Page 55 of Wild Love
“Yeah. Have we met?” I’m giving her a discreet once-over to decide if she’s one of the hundreds of people I’ve met this week at the arena.
“No.” She places a hand on her forehead and laughs lightly. She’s pretty, late twenties, maybe, and has thick black-framed glasses that make her look a little like a librarian. “This is embarrassing, but I’m a fan. I was so glad when the Wildcats signed you.”
“Thank you. Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Right. Oh my gosh. I’m Anika. I live in the apartment next door.”
“Nice to meet you.” I open the door wider. “This is my friend Dakota’s place. She lets me hang out and annoy her. I’m on the eleventh.”
Dakota walks toward us and waves. “Hi.”
“I’m sorry to have interrupted,” Anika says as she returns the wave and takes a step back. “Have a good night.”
“You too.”
After I shut the door, Dakota giggles and takes the food from me. “You have fans.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll always be my favorite.”
I hop back to the living room and sit down. Dakota gets everything else, bossing me around and insisting I sit still while she plates our food and brings it to me.
She eats with one hand, messing around with her phone with the other.
“Are you going to work all night?”
“I’m not working.” She sets her phone down. “I’m signing up for a new dating app.”
“I thought we agreed those were trash.”
“This one is for people serious about dating and not just looking for hookups.”
“So, it’s for old people?”
She glares.
“Let me see.” I beckon with one hand. “I can help.”
“You said you don’t do dating apps.”
“I don’t, but I still know what dudes like.”
With a sigh, she hands over her phone and then comes to sit next to me. She hovers, crowding my space as I tap out answers and write a bio.
I had good intentions when I offered to help, but when she’s this close, I remember how much I want her and decide to fuck with her instead.
“Granny panties? You said I wear granny panties?” She tries to get her phone, but I turn and hold it out of reach.
“People in serious relationships want this. Trust me. Thongs scream hookup.”
“I trust you to know jack about serious relationships.” She climbs over me. Her hair falls over my shoulder, and her face is so close to mine. I stop messing with her and turn to hand it back, but her lips are shiny and right fucking there.
I wanted to kiss her long before last night but since then it’s all I can think about. And the way she hesitates, gaze dropping to my mouth before she snatches her phone… I’m pretty sure she’s thinking about it too.
We settle back in our spots—me on the couch and her in the chair.
I’m lost in fantasies where she tosses the phone down and begs me to kiss her. I guarantee I’m a better option than whoever she’s going to find online. Fuck that noise.
“You should ask out Anika,” she says without looking up. It takes me a few seconds to remember who she’s talking about.
