Page 5 of Stay
Narrowing those gorgeous eyes of his, half his mouth lifts into a smile. My breath catches again. How can that be just as devastating as the full-blown smile he’s already treated me to?
I almost have to shake my head to clear it of the spell he’s weaving around me.
“No?” He tilts his head a bit to the side and continues to watch me. There’s just a hint of a smirk hovering around the edges of his lips.
“No.” Forcing myself to hold strong against all this gorgeousness crammed into one irresistible package, I repeat before elaborating, “I wasn’t going to answer you.”
Brows drawing together, he blinks as if I’m some sort of strange specimen smeared across a microscope slide. “What’s your name?”
I shake my head.
Nope. We are definitely not going to play this game. There is no way in hell I’m getting dragged into a quasi-friendship with this guy. I can already feel it would be a mistake of epic proportions.
If, and that’s a really bigif, I have a type, this guy is it. Therefore, he must be avoided at all costs. That would be the smartest move to make and I’m all about being smart. I refuse to fuck up my life any more than I already have.
His brows, which are thick but not overly caterpillar-like, hike up his forehead in disbelief. “So, let me get this straight—you won’t tell me what Alex did to upset youandyou won’t give me your name?” Laughter brims in his rich, deep voice as he shakes his head.
The slow scald of a blush burns its way across my cheeks.Nervously, I glance around the crammed, dimly lit room one last time, hoping Brooklyn will magically appear so I can grab her and bolt, but that apparently isn’t meant to be.
There hasn’t been a Brooklyn sighting in at least twenty minutes.
“I’m not upset.” But I’m definitely getting there. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the gigantic ass who groped me and everything to do with the gorgeous, tawny-eyed, dimpled Adonis who won’t leave me alone.
“But you did sic those three girls on him, right?” He nods his head to the left, and my gaze naturally slides in that direction. We’re both able to see the incredibly tall and brawny Alex along with the three girls who are still in the process of ripping him a new one. Focusing on that for a moment lightens my mood considerably, because you can just tell those girls have totally committed themselves to their mission. It’s doubtful Alex will be going anywhere for a while. And if he does manage to escape their clutches, they’ll probably follow him, picking up more girls along the way.
Technically speaking, I only pulled one girl into our conversation. That being said, I’m not going to lie, it’s kind of a proud moment for me. I really hope Alex has learned his ass grabbing lesson tonight.
“He got what he deserved,” I say.
I consider that entire incident a public service to all women who attend Western University.
You’re welcome.
Not to be thrown off course, he persists. “So just tell me what he did to deserve it.” He looks genuinely interested. But still…
I narrow my eyes because this little back and forth is exactly what I didn’t want to get sucked into.
Hmm…ignoring him didn’t work.
And bitchiness hasn’t deterred him either.
Maybe if I just give him the answers he’s after, he’ll get bored and wander off in search of easier prey.
Huffing out an aggravated breath, I mumble, “He grabbed my ass.”
Those golden eyes darken as the corners of his mouth sink into adeep frown. “I’m sorry he did that to you. I think Alex is pretty wasted.”
I scowl. “Being drunk isn’t an excuse for sexually harassing me. What he did was wrong.” I stab a finger in Alex’s direction. “That dude got what he deserved. Actually, he’s lucky I didn’t knock his front teeth out.”
Eyes flaring, he holds up both hands. “I never claimed it was an acceptable justification for touching you.” He looks upset that I think he’s making excuses for his meathead friend, but I don’t care. I want him gone. His very presence unnerves me, and I don’t like it.
Even though I know he means well, I carry on with my plan to drive him away. “Actually,” I cut in, “that’sexactlywhat you said.”
His thick brows jerk together as he shakes his head. “But it’s not what I meant. I just wanted you to understand that he drank a few too many and isn’t using good judgment. Alex is a harmless guy. But yeah, I guess he thought you were pretty and was looking for a way to approach you.”
This conversation has gone from bad to worse.
My mouth falls open. “So, you’re telling me,” I say with a shitload of disbelief, “that this is my fault because he thinks I’mpretty?”
