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Barnacle (noun): What the swim bro girlfriends call the girls who hang all over Elite.
Barnacles. Crustaceans that latch on to anything in the water and are impossible to remove.
“Well, thanks for the offer,” I said unnervingly. “I should go.”
“Who are you dating?” he asked.
I turned back. “Arsen Andrews.”
Theo’s eyes widened. “Triple A?”
I nodded.
“He’s got good taste.”
What? I felt my face heat. “Bye,” I said and pivoted away.
“Call me!” he shouted to my back.
After that, my brain spaced out. The slip-n-slide was all dried up. My body sort of went on autopilot and didn’t click back on again until I stepped onto the sidewalk leading to the radio station.
The second I realized where I was, that achy, hollow feeling reminded me it was there. After one last sip of the mocha, I tossed it into the trash and went inside.
The building wasn’t that big, and there was no desk or anything in the entry. I remembered the way to the DJ booth from the tour Arsen had given me a few days before, so I headed down the hall to the last door on the left.
The speed of my heart increased, and anticipation buzzed in my stomach. I wasn’t sure I should just walk in. I mean, he was on air, right? I knocked instead.
A moment later, the door pulled open, and he filled my sight.
Relief swept over me as I took in every inch of him I could. God, he looked so good standing there in Adidas track pants and shoes with a designer jacket. His dark hair was parted in the middle and fell to the sides to frame his dark eyes. Surprise lit them up, and then he smiled, my stomach doing a full three-sixty inside me.
“Well, hey there, princess,” he rumbled, and oh, his voice was perfection.
“Bear,” I murmured in a relieved, breathy tone.
Concern flickered in his eyes, and he let go of the door to enclose his hand around mine and draw me in. “What’s the matter?” he asked, wrapping an arm around my back. “What happened?”
I loved the tension in his body. Odd, I know, but it relaxed mine. Like he was here and could take over, and whatever it was, he was well-equipped to handle it.
I sank into him, locking my arms around his waist.
He backed us into the booth and pushed the door closed. “Baby,” he murmured, dipping his face toward my ear. “What’s wrong?”
“I just missed you.”
He paused a second, and then a deep chuckle floated overhead. “Such a needy boy.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“Never be sorry. I love it.”
“Can I hang out for a while?”
“You don’t have to ask, baby. Beside me is where you belong.”
“I’d rather be in your lap.”
He laughed. “I’m not gonna argue with that.”
