Playing Hard to Get(42)

She’s shaking. I can feel the faint tremble wracking her body.

Is it because of me?

“You shouldn’t have followed me.” She drops her head like she’s speaking to the sink. “We can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what?” I tilt my head toward hers, nuzzling her hair, breathing in her fresh, floral scent. I could get high off her smell, swear to fucking God. She’s definitely become that piece of chocolate cake I can’t stop thinking about, and all I want to do is devour it.

Devour her.

A shuddery breath leaves her and she angles her face toward mine, her gaze lifting, meeting mine…

The door swings open and I spring away from her, taking about five steps back in a matter of seconds. Four women stream into the bathroom, laughing and talking loudly, going completely silent when they see me standing in front of them.

All of them go bug-eyed, one brave enough to squeak, “Knox Maguire?”

“See ya.” I wave at them and bolt out of the bathroom as fast as possible, which is pretty fucking fast because y’all have seen me on the field.

I’m hella quick.

I’m back at the booth and settled in when I notice Cam is sitting across from me once more.

“Where did you go?” he asks.

“Had to piss.” I jerk my thumb toward the bathrooms. “Where’s Blair?”

“With her new friend. The girl that was hanging out with Derek.” Cam glances over to where Natalie and Blair are sitting at a separate table all alone. “I don’t know her.”

“Her name is Natalie. She’s Joanna’s roommate.”

“Uh huh.” Cam nods, his eyes twinkling. Like he knows all of my secrets, which thank God, he doesn’t. “How do you know bookstore Joanna again?”

“She’s my tutor, remember,” I mutter, not wanting to say it too loudly. There are too many people at this table who could be listening. I want to keep this shit private.

I make idle conversation with everyone at the table, sipping on a fresh mug of beer, my gaze tracking Joanna’s every movement when she emerges from the bathroom minutes later. Her hair is tucked behind her ears and flows down her back, and I remember how it felt earlier when I sneakily tested the strands. Silky soft.

She joins my sister and her friend at the other table, the three of them with their heads bent close as they talk. They’re sitting right in my line of vision, so it’s easy to watch them gossip and laugh. I wish I knew what they were talking about.

Wish I could hear her voice whisper in my ear.

Feel her hand on my thigh, burning through the thick fabric of my joggers. Slowly but surely, her fingers would creep higher. Higher— Derek slaps the table, making me jump and glare.

“What the fuck was that for?”

“I’ve been trying to say something to you, but you’re not paying attention.” Derek sits right next to me in the booth, and I have no choice but to move aside to give him room. “You better not be staring at Nat.”

I scoff. “I’m not. You pretty much laid your claim on her back on the field right after the game.”

Derek grins. “I sure as hell did, huh? I think I’m headed back to her place tonight.”

He rubs his hands together greedily, the son of a bitch.

I ignore the flare of jealousy that rises within me. Not that I’m jealous he’s hooking up with Natalie. She’s not the one I want.

That’s Joanna.

It’s more that he can so freely go to her house and hook up with Natalie without any repercussions. She lives with Joanna. He’ll get to see where she lives, and spend time in her environment. Check out their apartment.

That’s what I envy.

“Lucky you,” Cam says wryly.

“Like you can’t bag any of the women swarming this place?” Derek glances around the crowded bar. “You can have your pick of ‘em. You and Maguire. Oh wait.” He grins. “Maguire is celibate. All the women are hands-off.”

“Don’t remind me.” I down the rest of my beer, feeling restless. Moody. Derek moves to refill it but Cam stops him.

“He’s had enough to drink.”

“I have not,” I protest. “I definitely need more.”

“It’s making you down in the dumps,” Cam points out. He turns to Derek. “He needs a break.”

“Okay.” Derek backs off the pitcher of beer and I scowl at both of them, annoyed that they’re playing like they’re my mom or some such shit.

We sit like this for at least twenty minutes. Derek and Cam chatting. Me glowering. The girls at the other table glancing over at us every once in a while. The only reason I know this is because I stare at their table the entire time. My excuse is Blair. I’m watching over my sister and I see the dirty looks she shoots my way.

Tough shit. I’m not even looking at her. I can’t keep my eyes off of Joanna.

The way she smiles at her friends, bending close to confide in them. The sound of her laughter. She absently twirls a dark strand of hair around her finger, her teeth sinking into her lower lip when someone else is talking, seemingly lost in thought.

Until her gaze drifts and lands on me. She always seems surprised to catch me staring, but she never looks away quickly. No, she holds my stare, looking right back at me for a few long, burning seconds before she finally returns her attention to her friends.