Love Tap(19)

“Ouch!” I rub at my shin, my face cooling from all the blood draining my face.

The guy and his friend walk by our table slowly. He’s clearly looking for an opening to see if I’m interested, but I keep my head down. Grabbing a menu I scour it, focusing on the appetizer section so hard you’d think I was going to be quizzed on their choices. Is he gone? Tell me he’s gone.

I give a sideways glance to see if he’s lost interest.

He shrugs and continues to the back of the building, and I can’t help but sag with relief and drop the menu on the table. People have been screaming and hollering back there since Chloe and I arrived. Must be some kind of party. They have red curtains closing it off, so you can’t see what all the excitement is about though.

“That was pathetic,” Chloe laughs at me.

“Sounds like someone is having a good time,” I state ignoring her, jutting my head toward the back.

“Yeah, not us because you have a stick up your ass.” Chloe shakes her head, lips pursed. I open my mouth to object and the little red head waitress shows up and places beers and pizza down.

“Whoa, that is a—” I stumble on my words.

“Big ass pizza, right?” Chloe giggles.

I try to pick it up, but it just flops over my hand. “It’s bigger than my head.” I laugh.

Half a slice of pizza, and four beers later I’m feeling relaxed and happy. The pizza was good, but it was no deep dish.

“Remember that time you told Felicia to stick a hair curler up her ass?!” Chloe laughs so hard I can barely understand her.

Falling back I clutch my chest with a fit of giggles. “I remember that. Her face—” I try to portray her face. “I’ll never forget it. Whatever happened to her, did she run off and marry her prince charming like she always wanted?” I ask.

“Nah, she got knocked up by some truck driver. When she told her parents she was keeping the baby they disowned her. Last I heard she was in some trailer park in the south side,” Chloe tells me as she bites into a pepperoni that fell off her pizza.

I can’t help the furrow in my brows and the frown on my face. I feel sorry for Felicia. Her parents were always the uptight ones on the block, and I can only imagine the way they reacted.

The blond haired guy comes from the back of the room. His eyes catch mine before I can pretend to look away. I freeze. Why do I get so weird around guys?

Chloe notices my unease and wipes tears from the corners of her eyes and looks over her shoulder.

“Please tell me you’re going to jump on that, cause if not give me the green light, girl.”

My chest squeezes with the thought. I need to get laid. It’s been forever, and I don’t mean that in ‘oh it was a few months ago’, it’s been years.

Just as I open my mouth to say something he smiles at me and I choke on my words.

“Hey.” His voice is rugged, but smooth. He smiles and I notice a scar across his bottom lip. His jaw is square, and feathered in scruff. His eyes grab mine, sending a sudden chill down my spine. As cute as he is, there’s something very dark about him, I just can’t quite place it.

“Hey yourself.” Chloe plays it off coolly, obviously not getting the same ominous vibe I am.

He looks at me, and the little vixen in me runs and hides. Chloe kicks me in the shin again. My brain is mush and put on the spot I’m not sure what to do. I freak.

“It’s big and hot.” I word vomit under pressure. Chloe’s head turns like the exorcist, her eyes wide.

Clenching my eyes shut I cringe at what I just said. I don’t think there’s enough beer in this world to overcome my awkwardness around guys. I’m just not programmed with that sassy charm women have to persuade men. I have a repellant that has them running for the hills.

“I didn’t just say that.” My head falls forward, hair falling in my face.

He laughs hard. “You did.”

“Don’t mind her, she’s…”

“I’m nothing,” I snap, grabbing my beer for a distraction. It’s warm but I don’t care.

“Name is Chase.” He winks at me, and I look away nervously.

“I’m Chloe, this is Tate.” Chloe saves the day.

“Tate…” he whispers my name, as if he wants to taste it. “You look familiar.” Briefly I glance at his face. I frown, not recognizing him. His brown eyes squint as he focuses on my face.

“I’m not from around here…” I stir, not sure where he’s seen me.

He nods and looks away. “You want to dance, Tate?”

My face falls in panic. I’m a terrible dancer.

“Of course she does!” Chloe answers eagerly for me.

“No I’m—” Chase doesn’t give me a chance to answer before pulling me out of the booth and onto the dance floor.

The song ‘Addicted’ by Saving Abel plays as we enter a wave of couples dancing. My forehead sweats as I think about how I’m going to trip and face plant in front of everyone. The beat of the song runs through my veins and I begin to relax some. I tap my thigh with my fingers as I look around the dance floor.

Chase grips my hips hard, presses his groin into the back of me, and starts swaying. I blink slowly, a little surprised by the close proximity. But by the way his fingers are digging into my skin I can tell I’m not going anywhere.