Page 7 of Bad Crush
“He was a Scorpio. I should have known better. I don’t need a man to order for me, and if he does, it better be something chocolate. Also, the wine was delicious and more than made up for my bad dinner, so thanks for that.”
I’m grinning at her. This might be the most I’ve ever talked to Reagan, just the two of us. And the most she’s ever said about herself.
One of the girls that came over with Leah comes into the kitchen and steps closer than necessary. Her friends wait behind her. Our kitchen isn’t that big. She could stand on the other side of it and we’d be close enough to whisper.
I wonder if she won rock, paper, scissors, and if so, what she won with. Can I ask that?
“Adam, you have to come outside with us. We’re going to play flip cup.” She takes my hand and tugs.
“Sorry.” I don’t budge. “I don’t want to ditch my date for the night.”
“Date?” Her voice climbs and she searches my face.
I look over her head to Reagan and give her my best pleading eyes.
“Sorry girls.” She sweeps in front of them and nuzzles into my side. “Tonight he’s all mine. I even had to fight for him,” she says that last bit with steel in her voice.
Her hand gently slides up my stomach and rests on my chest. Well, that feels… nice.
“I thought you were just the neighbor,” one of the girls says.
It’s a good thing one of us is an amazing actress. Reagan doesn’t miss a beat. “Is that what you heard?” She laughs sweetly, just a hint of condescension.
“Okay, well since Leah left, we need one more anyway. Both of you have to join us.” The girl motions for us to follow and steps toward the sliding glass door that leads to the deck.
As soon as they’re out of sight, Reagan jumps away from me. “Sorry.”
Yeah, so am I. Sorry that she’s no longer touching me.
“No, that was perfect.” I tip my head toward outside. “What do you say?”
“Don’t you think they’ll figure out we’re not really on a date?”
I take her hand in mine. Yep, definitely nice. “No way. Not with Scarlett Johansson by my side.”
She grins. “What about you?”
“Well, I’m no Hollywood actor, so I’ll just do my best to look like I’m not having too bad of a time with you,” I tease. In truth, I don’t worry for a second that we’ll have a good time.
And for the next two hours, we do. I have to say, being the center of Reagan’s attention… I don’t hate it. She’s outspoken, funny, and she keeps touching me. Just little possessive moves every so often. Physical reminders for our new friends. A squeeze of my bicep, a quick hug around my waist, linking our pinky fingers.
“You are ridiculously good at flip cup,” I tell her after she pulls off the win for our team. “Any more hidden talents?”
“Hidden? Where do you think I practiced this talent?”
I nod. Right. Probably in this very spot.
She steps to me so her tits brush against my chest, and she places her hands loosely around my neck. Without hesitation, my hands go around her back.
“You were usually standing on the opposite side of the deck, not paying me any attention,” she whispers. There’s no malice in her tone, but I still feel like an idiot for not noticing.
I lean down until my lips hover near hers. “I’m paying attention now.”
As the sky darkens, we give up on flip cup and sit with our new friends outside on the deck. It’s cold out. The heaters are going and I brought blankets outside to help keep us warm. The girls may have been interested in me to start, but it’s Reagan they’re fawning over now.
She’s sitting next to me. A blanket covers our legs and my hand rests on her thigh over the soft material. Winona and Sage—two of our new friends—lean forward and are touching her hair, complimenting her and basically just totally girl-crushing.
“You two should come with us to Theta for the after-hours party.”
