Page 45 of Forbidden Puck
It was true, Iwasfreezing. Begrudgingly, I stepped forward, and Radar helped me into it. The jacket was still sizzling with his blistering body heat. I pulled the jacket tight over my chest and one final chill ran down my spine.
“There,” he said. “How's that?”
“Better. Thank you.” The smell of his cologne surrounded me, mingled with my senses, my thoughts. “Why are you here, though? Where's your hot babe?”
“She's back at the club. I left her.”
“Why?”
“Really, Ella? Do I have to explain everything?”
“Yeah, you do.”
“Because you're our guest. And it didn't feel right, the way you left. Nothing about tonight felt right and I didn't want to leave you all alone in a strange city.”
I huffed. “I told you, you don't have to worry. I can take care of myself. I can find my way home. I live in New York, remember?”
“Yeah? You know you're walking in the wrong direction then, right, Miss Big City?”
I gulped. “Er.”
“Yeah. That's why it took me so long to catch up to you. I left almost as soon as you did, but I ran a few blocks in the other direction first.” Radar pointed 180 degrees in the opposite direction. “The condo is that-away.”
“… My phone died,” I whimpered, feeling about two inches tall. “I don't have your guys' address memorized.”
“Damn. Thank God I found you then.” Radar shook his head. “If I got you lost in the city? Lance would be right to kill me.”
“So … what do we do now?” I asked.
“We're gonna get you home.” Radar pulled out his phone and called for a cab. He gave them the address and hung up.
“They said five minutes,” he told me.
“Thank you.”
The two of us passed the minutes rather silently. It felt like there was a lot we couldbothsay in that moment, but no one had any desire to talk. Instead, we toed at the sidewalk and milled around in place. We watched the lights of traffic flying up and down the street. We stepped aside for the large and boisterous groups of bar and club-goers that roamed the sidewalk.
Radar sidled next to me and let out a gentle breath. “Hey. What's on your mind?” he finally asked.
I gave a short laugh and shook my head. “My mind's fried.”
He gave a nod. “Yeah. I hear you. Same.”
I thought that was an invitation to ask. “What's onyourmind?”
He shook his head. “I shouldn't say.”
This time, I wasn't tempted to convince him otherwise.
But then Radar blew out a breath. “To hell with it, I'm just going to say it: I had a fun time with you tonight, Ella. Like, an actual good time. Once you left? I just looked at Kara, and like … I dunno. I didn't even know what happened. It all happened so fast. I just didn't want you to leave. I shouldn't even say it, but—” He grit his teeth. “I like you, Ella. I know I'm not supposed to, but I do.”
My mind knew better, but the heart was always a fool. My heart pumped and churned with waves of warmth, and good vibes flowed outward through my whole body.
He neared confidently, a man on a mission. He pulled me against his warm body and nestled me tightly. I didn't look up. He tried to stroke the hair out of my face but I let out a short burst of laughter and turned away. “No. Don't. Don't even.”
“Why not?”
“Because you're drunk and you're acting ridiculous, Radar.”
