Page 10 of Flip the Field
Brady
I’d watchedher all night. Waiting to get her alone to talk to her, wanting to find out everything about her. The simple black dress she wore hugged her curves. Her black strappy sandals crossed up her thin calves. She had fantastic legs. I imagined them wrapped around me.
After I had met her at the lobster bake, I’d asked some of the guys about her, but they all gave me some version of her and Duncan I didn’t want to think about. If I wanted to get to know her, I’d have to find her myself.
Who knew she’d find me.
The impression of her lips on mine lingered. My first instinct had been to push her away, but then my other brain twitched and reminded me, dude, beautiful woman kissing you, go with it.
So I did.
When she stopped, my brain took too long to unscramble before she was gone.
Duncan stood a few yards to my right, with wide eyes and a confused frown. I resisted the urge to shrug and gloat. Instead, I nodded, pushed off the wall, and left the room.
I spotted Amerie whispering to April. April’s mouth dropped open. I crossed the crowded room to follow.
I caught up with her as she made it to the street.
“Amerie,” She stopped, turned, groaned, and continued toward campus. People had poured out of the party and gathered in the front yard. I ran to catch up with her. I grabbed her arm and turned her toward me.
Her fingers crept up and touched her mouth. She peeked up at me with those big brown eyes. The street lamp illuminated our position on the street. I pulled her a few feet away, behind a tree. No need to put on a show for our fellow students.
“Why did you kiss me?”
“Listen,” She pulled her arm out of my grasp. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you into that.”
My heart sank. “You kissed me to make him jealous.” I stepped back and rubbed my chest. So this was what it felt like when your feelings got hurt. It kind of sucked.
“Jealous?” Her eyes grew wide. “I didn’t kiss you to make him jealous.”
My eyes narrowed.
She grunted and pushed her hair behind her ear, tears forming in her eyes.
“Hey,” I stepped closer to her and pulled her into me. “It’s okay.”
She didn’t hug me back. “It’s not okay.” She didn’t pull away, either.
I ran my hand up and down her spine and stepped back. The tears hadn’t fallen. Thank God. I couldn’t take a crying woman.
“I kissed you because I wanted him to leave me alone.”
I stepped back and grabbed her biceps. “Did he hurt you?” I leaned into her.
“No, nothing like that,” She sighed. “People don’t tell Duncan no.” I released her and stepped back and waited. “I figured since you’re new and hadn’t drunk the Thackeray College Kool-Aid yet…” She shrugged and stared at the ground. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, too,” I stepped forward and she looked up. “If I’d known, I would have made it more convincing. You know, maybe used more tongue or grabbed your ass or something.” She cracked a smile. “We can go back and try it again if you want.” I caressed her cheek. “Make sure he really gets a good eyeful.”
She rolled her eyes and hugged herself. “I think I’m going to head home.”
“Where’s home?” I took a step toward campus. “I’ll walk you.”
“You don’t have to,” She fell into step next to me.
“I know. I want to.”
She pulled on my sleeve and we stopped. “It wasn’t all about him, you know.” She bit her lip and I had the urge to remove it from between her teeth.
