Aunt Sloane:All I have are questions.
Mom:Can you at least confirm you’re safe and not being stalked by one of the crazy hockey women?
Aunt Lavi:That’s presumptuous.
Dad:But probably accurate. Answer your mother’s question, please.
Me:I’m fine. I was getting a lot of unwanted calls on the other line. Problem solved. You’re the only ones with this number.
Aunt Sloane:Maybe don’t give this one out to the puck bunnies.
Me:That’s the plan. This number is under lock and key and I didn’t download any social media either. Since you’re the only ones with the number, I’ll know if you leak it.
Jace:Surely there’s a cute girl on campus who deserves this phone number.
I rolled my eyes at my cousin’s text and tucked my phone in my pocket as I approached the building. I looked up and saw Sophia glancing at her phone, her dark hair shining in the light of the sconce next to her on the wall of her brick dorm building. My face rocketed into a grin before I could control it.
Yeah, I have a mad crush on this girl alright.
“Hey, Hawaii,” I said casually, hoping she couldn’t hear my heart racing in my chest.
“Hi, Leo.” She smiled sweetly.
My eyes roamed over her body. She looked effortlessly gorgeous in jeans and a sweater. Meanwhile, I’d tried on six shirts before settling on the long-sleeve shirt I was in now.
“You ready for a drink?” I asked, making a pointed effort not to look at the cleavage visible in the V-neck of her sweater. Her chest was modestand I couldn’t help but hope the reason she’d pushed her breasts up was for my benefit.
“Yes,” she said with a sigh. “I interviewed Shawn for the paper today, and that kid can talk an ear off.”
I laughed. “Yeah, Rickles is a chatty guy. Speaking of which, you didn’t set up a follow-up interview with me.”
“I’m spending the entire evening with you,” she said with an innocent smile.
A pit formed in my stomach.
Is she going to use tonight as a chance to interview me? I mean, I guess she could. I’d never really said I wanted tonight to be a date.
She looked at me for a second and then changed the subject. “Where are you taking me for the full Leo experience?”
I chuckled. “The Cohen Club. It’s my parents’ other bar. Have you been there before?”
“No.”
“Alright then, let’s go.” I waved for her to follow me. “You like their other establishments enough, I’m sure you’ll dig this one too.”
“I didn’t say I liked Harrison’s. I said I liked Ackerson’s.” She fell into step next to me.
“You didn’t have to say anything. You ordered without looking at the menu.”
“Oh yeah.” Her cheeks pinked slightly, and I tried to order the blood rushing to my dick to slow down.
Later, dude, not now.
“Alright, if this is going to double as a drink before our night togetherandan interview, you have until we get to the bar to interview me. Then no more interview questions. Everything is off the record, and you have to at least pretend like you want to be friends with me.”
She laughed. “I have nothing against being friends with you, Leo. But I do need to write that article this weekend, so I accept your offer.”
“You have twenty minutes, Hawaii. Make ‘em count.” I shot her a smirk as she pulled out her phone.
