Page 63 of Burnout
“How’ve you been?” Mitch asks. “I was sorry to hear about Thorne.”
A flash of emotion crosses Knox’s face, but he smooths it out so fast I doubt Mitch notices. “Thanks. I’m good.”
“You always did land on your feet.” Mitch looks back to me, angling his body to include me in their conversation. “I was just chatting with…”
Am I surprised he’s already forgotten my name? Yes, yes, I am. My face flushes hot as Mitch’s eyes grow wide.
Knox’s smile grows bigger and mocking as he watches his friend flounder to remember my name.
“Amanda, right?” Knox takes a step closer. “I think we’ve met.”
“Right. Amanda!” Mitch grins sheepishly.
I wasn’t exactly feeling him, butouch.
“My friends call me Mandy,” I say to Knox, making my voice sugary sweet. “Have we met? I don’t seem to remember.”
“Oh, no?” His voice is low and skims over my skin like gravel. “I could have sworn we had run into each other once or twice. I can’t put my fingers on it at the moment.”
My face has to be red, but I smirk right back at him. I’m not backing down. “Must not have been very memorable.”
Mitch’s gaze is ping-ponging between us. I stand, legs a little shaky from bantering with Knox.
“Excuse me. I need to talk with my roommate.” I make a beeline for an excited Quinn. She and Colter have won their game. She throws her arms around me and I congratulate her. Then she convinces me to play with her. I happily oblige so I can avoid Mitch and him calling me Amanda.
Colter grabs Knox, who is still standing nearby, and the four of us start the game. I’m not very good at getting the dart to go where I aim, but I’m confident Quinn will carry us, or at least keep us from being creamed.
“Mandy, huh?” Knox drawls.
“Only to my friends.”
He leans in closer and drops his voice. “What about guys you let feel you up occasionally?”
My pulse ticks faster. “You can call me Amanda.”
“Sure thing, princess.” He laughs.
We don’t talk a lot during the game, which we win (thank you, Quinn), but as soon as it’s over, my best friend and her boyfriend head out to the dance floor.
“You look bored,” Knox observes when we’re alone. “I have a few ideas how to help with that.”
“I’m not bored. I just don’t really know anyone here except Quinn and Colter.”
“And me.”
“And you.”
That cocky smirk stays on his face. Someone calls out to him, and he briefly glances away, nods to whoever spoke, and then refocuses.
“You don’t need to hang around to keep me company. Quinn and Colter will be back soon.”
“Is that your prissy way of telling me to fuck off?”
“What? No. I?—”
His laughter cuts off my reply. “Come on, princess. You can slum it with me until your friend returns.”
On the farthest wall, several arcade games are set up. There’s a football-throwing game, an old school Donkey Kong game, and two driving games. One is a car and the other is a motorcycle.
