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His expression relaxes. “Oh.”
“Wow,” I say. “You had a very strange reaction to that.”
He stares at me for a moment, then shakes his head and turns his back—and oh, Lord, it’s just as delicious as the front. Two demons on each of his shoulder blades connected by some swirly, smoky design elements.
“I like your tattoos,” I say. “They’re pretty hot.”
He looks at me over his shoulder as he bends down to do whatever to his drums, stretching his back muscles as he reaches forward. “I like your dress. You should take it off.”
I blink at him. “What?” Then I laugh.
“Take it off. You’re eighteen now. Legal.” He winks.
“My mom and dad are outside in the car.”
“Get rid of them.”
“No,” I say. “They’re driving me home.”
“I’ll drive you home.”
“OK, it was nice seeing you again, but you’re way too old for me so I’m not…” I shake my head. “I’m not…”
I can’t think what I’m not gonna do because he stands back up and walks over to me. Too close, actually. He puts both hands against the glass on either side of my head and leans down.
He smells like cologne, and man, and something else. Sweat maybe. Or is that sex?
“You’re not gonna what?” he asks, looking at my lips. And I’m looking at his too. The way they purse a little when he says, What?
I duck under his arms and start walking to the front door. He’s way too much for me. I mean, look at him.
I look at him over my shoulder as I near the door.
He’s a man and I’m really still just a girl.
“Why are you running away from me, Aria?” he asks, following me to the door.
“I just gotta go. My parents are outside.”
“Should I say hi to them?” he asks, coming too close to me again.
“No!” I laugh. “And get away from me. My father will see you.”
“Can’t see through the glass,” he says, boxing me in again.
“He can see our shadows,” I say, starting to get nervous.
“Kiss me,” he says.
“No,” I say. “I’m not getting involved with you. You’re too old, and too…”
“Too what?”
“Too much, OK? You’re way too much for me. I’m going to find a nice boy to date at class tomorrow and forget all about that kiss up in my sister’s apartment.”
“You sure about that, Aria?” I’m still watching his lips when he leans in.
Still very sure that this won’t happen because I say, “I’m sure.”
Except I say it just before his lips touch mine.
It’s the same kind of kiss as it was on Friday. Open mouth, probing tongue, and then he grabs my hair with both hands and won’t let me go.
He makes me kiss him.
Which is stupid and ridiculous because I kiss him back so hard. I swirl my tongue with his and then my hand goes to his waist and he sucks in a breath of air, so I pull it away real fast, unsure why I just did that.
The horn honks outside and he pulls back, smiling. Then he turns away and calls over his shoulder, “Tell your parents I said hi.”
I huff, swiping my fingertips over my lips where he was just kissing them.
“And leave your door unlocked when you get home. I’m coming over.”
“What?” I whisper.
“Oh,” he says. “And don’t change your clothes or take those balloons off your wrist. It’s all part of my fantasy.”
Oh, shit.
I turn away, open the door and run out, heart-shaped balloons bobbing wildly behind me as my own heart begins to stutter and thump in my chest.
“Was someone in there with you?” my father asks, once I’m buckled into the back seat and he’s pulling away.
“Just that new guy,” I say. I was gonna say Mrs. Chi or Mr. Garcia, but I’m sure my father could probably tell from the shadow it wasn’t them. They are both on the short side and Ryker is massive.
Before he can ask any more awkward questions we arrive at my sister’s house and I open the door, calling out, “Thanks for the great birthday! I’ll see you soon!” and rush up to the house before they can stop me.
CHAPTER EIGHT – RYKER
It’s gonna be a one-night thing. I just want to get it over with. Just fuck her and leave. Then I never have to think about it again. It’s done.
That’s what I tell myself as I drive over to her apartment and park in the back lot. I planned this night. Every detail. Of course, I didn’t know for sure that she’d come by the co-op, but I had a feeling. So I made sure to take off my shirt and I took my time setting up my drums, and sure enough, she showed.
If she didn’t show I was gonna walk away. Just let it go and stop thinking about her. I really was.
