trying to get his attention, but I blush at the unwavering stare he has with me. He doesn’t want to be with them; he wants to be with me, and that makes me feel giddy inside. I’m the girl he enjoys being around, not those other girls that line up and wait for their shot with him.
Coming closer and closer, he holds out both his arms wide for me to come and embrace him. I try to suppress the smile forming on my face. I stand there and wait for him to come to me. When he reaches me, he slips off the bag on his shoulder and raises me into the air. I begin to laugh piercingly with him grinning up at me. I draw him closer for a kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck. His hands grip my waist tightly as he caresses his lips against mine lightly.
“Hey,” he whispers against my lips. Feeling the hot tingle reach me, I shiver in his arms.
“Hey,” I reply with a huge smile on my face.
“You look so pretty in my jersey.” He bites his lip. I thank him for noticing. I decided to wear it when he gave me his the night I lost my innocence to him. I’m glad I did because it was just how I imagined it. It was sweet and gentle despite the little bit of pain before and after.
“Thank you, it’s really comfy,” I beam at him just as he sets me back down.
When we hear someone clear their throat, we both turn back around to see three smug faces staring back at us. “You both finished ogling each other so we can leave for this party?” Danielle smirks at us. She gestures her head towards TJ’s truck, telling us to come on. They’re getting impatient. They want to let loose now. I know Danielle wants to, I can tell by the look in her eyes. She always is.
“You ready to go?” Nick asks as he takes my hand in his. He bends back down to pick up his bag again. I nod as we all walk over to the car with the trunk open. Nick places his bag in the back beside TJ’s. I slide in next to Danielle while Haley has shotgun up front. Nick sits behind Haley so she can adjust her seat to accommodate his long and thick tree trunks he has for legs. As he sits next to me, he lays his arm around the back of my seat as we roll out of the car park and head towards the party that is close to their house.
It didn’t take us too long, there were barely any cars on the streets at this time. I cuddle into Nick’s side with our faces inches apart, whispering to each other. He would rub my arm up and down when he would compliment me, and I would feel my entire face heat up. “You want to stay with me tonight?” he asks with a hopeful look on his face. I hate it when he looks at me like that every time he asks me a question. Especially when I have to say no.
“I have to do a group assignment and I’m meeting them at ten tomorrow morning.” He starts to pout and I roll my eyes as I grin goofily. “Don’t give me that,” I warn him playfully but it doesn’t stop him. He bats his eyelashes at me lightheartedly, trying to convince me to stay over. “Nick!” I bury my face into his neck to shield myself from his adorableness.
“What?” He chuckles in my ear and fondles my hair.
“I have to get up early, and if I stay in yours, I won’t get up at all,” I say while groaning into his neck.
“And that’s a bad thing because . . . ?” he jokes. I bite his neck humorously and tell him no. It’s not happening tonight, maybe another time. “Did you just bite me?” He roars out a laugh in the car, no doubt getting everyone’s attention.
“Shut up. And no, I need to do work tomorrow.” I humor us both.
“Save the kinky stuff for later, babe,” he whispers lowly in my ear, making me redden again. Dammit, I need to get that under control. “And yes, you’re staying tonight. I’ll set an alarm and I’ll hit the snooze button over and over and over again just so you’ll purposely miss your meeting.” He’s having fun with this.
“And that is why I’m not staying over.” I lean back away while warning him silently. That smirk that he wears all the time doesn’t go away.
“We’re here!” Danielle announces. Just as I unbuckle my seatbelt and slide to leave out the door, Nick’s hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me.
“We’ll meet you guys in there.” He signals to TJ, who understands and leaves with the two girls. It’s then I notice the line of cars on the street and on the front lawn of the house. TJ parked under a tree just a little back, but we can hear the thumping of the music. Shutting the car doors, the lights above us turn off and I turn around to face Nick. We are flooded by complete darkness.
“Why are we staying here? I thought you wanted to go to the party?” I ask him and he bobs his head, guiding me back to his body.
“I do. Well, I have to . . . I have to show my face for the guys.” He’s not making eye contact with me. Instead, his eyes are darting around TJ’s car, looking like he wants to escape it. He’s acting weird. The quick change in his attitude lets me know something is not right.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him. He sighs and drops his head back, hitting it off the side window. “Nick? What’s wrong?” I repeat myself.
“Maya’s here . . . So is Erin . . .” he says while grinding his teeth.
“Who’s Erin?” I ask, slumping back. I know he has a past, and it still disturbs me every time someone tries to get in the way of it. It’s hard to constantly stand up for myself. Not only that, it’s tiring too.
“She’s a girl that I got with before I met you. She and Maya think they have this claim on me . . . They’re here, and I know they’re going to try and fuck this up between us. Just . . . whatever you hear from them or anyone, remember it’s my past and I’m done with it. I haven’t been with anyone since you and Ryan went out. Trust me—”
“I do. I do trust you, and I know you have a past. Everyone does. I know you’re not proud of it, but Nick, it’s okay. You’re not the same guy you used to be. You’re much better. Know you’re worth and know that I care about you.” I feel the corners of my lips lift without my permission and I stroke his cheek. “But also know that I won’t be okay if they come at me. I’ve already had Maya on my ass about you, I don’t need another girl too,” I warn him.
“I’ll be there.” He kisses me. “You’re kind of hot when you’re bossy,” he adds and I deadpan him. “What? You are! I like it.” He chuckles and kisses me again. Before we get carried away with ourselves and our alone time, we leave the car. After shutting the door, Nick reaches for my hand and kisses it affectionately. I move closer to his body and he places our intertwined hands over my shoulders, still holding on to one another and allowing my arm to drape across me.
We walk inside to the booming house thumping from the vibrations of a heavy beat. The song fills the silence and encourages people to scream at one another to communicate. People are beginning to stare like they haven’t seen me and Nick around the campus together and it’s getting old. It’s like there’s some kind of law where they have to gawp because they can’t believe we’re dating one another. They stare at us like he could do better. He probably could, but he still chose me. The amount of jaws that are open is getting ridiculous right now.
The team greets him and he does the same back. I keep my eyes away from the girls because I know they’re staring at me and our hands.
“Look who decided to rock up finally . . . Good to see that face again, Jackson. Just a pity about who you brought . . .” Once we turn around, I watch this brunette’s eyes trail up and down, looking at me with so much repugnance on her face. We’re not even through the door and we’re already being pounced on. I already can feel how this night will go. Fantastic.
“Erin,” Nick says not so warmly back to her.
