Page 10 of The Right Guy
“I want to work out at gym before my shift. So, I shouldn’t eat too much,” he said briskly, all the while smiling up at the waitress with a panty-melting grin.“Take yours back to campus in a napkin.”
The redhead had a goofy smitten expression, and she teased a penlidalong her lips for sexual effect. An upsurge of rivalry burst out of nowhere. I practically growled at the flirty hip sway and boob dip as she tried to charm him. Suddenly the uneaten pancakes seemed unappealing.
“Get a fucking room,” I muttered to myself while folding my arms across my chest in a huff.
Theo scribbled a few digits on a napkin, lifted from the booth, and slotted the paper calling call card into the open hand of his new plaything. He looked back at me and nodded briskly. “I’ll drop you back at the dorm.”
I trailed out of Jumping Joe’s, trotting behind him to keep up with his long strides. “What was that all about?” I meant the teasing sexy food game and the sudden cold shoulder.
“You reminded me I need a little more fun. She’s a knockout with a smokin’body. Don’t you think?”
I’ve never been one to surrender myself to the green-eyed monster, but right that second, jealousy blew my emotions up. My footsteps pounded the concrete, and my heartbeat crashed and reloaded. “You don’t even remember her name.”
One minute, I was ranting over his lack of information, and the next, I was traveling along the ground, skimming my palms on the hard surface. My feet were no longer beneath me, and I smashed down hard. When I rolled sideways, all I saw was a clear blue sky. My pained groan was loud enough to alert Theo.
I squeezed my eyelids shut to block out the humiliation, cursing mydanglyshoelace for the dramatic downfall.
Theo hunkered at my side with his awesome bulky body eclipsing the sun. “Youokaydown there?” He smirked. “Need a hand?”
My cheeks burned. Who wouldn'tbe mortified, lying in a parking lot with one tennis shoe on and one tennis shoe in my best friend’s hand? Who, let me add, was all smug and macho as he wrenched me up to a stand.
“You’re my hero,” I mocked. He actually was. Theo always came to my rescue.
“Humm.” He grunted. “Are you hurt?”
I dusted myself down. “Just my pride, big guy.”
“Her name is Nancy, by the way,” he added. “It was the first thing she said when she took our order.”
What a jerk. The guy had his eye on Nancy Fancy Pants the whole time. I bet that little game of tease was for her benefit.
“Good luck. Wear a condom.” I scowled. “You never know what germs she’s breeding.”
“My nightstand is fully stocked. No worries there.” He winked with his usual friendly gesture, and my heart took a ride in a free-falling elevator.
Five
Who puts mirrors there?
I was pumped. And not from riding on the back of Theo’s speedy motorcycle. My emotionswere already rattledup and unsure before I clambered on. The new fascination for Theo was growing faster than an unwanted zit on date night. I couldn’t pinpoint when my affections for him had changed—but they had.
He killed the engine outside the dorms and flicked up his visor. I released my arms from the tight bear hug that kept him close to me. There was nothing new there, I had always held on to him like a backpack, although I hadn’t considered how stimulating the essence of leather and spice was before today.
I awkwardly slid off. No amount of practice would secure a sexy dismount or even a normal one. I’m so over it.
Theo grabbed my helmet and secured it to the handlebars. “Later, princess.” He winked, and the engine sputtered to life again without giving me a chance to protest.
He’d heard my mother sing that silly pet name down the phone line umpteen times. It’s my own fault for putting her on loudspeaker. She enjoys chatting with Theo.
All the other pretty girlsfloated around the grounds with elegance and poise, height and regal importance, like fairy-tale sweethearts. They’re more like princesses than I would ever be. I’m quirkier than a primped diva. The stunning beauties could gather wishes from the bleak or lure beasts into the open with the possibility of love.Whereas I hadto marry for money, could trip over my own shadow, andwas consideredthe small cute one. I wasn’t visually perfect or majestic, but my nonconformity made me crown-worthy, in my own way.
I was, however, accustomed to the finer things in life. Money was no object in our household. Million-dollar homes, housekeepers, and chauffeurs were the norm. That lifestyle was all I knew, yet I’d never been overly comfortable with hoity-toity talk and pretentious chit chat. Perhaps that’s why Theo held bestie status. I didn’t tell him my family had money, nor did I elaborate on our actual wealth or prominence. He believed Ididn’t naturally harmonizewith the rich girls, which in reality, was true.
Theo led a simple life, living from paycheck to paycheck. He was happy with that lifestyle. And to be honest, I loved his carefree nature, untainted by wealth and greed. With Theo, lifewas understatedand modest, never dull or predictable, and always uncomplicated and satisfying.
I stuck my tongue out, angling my head so he could see. Behind the small clear screen, the corners of his eyes wrinkled, and I knew he was smirking. The engine revved with a thunderous rumble, and then he rode off.
My heartbeat found an erratic rhythm. Theo was hooking up with the busty waitress. That’s normal. He did that all the time. So why was I torturing myself with imaginary kisses and overthinking steamy encounters, and worse, why was I bothered?
