The dimple in his cheek winked and I knewheknew just what I’d been thinking.
Chapter Sixteen
Liam
As a college town,Tallahassee, boasted a healthy variety of bars, clubs, and restaurants. A couple years ago, I could be found in any number of them looking for a woman, a good time, or both. But I wasn't as interested in the casual thing as I used to be. Swiping through dating apps or trolling the night life for an easy tumble between the sheets wasn't appealing. Probably because it was just that—easy. Not to say I didn't appreciate a woman who knows what she wants, it had just become hollow. The last time I'd taken a woman home, I felt nothing.
I signaled to the bartender for a beer, hoping to feel a little more nothing. I wasn't sure what was worse. The endless line of women, so many at times their faces blurred together, or the thought of risking it all for a woman like Charlie. Just thinking about it made my hands tremble with nerves. The bartender placed a bottle in front of me. I took it with one hand and paid with the other, tipping generously for the quick service.
I spotted Charlie across the room and downed half my glass to sooth the rawness in my throat. She'd found her friends Layla--a stunning, if aloof, brunette, and Ember a fiery redhead with a mile-wide smile. They were in the middle of an intense discussion by the looks of it and even though I knew I should look away I couldn't.
She'd pulled her dirty blonde hair over one shoulder and I realized there was a matching cutout on the back of her dress that showed the dip of her spine. I'd never been so irritated and turned on at the same time in my life. I downed the rest of my beer and signaled for another. This one would have to last me the rest of the night because there was no way in hell I was going to let her out of my sight looking as good as she does.
I couldn't take my eyes off her if I tried.
It wasn't the dress, though she looked smoking hot in it, all long legs and shining hair streaming down her back. It was the heated looks she kept sending me and the way her eyes would light up when she caught me looking at her from across the room.
Tripp had come along with Ember and sidled up to me with a fresh beer. I accepted without turning away from the view of Charlie laughing with her friends a little ways down the bar. God, she was stunning when she smiled.
“Hey, man. I didn’t know you were gonna be here tonight.”
I managed to pull my eyes away from Charlie for a second to find Tripp standing next to me. A starter on the university baseball team, Tripp had been friends with Charlie’s friend Ember for as long as I’ve known them.
“How’s it goin’? You here with Ember?”
He signaled to the bartender. “I’ll have whatever he’s having. Yeah, she didn’t want to come alone and begged me to tag along. "Something going on between you two?" he nodded to the three girls across the room.
"What's that?"
Tripp accepted a beer from the bartender. "You and Charlie. Something's different there."
"What the hell is this, social hour? We gossiping now?"
"Spring training. I'm going stir crazy so don't blame me. But you're evading the question, which basically tells me all I need to know."
“What the fuck ever,” I said, but we both knew it was just bullshit. I still hadn’t taken my eyes off Charlie.
He slapped me on the shoulder, his focus already on a pretty blonde a couple stools down at the bar. I felt for him almost as much as I did for myself. Everyone, and I meaneveryone, knew he had a huge thing for Ember, but she was dating some grad student who kept stringing her along. Tripp spent most of his time drowning in women to pretend he didn't care about her, even though it was obvious to everyone but Ember.
As he moved in on the blonde, I made my way across the room to the girls. I pulled Layla close to press a kiss to her cheek. "Sorry to interrupt," I told them. "I just wanted to make sure this little lady didn’t need a knight in shining armor."
"Thank you, Liam," Layla's eyes were as bright as her smile. "We were just talking about you since you’re applying to vet school next semester. Did you get in? I asked Charlie, but she said she wasn't sure."
"Probably theonlything she doesn't know about you," Ember said, eyes twinkling. I had a feeling she’d cottoned on to the fact that I hovered close to Charlie’s side and had a protective armed around her and propped on the bar.
I could practically feel Charlie vibrating in front of me and it made me want to smile darkly. I’d teased her plenty as friends, but there was a delicious new aspect to teasing her this way. Leaning forward so my lips were just near her ear, I said, “I have a few things to submit for scholarships and I’ve applied to schools here and a couple other places.
“You have?” Charlie asked twisting around to look at me, her eyes wide.
“Congratulations,” Layla exclaimed. “That’s amazing. I’m sure you’re going to do well wherever you go. I can’t believe you haven’t said anything!” she added in Charlie’s direction.
Charlie just took a sip of her fruity drink, but she’d stiffened against me.
Unable to have her be uncomfortable, I placed a soothing hand around her waist, then said, “I haven’t said much about it because I’m still weighing my options. There’s been a lot going on, family wise.”
“I hear you. The twins are driving me crazy. One of them wants to start ballet, the other one wants to start t-ball. With that, school, and my shifts I can barely see straight let alone apply for scholarships,” Ember said, but she smiled. “I don’t know how you do it.”
Layla and Charlie frowned. “What about your parents?” Layla asked.
