Page 19 of Rebound
My feet are moving of their own volition, and I find myself standing in front of her. Lavinia looks up from her phone, raising an eyebrow in expectation. I take her in, from the curliness of her hair to the brightness of her green eyes, to the way her black top hugs her body, the way her black jeans mold to her thighs.
I groan internally. Fuck, fuck. This is a mistake. I should walk away right now.
“Hey.” Shoot me now.
Lavinia blinks, then looks over her shoulders. Then points a finger at herself in question and lets out the fakest sounding giggle I have ever heard in my life.
“Oh my god,” she squeals. “Roman Maddox is talking to me. Me! Omigod, omigod! I’m freaking out right now. Too bad I’m wearing pants, there goes my dream of throwing my underwear at you.”
“That’s so funny because my dream is also to have you throw your underwear at me.”
The fake smile drops from Lavinia’s face. “Dream on, pretty boy.”
“You think I’m pretty?”
“I don’t think of you at all.”
Ouch. Now that would have hurt if I believed it to be true. I have messages going back half a year which tell me she does think about me. I deserve her anger because in all that time, I haven’t once attempted to talk to her in person. I haven’t quite figured out how to be near her and not be a total simp.
“I think about you all the time,” I say, my voice low.
Lavinia swallows, a beautiful blush spreading across her cheeks. “I’m not impressed. Get a hobby,” she bites back.
“I can think of a few hobbies, but they usually involve two people.” I keep my eyes on her because I don’t want to be a creep and let them trail over her body like I want.
“I have a boyfriend,” she says.
Jealousy and anger twist inside me. Jealousy over another man touching her. Anger at myself for letting her get away again. Maybe this is the universe’s way of reminding me that I don’t deserve her.
“Do you?” It takes everything to keep my voice even and controlled.
Lavinia shrugs lightly, looking almost bored. “Maybe. He’s definitely interested. I think I’m going to accept.”
“Are you?” I ask through clenched teeth.
“Yeah, I’m kind of tired of athletes and men in sports. I’m branching out to someone who actually wants me.” She takes a step to the side, her eyes shifting behind me, and I see Drew walking out of the tunnel. He’s looking down at his phone and he hasn’t seen us yet.
“Vin–” Her eyes snap back to mine. “We don’t need to play these games.”
Lavinia’s eyes move over my body in a slow perusal. I feel the heat of her gaze everywhere. I’ve often wondered why I’m so obsessed with this woman. I never give myself the chance to answer that question because I don’t want to look at it that closely.
“Who’s playing games?” She takes a step back. “I should go now before Drew looks up from his phone and sees us talking.”
“Afraid of your brother?” Drew is as much of a golden boy as Josh is, which means I don’t trust him at all. What the hell is he hiding behind that perfect facade?
Lavinia’s eyes flick to her brother. “More like afraid of what he’s going to do to you.”
“Vin, are you being bad by talking to the guy your brother doesn’t approve of?” I smirk, stepping closer to her again. It’s like a gravitational pull I can’t resist. Her skin is pale enough to be translucent and I can see the pulse beating in her neck.
I run my thumb along her pulse point and Lavinia’s mouth parts on a gasp. “Look at the way your heart is racing. Is it fear or something else?”
I’m close enough I smell the cherry blossom scent clinging to her. Close enough I see the faint freckles across her skin and the flecks of gold in her eyes. Laughter behind me has her looking over my shoulder again.
“I really have to go,” she whispers.
“Then, go.” I lower my hand and step away from her, giving her plenty of space. She looks at me for a moment, her mouth opening. Then she shakes her head and hurries away towards her brother.
I look over my shoulder in time to see her hug Ford Everett, one of the d-men. It takes everything in me not to walk over there and pull his arms away from Lavinia.
