Page 18 of Win My Heart

“Yes, she’s definitely something.”

All smiles, I realize we’ve become silent. And I don’t know what comes over me, but I blurt out, “I am going to be taking private lessons.”

His eyes widen, and his gaze turns molten. “Yeah?” His voice is deeper than normal.

Is he… Is he turned on?

I nod, my confidence fleeting.

“Well, that’s…” He clears his throat, looking into my eye.

That’s what? What does he think about it? Does he find it sexy? Or odd? What’s going on in his head? My eyes drop to his hand, where his grip is tight on his beer glass. His knuckles are white.

I drag my gaze back to his, and he closes his eyes for only a moment. His face changes to near indifference before he shakes his head.

“It’s rad.” He grimaces.

My nose scrunches. “Rad?” I mumble.

“Yeah. Dope. Awesome. Da bomb dot com.” He flinches slightly at his words.

I snort. “Your use of terms from the nineties gets me every time, Wade.”

The normal, cool, and easy smile I’m used to washes over his handsome face. “You love it and you know it.”

I chuckle and decide I need to end this conversation on a strong note. It’s been such a strange interaction, and I’m in desperate need of overanalyzing it, alone, without risk of further embarrassment. I step away from him and look around to where I’m going to run off to—smoothly, of course.

“Totally, dude.” I shoot him one last grin and offer a tiny wave as I escape. His answering chuckle follows me as I escape. He lets me go, which sends a tiny surge of disappointment through my heart. But I ignore it. It’s for the best that we part now. Too much Wade time will just do funny things to my head and heart.

I retreat to find Morgan just as servers with trays of fancy desserts file into the room.

Phew.

Stuffing my trap with sweet goodness is just what I need after the last ten minutes of embarrassment slash uncomfortableness slash confusing desire I just experienced.

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