She snickers under her breath as she struts toward the building, whispering to Noré.
Nico steps in front of me, gripping his helmet in his hand. His short, inky hair is tousled all over his head in that way that makes him look even more gorgeous, if that’s possible. Grass stains litter his white, navy and orange uniform. The shoulder pads under his jersey shirt only intensifies how hot this guy is. I’ve never let my eyes linger too long on him, but that’s not entirely true. I’m careful, though. I only stare when he’s focused ahead in class or passing by in the hallway. We’re part of the same friend group, so we chat about gaming sometimes. Beyond that, I keep my distance.
Getting caught up in guys isn’t something I can do. They’re a distraction. Not to mention they can be pure evil. Sometimes sugary sweet to get what they want. You know they’ll say all the right things. ‘You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I want to spend every waking moment with you.’ All lies. My friend Candice will never be the same after a boy tricked her into sex with his sugary sweet words. I can’t fall for these boys’ tactics. So I keep my guard up.
But this guy. This guy I happen to be attracted to. Laughing and joking with him has to seem innocent so I don’t let my guard down.
Serenity, look away before he thinks he can have you. Own you in ways guys do in romance books and movies.
“Hey,” he greets me, looking down from his towering height.
He’s got to be six-four, maybe six-five. At five-five, I have to tilt my head back just to meet his eyes.
“Great game.” I flash my megawatt smile.
“Thanks.” The angular jaw on this guy could cut stone. His grin is beautiful.
“I feel like you’ve been avoiding me.” He brushes a stray hair that’s escaped my ponytail behind my ear.
And my heart beats a million miles a minute.
“I speak when I see you.” My smile is pleasant.
“Throwing up a hand while staring straight ahead says I’m speaking because I feel like I have to but don’t want to,” he adds.
I have no idea what he’s talking about. I’ve known him since I transferred to Mercy Prep in Elizabeth, NJ back in ninth grade. We’ve always run in the same circle—same friends, same parties, same everything.
Not to mention we’re from the same world. The mafia underworld. But lately I’ve noticed he’s watched me with longing in his eyes. I try to ignore it. It’s probably a boy thing. Noticing me more than just a cool person, but more for my curvy body and pretty face. He wants what all guys want at his age. Sex. That’s why I wave and stare straight ahead. To avoid this. The obvious attraction we have to each other. The magnetic pull between us that causes cheerleaders to perform back flips in my belly.
“Again, great game. See you later.” I step to the side.
He steps with me. “Now you can’t say my name?”
I can still feel his eyes on me. My eyes bore into his chest.
“Nico.” I visibly swallow. “I have to go.”
His index finger raises my chin until our eyes meet.
“Stop avoiding me. Look at me when I’m talking to you,” he growls.
I take a step back because his fingers on my flesh twice in less than six minutes is too much.
“I’m starving. And my friends are waiting for me,” I tell him.
“Yeah, like every week after a game, we go to Tony’s Pizza. I will see you there, Serenity. And tomorrow night we’re going out alone.”
I chuckle. “You can’t make me go out with you.”
He inches closer, getting in my space. A smirk kicks up at the end of his lips. “I can because you’re mine now.”
My heart plummets to my feet.
His gaze cuts across the parking lot as he throws his helmet in the air. “Hey Felix, what a win tonight, huh?”
His deep voice rattles my insides because I’m so close to him.
And with that, he places a hand on the small of my back, guiding me toward the building as he talks to his friend like I really do belong to him.
