Take Me for Granted (Take Me #1)(30)

I saw red. I didn’t even know what to think or do about the situation, but it felt like in one easy swoop Grant McDermott had ruined my carefully constructed reputation.

“I didn’t have sex with Grant. You can tell that to everyone else who asks you, too.”

Kristin looked at me skeptically. “But you were backstage with him, right?”

“Just because I was backstage doesn’t mean I had sex with him!” I snapped.

A few people glanced our way, and I reminded myself to breathe. I scrawled the last few notes into my notebook and then passed hers back. “We didn’t have sex.”

“Okay…you didn’t have sex.”

I ground my teeth together at the disbelieving inflection in her voice. I didn’t even know what else to say, so I just turned around and walked away. I hadn’t bothered thanking her for her notes.

I snatched my phone and dialed Grant’s number. I couldn’t believe that I was giving in and calling that bastard again.

He picked up on the third ring. “Hey, Princess.”

Cocky, conceited, arrogant prick. I wanted to wipe the smirk right off his face. I wanted to forget ever going on a date with him or kissing him or letting him do more. I wanted to forget the last three days of exhaustion, wondering why he had snuck out of my house and why he hadn’t called me back. I’d never had those thoughts before, and I just wanted him out of my life, so this could all stop.

“You told everyone that we slept together?” I asked, nearly hysterical.

“What?” I heard the genuine confusion in his voice.

“You told everyone we slept together!” I repeated. “Congratulations! You have single-handedly ruined my entire reputation. Now, everyone thinks I’m some dumb groupie slut. I can’t believe I trusted you. I can’t believe that I was foolish enough to go out with you. Why didn’t I see this coming? I must be so naïve. You couldn’t get any from me, so you just told everyone that you did.”

“I would never do that.”

“Then, why is everyone saying that, Grant? Hmm? Do you think I’m stupid? I told you I didn’t want to play this game.”

“Ari, would you slow down for one second? I never told anyone that we had sex. Who did you hear that from?”

“My friend Kristin told me that everyone was talking about it.”

“Well, they’re probably just assuming that it happened since you came backstage with me. I didn’t tell anyone that. I haven’t even told anyone I’ve been seeing you.”

I didn’t know why that bugged me just as much. “I’m so glad that not only does everyone think we slept together, but I’m also your dirty little secret. Fantastic.” I reached my car and wrenched the door open.

“Ari, you need to f**king chill the f**k out right now. I’m trying to tell you what’s going on, so shut your smart mouth for one goddamn second and actually listen to me.”

Oh, he did not just go there. “Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot.”

“No one in the whole f**king world could think you’re an idiot, Ari. Just calm the f**k down,” he growled. “You know what? Fuck it. Let’s just meet up. I’m tired of you yelling at me through the phone.”

“Fine. I’ll just yell at you in person.”

“I like my women vocal,” he said with a chuckle. “Your place or mine, sweetheart?”

“Ugh! You’re so exasperating! Just forget it.”

“Princess, you should learn to take a joke. Just be at The Coffee Bean in fifteen.”

Chapter 19: Grant

I dropped into a booth in the back of The Coffee Bean and tossed my helmet into the seat next to me to wait out Aribel.

Fuck. It was the one word that kept replaying through my mind. I wasn’t sure how I could f**king make any of this worse.

I’d stayed the night at her place, but I hadn’t slept a wink. I’d been too lost in my own train of thought, too horny to let myself relax around her. Then, I’d lost my nerve. I’d f**king lost my nerve. I couldn’t believe it.

I’d been lying there obsessing about the fact that I liked this chick enough to give her what she wasn’t giving me—leaving myself with a painful throbbing erection, dying to at least jack off—and I’d actually stayed the night. Then, I’d freaked the f**k out and bolted.

I couldn’t like her this much. I couldn’t f**king be in her house, lying against her soft body while holding her tight, and not want to f**k her. But I f**king respected the woman enough not to push any more than I had, and I’d been pushy as hell.

Then like a pu**y, I hadn’t called her after I disappeared. I’d wanted to get laid so bad, but every time I’d closed my eyes, all I would see was her face as she climaxed. I’d never jacked off so much in my life.

How hard could it be to forget someone? Clearly, it wasn’t easy enough because as soon as I’d seen her number on my phone, I’d answered. I couldn’t stay away from her. I’d been stupid for trying, and I was going to convince her that she couldn’t stay away from me either.

The door rattled on its hinges as Ari yanked it open, and I got my first glimpse of her. A thundercloud might as well have been hovering over her head. Her eyes found me across the room. Her smile was replaced with that scowl, telling me she was going to lay into me as soon as she sat down.