Page 28 of Spin The Bottle
“Was he good?” she asks, lifting her brows.
I bite my lip. Okay, I might have fibbed a little at the party. He wasn’t bad, not even close. But it threw me all the way off, I didn’t want to be the kind of girl who melted in the sheer presence of Aiden, but then his lips landed on mine and… it was better than I expected, to say the least. “He was decent,” I murmur.
Gabi hums. “That means he wasverygood.” Her eyes shine with intrigue, and I can’t help the flutter in my stomach at the thought that Gabi might actually be interested in him. I mean, who isn’t? My eyebrows lift in shock before I can stop it, and by her reaction, I’m guessing she notices. “Relax,” she says, her lips twitching with amusement. “I’m not interested in him. He’s all yours.”
I feign indifference, lifting my shoulder. “I don’t care. I’m here to drink, not focus on some guy I barely know.”
Especially because, after everything, he didn’t call. Over a week has gone by and… nothing. I really expected him to. He was so persistent, so demanding. I hate to admit how much I liked it. How much I liked having someone work a little to get me, instead of me having to do all the work.
I let out a sigh. “I’m going to the bathroom,” I tell them, standing from the couch.
“Want us to go with you?” Gabi asks.
I shake my head. “I’m good.”
“If you need us, call,” Madi shouts back as I head through the crowd, trying to find a bathroom that doesn’t have a long line.
I find an empty bathroom and shut the door, letting out a breath when I stare at myself in the mirror. I’ve been here countless times before.
I turn my hips, admiring my black dress hugging my figure in the mirror. I have nice hips, full and curvy. I run my hands over my body. “I love my body,” I recite to my reflection. “I love my curves. Every dip, every roll, every stretch mark.”
One day, I’ll believe it. I hope.
I love my friends, love them dearly, but they don’t see that when guys approach us, they don’t approach us, they approachthem. I get a weak smile, a pity drink, and maybe a couple of words from the guy who was stuck with me.
They don’t see that when guys talk to them, they get asked out on dates, I get asked back to their rooms for a one-night stand.
I hated being the approachable one, the non-desirable one, so I flipped the switch. I flirted with guys, I approached them, I made the first move, and it worked. I was always in control and I didn’t have hopeless, unrealistic expectations.
Until Aiden.
He came in and everything changed. He pursued me, he asked me out, he goaded me into kissing him. It was new, interesting, fun. But now, he got what he wanted. He won the game, and I made it easy for him.
I fix my hair, glancing at myself one last time before walking out the door. I barely take two steps before being hit with a hard chest of muscles. “Shit, I’m sorry.” I look up and blink.
His hands grip my arm, keeping me in place. “Falling for me already,” Aiden teases, smirking down at me.
I look up at him, my neck straining when I do. I’d never admit this to anyone, but I love how tall he is. I’m used to being the tallest person in the room, it’s nice having him tower over me. “What are you doing here?” I ask him, taking a step back.
He takes a step back too, leaning on the wall opposite me. “Same reason as you,” he says, crossing his arms. “I’m here to have fun.”
I let out a scoff. “My fun stopped the minute you showed up.” Alright fine, I’m a little bitter that he didn’t call. I don’t even know why. I’m not sure I would have answered either way.
Aiden laughs. “So stubborn. Is that why you gave me your number?” he asks, making me freeze. “Because I’m not fun?”
I tilt my head. “I don’t know,” I say with a shrug. “Is that why you didn’t call?” His smile drops, and his face blanches. “Because I’msofun?”
He frowns a little, a line forming between his brows. “Leila—”
“Just forget it. I don’t care. Lose my number and forget about me.” I step forward, ready to leave this hallway and him behind when his hand captures mine, spinning me around so my back hits the wall.
“I can’t do that, Leila,” Aiden whispers.
My brain is foggy with the scent surrounding me. A mixture of clean soap and a deeper, woody scent blurring my senses and making me aware of his body heat encompassing me.
“I can’t forget about you.” His deep voice rumbles through me, making my skin break out with goosebumps. I try to take a breath, but my heart’s beating so fast. I feel his breath on my skin and my eyes close of their own accord, a whimper escaping my lips.
Fuck. My eyes snap open, looking up at his bright blue eyes, where he’s standing above me, crowding me. His hand reaches up, rubbing the dark brown strands of my hair between his fingers.
