Page 3 of Stay
“Ally, thisguy,” she waves her hand in Alex’s direction as if that term is debatable, “thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to grab a girl’s butt at a party.”
If the frown is any indication, Ally is none-too-pleased by this information either. One hand settles on her hip as her lip curls in disgust. “Why do guys always think that’s okay to do?” Even though this is posed as a question, it’s more rhetorical in nature. “I am so damn sick and tired of that shit!”
Silently, I shake my head before shrugging. Alex’s gaze darts with more unease between the two fuming girls who are all up in his face.
“Ahhh—”
He never gets a chance to finish that thought (I’m being overly generous with that assertion) before both Stacy and Ally steamroll over him. “It is definitelynotokay! You can’t just walk around touching women inappropriately!”
“Ahhh—” Alex’s mouth gapes like a fish out of water. You can actually glimpse the moment he grasps the severity of his predicament.
“What’s going on over here?”
A tall brunette shoves her way into the tight circle before glancing around at the four of us.
“Oh hey, Ashley. Can you believe this jerk thinks it’s okay to sexually harass a woman?”
Now Ashley’s brows are lowering as her gaze arrows straight to Alex. “No one in this day and age could possibly think that it’s okay to touch a woman without asking first.”
She waits for Alex to clear his good name. Unfortunately, Alex continues to stare at her. He looks perplexed and a little surprised that he’s the object of three hot girls’ interest.
Of course, that interest isn’t the kind he’s been trolling for this evening.
Alex takes a hasty step backward as all three girls crowd into his personal space. Every single one of them talking or shouting at thesame time. Since Alex will be tied up for the foreseeable future, I decide my work is done here and take off in search of Brooklyn. I’m more than ready to go home before any more of these drunken louts decide that party time ass grabbing is a legitimate sport.
I’m no more than ten steps away from Alex and his irate entourage, who are currently, by the volume of their collective voices, giving him a major ass-chewing, when a male voice says near my ear, “I saw what you did back there.”
Since I’ve filled my quota for inane conversations this evening, I ignore him and keep pushing my way through the thick press of bodies. I’m tired, a little bit cranky, and more than ready to take off. If I have to drag Brooklyn out of here, I’m more than willing to do it. And I certainly don’t have the wherewithal—not to mention the patience—to deal with any more hammered, frat boy-asshole-types tonight. Alex squandered the very last of it.
Without bothering to turn, I throw the words over my shoulder and continue to weave my way around clumps of drunken college coeds. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, you do.”
I can practically hear the laughter simmering in his rich, deep voice. Realizing this guy isn’t going to leave me alone, I decide the best course of action is to stop and politely let him know that I’m not interested in anything he might be offering up this evening. Exasperated at getting held up when all I want to do is find Brooklyn and leave this out-of-control party, I wheel around toward the voice at my ear. As my eyes land on his face, I suck in a big breath of air before almost choking on it.
2
CASSIDY
Idon’t know what’s going on with me, but I can’t stop staring. And when I saystaring, I mean full-on checking him out. It’s embarrassing. Although honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as beautiful as the guy standing before me.
Okay, so maybebeautifulis the wrong word. I don’t think guys really like being referred to asbeautiful,but there isn’t another word to adequately describe him.
He’s completely beautiful.
It’s tempting to stand here and stare at him for the rest of the night.
But I won’t because, in my limited experience, beautiful guys are—more often than not—egotistical douchebags. Even though I’m only nineteen, I’ve already had my fill of those.
So thanks, but no thanks.
That being said, my fingers almost itch to slide their way through all that messy chocolate-colored hair. And don’t even get me started on those golden-brown eyes of his. Yup, totally dreamy.
Er…if I were a dreamy sort of girl, that is.
Which, trust me, I’m not.
He’s almost as tall as Alex but not quite as broad in the shoulders.Athletic-looking with long, lean muscles that are showcased in jeans and a simple dark, T-shirt that hugs his chest and upper arms quite nicely.
