Page 20 of Hot Girl Summer

“Why would I do that?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Because girls love musicians, right?”

“Not all girls.”

While taking a swig of his drink, he sizes me up again, then he notices the bottle I’m holding. The bottle which is almost full to the brim. A rookie mistake on my part.

“Well, you weren’t just coming over to fill that up.”

In my mind’s eye, I pour the entire bottle of water over his head, and wipe that incessant smirk off his face, but in reality, I decide it would probably be a dick move. Either way, the mental image is fun, and I’ve already decided I’m having the last word.

I shoulder past him, top up my water with the smallest bit of liquid, and mutter under my breath. “Such a smartass.”

“I’m sorry, what’s that?” He pushes his ear forward with the tip of his finger. “My hearing isn’t what it used to be.”

I’m not sure why I’m still standing here, but I’m not quite ready to admit out loud that I want to talk to him. He intrigues me, and for an incredibly long time I’ve felt nothing. But it scares me to think that there’s a reason why this guy keeps being dangled in front of me. Stefan and his belief in fate must be messing with my head.

I shake the thought away.

But even so, I struggle to think of anything to say, let alone anything remotely witty. I take a long pull of the liquid. Ignorance is bliss.

“Nice to see you again, Danny. Goodbye.”

Before I turn to leave, my gaze falls to his hand. Still no ring. Maybe it’s tucked away safely in his gym bag, or maybe I imagined it the first night we met. Still, something doesn’t quite add up. For some unknown reason, I have every urge to prize him open. But first, I need to trust the process. I need some sort of game plan.

“What was that about?” April asks, once I return.

“Oh, nothing. Has he gone?”

April nods, and I take a seat on the bench, shifting my gaze towards the water machine. “I think you left him pretty speechless.”

“That’s the plan,” I say, resuming my position in the squat rack. “Anyway...I have a Ryan-shaped bone to pick with you.”

A tiny laugh escapes from the redhead’s mouth. “I’m not proud of it. But that bone was delicious.”

Gross.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” I say, setting the barbell on the rack. I give April a playful nudge with my elbow. “Do you like him?”

April bites her lip, hesitating. “It breaks all kinds of girl codes.”

“If you’re referring toourgirl code, you are more than welcome to him. I just want you to be careful,” I say.

“Be careful about what?” Stefan asks, creeping up behind us.

Sweat drips from his brow, his usual afterglow from teaching a HIIT class, and a purple headband barely contains his mass of curls. I am in awe at how he still manages to look pristine.

“Ryan,” I say.

“The same Ryan who slept in your bed last night?” Stefan says.

“What are you talking about?” April asks.

“He stayed over last night.” Stefan says.

“Are you kidding?” April asks.

“Nothing happened,” I say.

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