Page 29 of Pinch
“I didn’t say I was interested in him, but you could’ve been nicer.”
“I was very nice!” Gav straightens, holding his hands out. “I told the worst jokes I knew, and he still got pissed and left.”
Another snort slips through my nose, and I lift my hand. “Private tutor was pretty funny.”
He flashes that killer grin, catching my hand again. “He didn’t even try to fight for you.”
“Fight?” My eyes widen. “This isn’t a hockey game.”
“Yeah, but he was a dork. Did he have a doll on his tote bag? Also, why did he have a tote bag?”
“I think he’s a teaching assistant this semester, which means he probably has papers to grade.”
“Haddy. No.” Gav shakes his head, so disapprovingly. “You cannot tell me you’re interested in that guy.”
Doing a little shrug, I stab my straw in my frozen margarita. “We share a lab. We should be able to have drinks together as friends.”
“Trust me, Timmy does not want to be friends.”
My nose wrinkles, and I take a sip of my drink. “I know. Thanks for coming with me. I was worried it might get awkward.”
“Glad to help.” He studies me as I hold my frozen drink and take another sip.
The music in the bar is some ancient Beatles song or maybe it’s only George Harrison… my mom would know. Either way, I bob around to the familiar song until I realize Gav is still watching me, only now his smile has morphed into something like satisfaction.
“What?” I stop bobbing and step closer. “Do I have a bat in the cave?”
I reach up to wipe my nose, and he catches my wrist. “No. You’re beautiful as always, Princess.”
Straightening, I clear my throat, feeling silly. “Thank you.”
“Tell me something.” His dark brow lowers. “Why don’t you date?”
“I date. You saw me date in college.”
“Right.” His expression turns to disapproval. Again. “You dated Rob the knob Westcoat.”
Again, I almost do a spit take. “Theknob?”
“It’s a British expression. It means dick.” He hits the word hard.
“You’re not British.”
“No, but I like the insult. I bet they’d even let a princess sayknob.”
I shake my head. “Not likely. You have no idea how strict these pageant people are.”
“Back to my point, you dated Rob the knob…”
“He was a total knob, too. He was way more excited about dating a beauty queen than a scientist.” My chest heats at the memory. “He acted like my thesis was a hobby, and he always made little comments like wouldn’t I enjoy majoring in fashion design more?”
“Knob.” Gav is still watching me with that smile.
He’s thinking about me naked. Which makes me wonder about him naked. Which makes my skin prickly and my body hot, so I slurp up the last of my frozen beverage.
“Don’t you get horny?” he asks.
This time I do send frozen margarita through my nose. “Ow!” I squeal.
