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He spotted Ryan in the far corner, talking to another partner at the firm.
His cousin had kept his distance for most of the evening. Well, as distant as one could be in a suite at the stadium.
Which was fine by James. The last thing he wanted was for Ryan to think it was okay to pick back up on that gross and demeaning conversation about Tori from earlier.
Maybe James railing at him this morning had given Ryan pause, because he’d seemed to back off her a bit.
Unless he was just biding his time.
“How’s the pizza?”
James startled and turned to glance behind him. Tori was standing near the boxes of pizza, her smile bright as she watched him.
“Like, amazing? Decent?” she asked. “Or maybe I should find those garlic fries instead?”
“I’m going to go with decent?” He offered a smile and moved beside her. “But I won’t fault you for wanting to snag the fries. They’re amazing.”
“So good,” she agreed. “But they give you the kind of breath that could kill a vampire.”
“Well, unless you’re planning on making out with a vampire tonight, I’m guessing you’re safe.”
Her eyes were bright as her gaze met his. “Look at you making a joke and all. I think I like laid-back James.”
His blood quickened at her words. “Really now.” He stepped closer and leaned in. “Like‘like him’like him?”
His tone must not have been quite as teasing, because the amusement in her eyes shifted to something else. She gave a soft laugh and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She seemed almost flustered.
“What? I—”
“It was a joke,” he rushed to say.
“I know. I mean, of course it was.” She nodded and glanced down at the pizzas. “I think I’ll give these a try. I’m too hungry to seek out the fries.”
She snagged a piece and made her way back to her seat without a backward glance.
And congratulations on sounding like a kid passing notes in grade school, dumbass.
God, it was amazing how quickly he’d thrown waves back in the calm waters they’d finally established.
But once again, Tori had gone straight to his head, and he’d made a comment before thinking it through.
He’d forgotten where he was and who exactly he’d been talking to. Otherwise, a big mental stop sign would’ve stopped that flirtatious comment.
And the funny thing was, he didn’tflirt. It wasn’t a skill that came naturally to him like it did to the Ryans and Blakes of the world.
And yet somehow, he’d pulled that line out of his ass and Tori had almost been blushing as she ran back to her seat.
Why the blush, though? Was it possible she might have felt the small change too? Where their tentative friendship had opened the door to something more?
You’re an idiot if you think that.
She didn’t seem too worried about it now, though. Something Grace said had her laughing before she took another bite of pizza.
Maybe he was blowing it out of proportion. Tori wasn’t the type to freak out from a flirty line. Maybe it’d just thrown her for a loop since it had come from him.
Keep it in the friend zone, James. That’s all she wants from you, and that’s all you want from her.
Maybe he shouldn’t have come tonight. He bit back a weary sigh and tried to figure out if he should try and head out early. When was the next light rail?
