I Dare You (The Hook Up #1)(97)

“Wow, Elizabeth? Is that so?” Shelley asked in a snarky voice.

I shrugged. “Sure, what’s not to like? There are big muscles and blond hair and tattoos and a hammer …”

“Yeah, she likes big hammers,” Shelley deadpanned.

“That’s enough,” I said.

“I was kidding.” She sent me a sly look.

Blake and Rick chuckled, and even though I was the butt of the joke, it made me glad to see Blake smile. I didn’t want things to be weird between us. I’d been processing his declaration of love, but I still didn’t know what I wanted to do about it.

The chime on the overhead door went off as Dax and Declan both walked in the café entrance.

Shelley came to attention. “The British are coming, the British are coming.”

“Stop it,” I hissed.

Blake’s face had grown still at our conversation, his body tense. “I don’t know what all the girls see in those two—”

“—who are hotter than my hair straightener,” Shelley finished.

A girl in the café waylaid Dax, but Declan strode our way wearing low-slung jeans, a Whitman shirt, and a pair of leather flip-flops.

I sighed, taking in the dark hair that curled around his ears and nape, the glossy sheen catching the lights. His steely-gray eyes seemed to zero in right on me from clear across the store, and I felt myself prepping my body for the current that would inevitably shoot through me.

He came closer and it seemed as if every eye in the place followed him.

Why couldn’t I just write him off like I had all the others?

“Yep, hotter than a Times Square Rolex,” I murmured to myself.

He came to a stop in front of the counter. “Hey. You good today?”

I squirmed at the attention. He meant the nightmare. It had been several days since our sleepover and he’d been checking in with me each morning in Lit class, keeping it casual but always asking if I was okay.

“Yeah. And you?”

He nodded.

Dax came crashing into us, the girl he’d been talking to tagging along behind him. “What’s going on? Anybody want to come to the house and hang out?” He came over and tossed an arm around me. “Hey, love, when do you get off work?”

Blake answered. “We’re going to the movies later. Sorry.”

I didn’t recall agreeing to a movie. Seems my friends had decided what my plans were for the evening when really I needed to get home and study.

“Sounds kinda boring, but I’m in,” Dax said with a clap of his hands. He left me to toss an arm around the random girl. “You too?”

She blushed.

“Actually, Elizabeth and I already have plans tonight. I was just coming by to confirm,” Declan inserted smoothly.

All eyes turned to me and then bounced back to Declan.

“Plans?” Shelley squeaked. “You didn’t tell moi?”

“But, the movie …” Blake’s voice trailed off.

Dax’s eyes widened. “Oh, I didn’t see that coming.”

Rick moved to the cash register to check someone out but not before looking at me with questioning eyebrows.

Seemed like everyone had a damn opinion on the matter.

“You still coming?” Declan said, a slight edge to his voice as he turned to look at me.

A hush had settled over the group.

I set down the book I’d been holding. Swallowed.

Was this a real date-date? One without sex at the end or one with sex at the end? God, I didn’t know because I hadn’t had a real date since Colby.

Or had he figured out I didn’t want to go anywhere at all and was just trying to rescue me from my well-meaning friends?

“Yes, of course,” I said. “Where are we going?”

He grinned, a soft boyishness settling on his face. “It’s a surprise.”

Shelley giggled, abruptly clamming up when I glared at her.

Blake snapped up and took off for the café. Dammit. I watched him go with a heavy sigh and then turned back to Declan.

“I don’t get off for another hour.”

He looked at the books scattered around me. “I can help you. What needs to be done?”

“Oh, thank you, but only employees can shelve. Rick’s rule. I appreciate it though. Are you sure you don’t mind waiting?”

“Good things are worth waiting on.”

I smiled. Breathless.

He sent me a grin. “Nice shirt, by the way.” He raked his eyes over me, lingering on the T-shirt he’d given me a few nights ago. Made of thin white cotton, it featured the Front Street Gym logo, which was a black circle with two fists meeting and the gym name written around the circle. On the back of the shirt in Old English font was written Property of Dirty English. I’d been surprised as hell when he’d knocked on my door and handed it to me, saying he’d designed it and wanted my opinion before ordering in bulk for his gym’s grand opening. It fit tight across my chest. He lifted his eyes up to mine.

“Thanks. Some cocky guy gave it to me.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “He must be a nice bloke to give you a free T-shirt.”

“Very. Although I think he gave me a size too small. On purpose.”

His eyes landed on my breasts and he smiled before focusing back on my face. “Perhaps he never thought you’d wear it in public. Is he handsome?”