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Before they launched into their theories as to why that might be, I knew it was my cue to sidle over to the esky and see if I could find another soft drink.
The girl who’d stumbled on the way to third base had no place in that conversation. She had nothing to offer and really didn’t feel like hanging around as she knew her best friends were either pitying her or sheltering her.
So as they giggled over whatever it was that Celeste had just been getting up to with Marty and why guys seemed less concerned with your hands down their pants, I took a few inconspicuous steps backwards, then spun and headed for the eskies. I avoided the eyes of anyone, hoping they’d think I was on a toilet mission or something and leave me alone.
Next to Hadley and Celeste – hell, even Tucker at a stretch – I could keep the anxiety at bay enough to look normal. But away from them, I really didn’t want to find myself in an unexpected conversation.
Luckily, I didn’t find myself in any unexpected conversations. Unluckily, I did find myself over-hearing some unexpected conversation.
“Yeah, nah. I’ve had Jess,” I heard Roman’s voice and I looked around surreptitiously.
“Any good?” Rio asked.
Roman shrugged. “Depends what you want.”
“Well, what did she offer?”
“Everything. Until I went for it and she freaked out.”
Rio snorted. “Fucking prude.”
Roman shrugged again and his lip twitched like he was not saying something. “Her hand job’s decent.”
“Compared to Britt’s?”
“Fuck, you know Britt’s is the best.”
“Shame she won’t touch you with a fucking pole anymore.”
Roman huffed in what was almost a laugh. “Nah, that’s all good, mate. Plenty of girls willing. I’m not averse to a little bit of teaching if they’re up for it.”
“You willing to risk leading them on?”
“They know what they’re signing up for.”
“Dude, you’re not the one they cry to when you’re done with them.” I couldn’t tell if Rio was annoyed by that or not.
“Aw, you don’t want my sloppy seconds, mate?” Roman asked him almost teasingly.
Rio chuckled. “Mate, they don’t want me after they’ve tasted you. That’s why I have to get to them first.”
Suddenly, Rio looked at me like he knew I’d been eavesdropping and threw me a wink. My cheeks went bright red and I quickly looked in every direction but them in the most obvious way possible. But for some reason, my eyes found their way back to the boys and I saw Roman watching me with that unnecessary interest.
My stomach squirmed in a way I was worried wasn’t entirely unpleasant and I felt myself frown in annoyance.
Roman was not going to get to me. He could make me laugh, he could look at me like…I didn’t even know what that was. But, I wasn’t falling for it. He was a player and, whether he’d decided I was his Everest or not, I was not giving him any reason to think he could conquer me.
Finally remembering why I’d even wandered over to the eskies, I hunted around for another drink. I would have liked a beer, but since I was driving I was going to stick to soft drink. Responsibility and the law aside, I was a lightweight.
“Barlow,” the low voice slid over me unexpectedly and I jumped.
“Lombardi,” I answered sullenly, giving him as good a once over as he was giving me.
I couldn’t remember where the whole calling each other by our last names had come from. But, I couldn’t really remember ever saying anything different to his face. Was that weird?
“You’re lucky Carter’s not here. You’re not inspiring anything in that getup.”
I blinked at him, not quite understanding but getting enough of an idea. I heard a noise and looked over to see stupid Shayla snorting before she walked away.
