Chapter 6
Landon
My heart is in my throat. I roll the sleeves of my black button up to my elbows the way I know Kate loves. I am fricking nervous. As nervous as I flipping was the night that I lost my virginity. I use some hair wax to give my hair that just fucked, effortlessly sexy look that is totally not effortless.
That shit takes work, but it looks good. I spray some of her favorite cologne on my neck, fix my belt, and inhale deep. She always tells me this stuff smells so good.
I want everything that she likes that I can think of in my arsenal for tonight. Anything that could possibly tip things in my favor. I want her heart to race. I want her to fucking want mebad. I want to see her soak me in as deep as she did at practice this afternoon. I want her biting that lip that I needed so badly to bend in and capture with my teeth but held back. She’s never looked at me like that before. Wondering if her lips are bruised and sensitive from how hard she was biting them earlier, I imagine them swollen from kissing my lips all night long. I have to shake my head to scatter those thoughts and get a move on.
I check myself over one more time in the tall bathroom mirror and gotta admit, I look good. Snagging my keys and wallet, I head out the door. The night is humid, but it’s aboutten degrees cooler than it was around practice time, and I am grateful for the breeze. My body is sore after this morning’s practice and afternoon conditioning in this heat. I manage to amble up into my truck with a groan. No rest for me yet. I just need a cold beer and the eye of a particular coed, and I’ll be just fine.
After turning the key in my ignition, I turn on some country and roll my windows down, enjoying the wind coming in as I cruise down the road for Swig’s. Hopefully, tonight, I can manage to shift the tide on this “friendship” of mine.
I push my way in through the heavy oak door about a quarter after nine. I had to park down the road, but with it being a Friday night in the bar district down from the college, I am not the least bit surprised. They also have a local cover band tonight which always brings in more people. The band is already on stage setting up. I hitch my chin up at Tommy and Jameson over at the bar. Jameson is busy leaning in toward the bartender, who just so happens to be his current major crush, Kelly. She’s adorable, and those two together would make quite the pair. He’s still trying to manage to grow a sack and ask her out. Hell, like I have any room to talk. I at least can say my situation is a tad bit more complicated seeing as I let myself get friend-zoned six years ago.
Scanning the immediate area of the bar, I haven’t seen Kate or Melissa yet. Probably better that I get my beer and settle in with some of the guys first anyways. After working my way through the throng of bodies to them, Jameson slaps my shoulder and hands me the beer that he ordered when he saw me making my way over. He’s a nice guy like that. I’ll grab the next round.
“Whoa, dude! You took some extra time getting spiffed up. Who’s the lucky chick?” Tommy smarts off. He likes to give some shit, but he’s another one of the good ones.
“Not sure how my luck will pan out tonight. Figured I better have my shit on point, you know?” I grin with my noncommittal answer.
“Oh, we know exactly who the girl is,” Mason sneaks up behind me and claps a hand on each of my shoulders, giving them a good-hearted, manly, “I’m just giving you crap” squeeze and shake. I smile while looking down at my beer, then look up into curious faces. “You all know that certain brunette with long tan legs who just so happened to drop off your glove at practice this afternoon? The same brunette we all saw eye-fucking every inch of your sweaty body? Oh, and did I mention, it’s the same brunette that happens to have been your best friend for the past, OH what...six years? Yeah, that brunette,” Mason rants on to enlighten the guys.
“No shit, really?” Jameson asks. “How you gonna play this? I mean, she was NOT looking at you like a best friend today.” My face slightly blushes at being completely outed by Mason, but I guess it doesn’t really matter when I intend to make her mine.
“So, my question is, what are you going to do about Trevor? Because I recall hearing him tell Jace today that she’s going on a date with him. Tomorrow night,” Tommy interjects.
“Trevor won’t last. We all know that. She’s a big girl. I have to let her make her choices, even if I don’t like them. I’m just going to keep putting myself in her line of sight and show her what she’s missing. Long game boys. Today at practice showed me she’s starting to take notice. I’ll keep nudging my way out of “friend” territory, and Trevor will eventually fuck up.”
“Well, what if he doesn’t? What if she ends up being the one he decides to quit being a douche for?” Jameson plays devil’s advocate. He makes a good point.
“Then I guess I’ll have to turn up the heat on my game instead of nudging.” The three of them nod in agreement. I swigmy beer, hoping it’ll give me that extra ounce of bravery I’m going to need.
“Probably should get on that. Trevor’s already chatting her up.” Mason takes a sip of his beer while tipping his head toward the right end of the bar. “You don’t want that date to end up being a back-to-back Friday night and Saturday night, if you catch my drift.”
Fuck.I hadn’t even seen her come in. She and Melissa must’ve already been here and were in the bathroom primping or something. Sure enough, she and Melissa are both up on stools at a high table near the end of the bar drinking a margarita. Trevor, Jace and another guy from classes I don’t recognize are there talking them up.
She looks gorgeous. Her hair is lightly curled instead of her typical straight locks. She’s wearing more than just her usual no-fuss mascara and lip gloss that she sported earlier on today. I don’t think she needs an ounce of all that crap on her face, but she does look incredible. Her lips look glossy, plump, and kissable, and her eyes are smoky. It’s not overdone but just the right amount to draw out her dark blue eyes in a come fuck me style. She’s wearing a bright red halter top, which is doing wondrous things for the “ladies”, and her favorite denim mini skirt. Her long tan legs are crossed under the table with bright red toes strapped into a sexy pair of black sandals. She came dressed to kill tonight.
As I scan the area, I realize that I am not the only one taking her in and waiting to make their presence known.Mine...The word resonates in my mind as I stalk slowly from the bar toward her like a lion contesting for his mate, ready to take out any other male thinking of pissing near his territory.
My territory.
Jameson’s right. I better get in there.
Kate
“So pizza and a movie sound good tomorrow night?” Trevor asks hopefully, getting in my line of sight and vying for my attention.
“Uh, sure, yeah, that sounds great.” I bring my attention back to him and he smiles, happy with that.
He’s cute and all, but my mind is still across the room at the bar with a tall, fine as hell, certain roommate of mine. He’s been talking to a couple teammates and didn’t notice Melissa and I come out of the bathroom. Melissa assures me that I look as mouthwatering as an ice cream cone on a hot day, and that Landon won’t be able to take his eyes off of me. I rub my hands down my skirt. Dangit, my palms are already getting sweaty, and he hasn’t even seen me yet.
The cover band began a few minutes ago with their renditions of Luke Bryan’sThat’s My Kind Of Nightand Hardy’sTruck Bed.That’s a solid start for the evening. I’m listening to Jace go on and on to Trevor about practice when I sense eyes on me. They’re not Trevor’s. Next up, the band surprises me with a cover of Chase Rice’sWhisper.That’s definitely a bold, sexy choice.
I look over to my left where I feel the magnetism of a gaze pulling me in. Landon’s eyes are hot on mine and my breath hitches. Melissa lightly elbows me and whispers in my ear, “Holyfuck, he looks hot as hell, Kate. You know that’s all for you, right? Shit, he’s zoning in. Like seriously, Mr. Fuck Me Eyes is straight-up prowling toward you. How are you even breathing right now? I can’t, and he’s not even coming over here to talk to me. I am officially jealous.” I giggle, but keep my eyes locked on the sexy man roaming my way. Melissa tends to vomit words when she gets excited. If I could talk and roles were reversed, I’d probably be doing the same.
His eyes are making me feel every sexy word of the lyrics in the background, and she’s right. He looks like a sleek predator prowling after his prey with a beer in hand. Every slow, advancing step puts me on edge. I suck in another breath.
