Page 27 of Crave You

He’s not teasing, he’s asking a genuine question. My thoughts go back to what I was thinking about as I came back to the house this afternoon. It’s not something I want to share with even with my closest friends. So, I shrug in answer to Shawn’s question.

“She’s kind of cool,” I say warily.

“She must be for you to keep going back for more. I’ve never known you sleep with a girl more than once,” Shawn says.

“Fuck. Do you think I’m growing up?” I laugh.

The others all laugh uproariously at this.

“As if!” Lucien says.

The rare “bro-moment” cuts the tension and the others fall into laughing and the usual stupid teasing and jokes. I get my phone out and I see Leona’s sent me a message. I smile and then I catch myself and shake my head. I think Shawn’s right. I don’t feel like myself when I’m around her. Something is shifting, changing inside of me.

My smile fades to anger after I read Leona’s message.

“Hey. A friend from home is in town and I’m going to watch his band play. Want to come?”

I swallow hard trying to keep my anger at bay. I should at least give her a chance to realize she is making a mistake. I text her back.

“I don’t want to see a band. I don’t want to see anyone, but you. Come over. Now.”

I wait a second and I get another message.

“I’ve already said I’ll go now. I’ll be at The Old Coffee Tavern if you change your mind.”

I push my phone into my pocket in disgust. Is this a fucking joke or what? I was just thinking about how she has changed me, and she can’t even miss a damned concert for me? Fuck this. I am getting way too caught up with this girl.

I shake my head like an angry lion. I don’t know what was the matter with me. It’s not like there aren’t a hundred other girls I could text right now, who would drop everything and come over here to be with me. I debate texting one of them, but the problem is, I don’t want one of those girls. I want her.

OK, it’s true. Although I’m seriously pissed off that Leona has chosen this “friend and his band” over me, but there’s a part of me that’s a little bit turned on by the fact that she isn’t that girl who will just drop everything because I text her. I kind of like the fact that she’s got her own thing going on and that she dared to say no to me.

Despite that, two hours later, I am still buzzing with adrenaline, and I am still pissed off that Leona doesn’t understand that when I say she is mine, I mean it. Finally, I can’t stand the feeling anymore and I get in the car and head towards The Old Coffee Tavern.

Let’s see what’s so fucking special about this band that they are worth blowing me off.

I park in the lot and get out of the car. Music is pumping out of the pub through the open windows. It doesn’t sound like a live band, though, and I suddenly realize how late it is. The band has probably finished. However, it seems the after-party has started so I still have time to see what all of the fuss is about.

I go inside and grab a drink at the bar. Then, I scan the room. I spot Leona quickly — she stands out from the crowd in all the right ways. I also see that the guy sitting next to her has his arm along the back of the seat, almost around her.

I feel anger flare inside of me and I swallow it down. For now.

Chapter Ten

Leona

I’m laughing at Christian’s story when I feel eyes on me. Usually, the feeling of being watched makes me go cold inside but this is different. It feels nice. I look up from my drink and see Zander, just watching me from the bar.

I smile and wave and Zander smiles back and heads towards us.

I am surprised at just how happy I am to see him. Erin’s warning about not letting myself get too attached to Zander comes back into my mind, but I push it away. Truth be told, it’s a bit too late for warnings.

Zander reaches the table and sits down opposite Christian and me. It’s then that I notice that there’s a strangeness to him tonight; a sort of dark energy that pulses off him in waves. I glance at Christian to see if he’s noticed anything, but his face gives nothing away.

He smiles at Zander then turns to me. “Are you going to introduce us?” Christian asks.

“Yes. Yes, of course, Sorry,” I say. “Zander, this is my best friend from home, Christian. Christian, this is Zander.”

I’m not sure whether to say he’s my boyfriend, but friend seems too lame. Besides, Christian knows exactly who Zander is from our phone conversations.

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