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When their heads popped up to peek in Leo’s direction, Leo gave one indignant and firm shake of his head.
Absolutely not.
Sam’s eyes blazed with a passionate plea, and Leo shook his head again, mouthing “no” as he jerked his head back to the stage to watch Piper grow even more confident in her voice. It was unruffled and pure. The sweet kind that made you feel like you were floating on a cloud. A good-girl voice, like Mandy Moore’s in A Walk to Remember.
Leo let out a long sigh, looking over at his friends again. Wes’s eyebrows rose, and he cocked his head to the side as Sam whispered something in his ear. Leo groaned to himself, massaging his temples. They were never going to shut up about this. Not when they thought they had found the perfect Sarah Brown. It was even in the name of the musical, Guys and Dolls. Piper looked like a literal doll up on stage, swaying with the music and singing in a happy and energetic voice. And she was smiling the entire fucking time like the sun was shining and everything was right in the world. Sam and Wes were not allowed to find their Sarah Brown in Piper. Leo didn’t think he could stand having to see her almost every day, let alone having to work with her on a project that could make or break his resume for after college.
Piper sang out and swung her hips back and forth, her dress seductively drifting across her thighs. Leo’s eyes dropped without his permission to watch her body, then quickly darted back up to her face just in time for her to point and direct the chorus at him. Her blue eyes met his, and she did a little kick step and turn. She was obviously trying to prove a point that she was capable of walking on sunshine despite her shitty morning, and unfortunately, it was working on everyone but him. Sam chuckled next to him, and Leo shoved his shoulder.
“She’s good,” Sam whispered.
“I already said no,” Leo replied with a chop of his hand.
“It’s not about you,” Sam retorted. “Take one for the team.”
“She’ll say no, too. Did you see the look on her face when she got up there? She has stage fright. No way she’ll be able to pull it off.”
“Seems like she’s pulling it off to me,” Wes interjected, keeping his voice down.
“She’s…” Leo searched for the right word. The one he finally landed on fell flat. “Aggravating.”
“To you. She’s in one of my classes, and I think she’s a delight,” Sam said.
“She will be an absolute diva to work with,” Leo argued. “She’s a faker. She’s not actually sunshine and roses like everyone thinks she is. No one is that happy all the time.”
“Well, we work with you, and you’re not as hard-headed and grumpy as you think you are.” Wes chuckled.
Leo muttered, “I need a drink,” as he threw back his chair and started toward the bar.
When he reached it, he slapped his hands on the bartop, like the sound of his confidence alone would rein in the out-of-control feeling that was taking hold of his body. The same tattooed bartender from before walked over to him.
“What can I get you?”
“Are you doing something when you’re off your shift?” He spewed the question so quickly that he could tell it took her a second to understand what he had even asked.
“No. Are you offering to change that?” She leaned over the counter toward him, flirtation easily sliding back onto her face.
“I would very much like to change that.” He held out his hand. “Leo. Nice to meet you.”
“Sasha.” She shook his hand slowly, locking eyes with him.
Sasha was exactly what he needed. The wild look about her was on par with every other girl Leo had ever dated. But with Piper’s voice filling his ears, every muscle in his body wanted to revolt against the idea of doing anything but going home to look at the contact picture in his phone and stew over Piper’s annoying talent. The spark with Sasha had been there until Piper had ruined it. He needed it back, and he was determined to force it back if he had to.
“What about your ex?” Sasha asked.
“My ex?” Leo knit his eyebrows together in confusion.
“The hot girl on stage.” Sasha pointed.
“She’s not my ex. She doesn’t date men that don’t treat her like shit.”
“And you’d treat her better?”
“What? Why does everyone—? No. I’d never date her to begin with.” Leo shifted on his feet. “She’s not my type. You are.”
“That was not the impression that I got.” Sasha gave him a sly smile.
“Do you want to go out with me or not?” Leo huffed.
