Page 4 of Stumped

“Not all of us are rolling around in money.”

The beer appears, orange slice and all, making my companion snort. I take a sip and gesture to her empty glass. “Do you wanna trade piss water for something better?”

“That’s a terrible pick-up line.”

“You’d know if I was trying to pick you up,” I retort, surprised by my own honesty. I’ve never openly flirted like this before and truth be told, I’m not sure Icouldpick this woman up. I’m not suave or charming enough for the likes of this beauty. It’s only been a few minutes and she’s already intimidated me.

She sidles closer, a delicious fruity scent wrapping around me, and tilts her head. “Based on that voice and jaw alone, I might let you skip the cheesy pick-up lines.”

“That’s all it takes?”

She chuckles and pokes my chest. “If you showed me the rest of your face, maybe.”

From her distaste for what’s playing on the screens, I assume she’s not a fan of cricket. I might not have a million brand deals like my teammates and my face might not be instantly recognisable, but I can’t always go incognito. Showing up at the bar that evening was unplanned, but it worked out since everyone expects me to be sitting in the stands in Ahmedabad as my team messes up yet another match.

“Can I buy you a drink first?”

She purses her lips, pink and biteable, and turns to the bartender and asks for a rum along with complicated instructions. It’s been a while since I’ve indulged in hard liquor, thanks to my trainer-prescribed diet. It also doesn’t include beer, but given I’m not playing, it’s worth the risk. I need something to take the edge off, something to give me the high I’m craving.

Then again, if the woman beside me gives me even a few more minutes of her attention, I might be riding a different kind of high all night.

“Vera,” she says, hand held out between us. Her nails are dark, wrist adorned with faded friendship bands. “Now is when you shake my hand and tell me your name.”

Get a grip, man. You’d think I’d never interacted with a pretty person before. Putting my hand in hers, I smile. “Elias.”

“I changed my mind. That smile could make me forgo the drink and a pick-up line.”

I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of me. I’m not unattractive or hard to look at, but my appearance has never been a priority. My team has a stylist and a publicist who instruct me on what to wear, how to style my hair and when to speak. It’s easier to navigate this world if someone else is driving it.

“You don’t say much, do you?”

“I speak only when necessary,” I correct her and she rolls her beautiful eyes.

“I bet you’re a hoot at parties.”

“Centre of attention.”

She laughs at my deadpan and takes her drink when it appears, thanking the bartender. Suddenly the crowd screams, bringing our bodies closer. For the first time in a long time, I don’t care about cricket or how badly my team is losing. Myfocus is on the way this woman is flirting with only her eyes and I’m completely under her spell.

“Let’s find a table.”

Vera grabs her purse and leads the way. I shamelessly ogle her, taking in the curtain of dark hair, the way the dress clings to her lower back and flows over her perfect ass. I also don’t miss how much of her thighs I can see at this angle and it’s intoxicating.

“You done staring at my ass?”

“For now,” I reply as Vera looks over her shoulder at me.

We’re so distracted by each other we miss the hulk of a human heading in our direction. She crashes into him, which causes me to bump into her back, our drinks spilling all over the floor and each other. Hulk growls, eyes narrowing as he focuses on my companion and I hear her respond with a growl of her own.

“Watch where you’re going, bitch.”

“Fuck you, Godzilla, look out for the little people,” Vera snaps back, hand on his chest like she’s attempting to push him away.

He laughs cruelly and reaches for her, but I move faster. Sliding my arm around her waist, I tug Vera back and out of the way. She twists and flails against me, even as he continues to laugh. It was instinct to reach for her with my injured arm, but I don’t even care about the slight spasm in my shoulder because she feels good against me. Once I’ve gotten us away, I release her and she spins to face me with a frown. In all that moving around, her dress has shifted and I’m gifted with a gorgeous view of her breasts and more of the red bra she’s wearing.

I clear my throat. “As much as I would have loved to watch you take the monster on, I didn’t think he was going to go easy on you.”

She scoffs. “I’m scrappy.”

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