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“But your best friend had more important things to do.”
Spencer raises his hands and moves back into his space. “Don’t take his shortcomings out on me,” he says, reaching for his glass of water and taking a long pull.
I watch as his throat bobs as he swallows. When he returns his glass to the table, I quickly look away. Damn, Spencer Pennington. Why does the asshole have to be a sexy asshole? It really is a shame. He’s hands-down one of the best-looking men I’ve ever laid eyes on. The messy dark hair, the tattoos that now reach his wrists. His voice is this deep timbre that makes you want to just drop your panties and ask what’s next.
There is one major issue, though, one that’s kept me from cashing in on any of his advances over the years. Spencer’s kind of a dick. He’s one of those guys who’s been handed everything in life. Hell, in college, he barely had to crack open a book, and he was unprepared for class on most days, would laugh and stare off into space, and he still gave me a run for my money as the top of our class.
He doesn’t know hardship or pain, and that makes him even more arrogant in my book. So, while the man might be a walking billboard for sex, it’s one I’m going to continue to drive by.
Thankfully, I’m able to turn my attention to my sister and her friends and ignore the man sitting next to me. Well, mostly ignore. I feel his arm brush against mine when he reaches for the salt to put on his drink napkin that he could have just as easily asked me to pass him. I feel his arm on the back of my chair as we wait for our meals to be served and he’s chatting with the guys. And I feel the heat of his hot breath when he leans in close to whisper how he’s looking forward to spending the weekend with me.
So, maybe I don’t ignore him, but I’m pretty certain he thinks that I am. That’s why when he starts to draw circles on my bare shoulder, I stand abruptly and excuse myself to the restroom.
I take my time after doing my business to wash my hands and touch up my lip gloss. Hopefully, by the time I get back to the table, our food will be there, and we can eat and end this night. I’m fully aware that I’m going to have to be gracious and thank him, as well as the other guys, for dinner. The other guys, I don’t mind so much, but Spencer’s comment about finally buying me dinner hits a nerve.
Who am I kidding? Everything about Spencer Pennington hits a nerve with me. Knowing that I’ve stalled as long as I can, I take one last glance in the mirror before pulling open the bathroom door to head back to the table, only I’m not watching where I’m going, and I bump into someone.
“Easy, darlin’.”
Shit. I know that voice.
With my hands plastered to his chest, I lift my gaze to find Spencer staring down at me. His arms are wrapped around my waist from where he kept me from falling, and the cocky expression I expect to find is nowhere in sight.
“Are you all right?” he asks softly, as his thumb gently caresses my hip.
“F-Fine. I’m fine,” I say, pushing away from him. He keeps his hands on my hips until he’s certain I’m steady before releasing me.
“You sure you’re good?” he asks. His brow is furrowed as his gaze takes a lazy stroll over my body, checking for an injury.
“Yes. Sorry,” I mumble. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“I knew one day you would fall for me,” he says, smirking.
And there he is. The cocky asshole I’ve known since our freshman year of college. Here I thought maybe there was a nice guy in there. I guess I was mistaken.
Don’t get me wrong, Spencer isn’t a terrible person, but there is just something about the two of us that’s too much like oil and water. We just don’t mix. In the ten years that I’ve known him, I don’t remember us being able to just sit and have a normal conversation. Maybe the day we first met, but I was so preoccupied with all the drama in my life, I don’t really remember. What I do remember is every instance after that, he was rude, and in turn, I snarked back. It’s a game we play, and I have to say that we’ve mastered it.
“Are you ever going to grow up?” I ask him.
“Come on, Charlie, I’m all man. I can prove it to you. Tell me when and where. Should I get us our own suite?” He’s grinning, and I hate that his grin is also sexy. Straight white teeth gleam at me, and the fact that I’m thinking about him being anything other than annoying just pisses me off further.
“I’m good.” I step around him and head back to the table. Thankfully our meals are being delivered when I get there. I dive into my food and ignore Spencer as best as I can when he returns to his seat.
The remainder of the night is uneventful. Spencer doesn’t bother me, and I do my best to ignore his presence beside me. When the check is dropped off, the guys pull out their wallets and split it between the four of them.
“Thank you for dinner,” Audrey tells them. “That was really sweet of you.”
Spencer smiles at her. It’s a genuine “aw, shucks. I’m one of the good guys’” smile. “You’re welcome.” He nods to Liam, Tyler, and Jasper. “We all wanted to do something for you all.”
“We appreciate it.”
“I can’t fucking believe he’s not here,” Liam mumbles under his breath.
None of us let on that we heard him, but we all did. From the way the table grows quiet, my guess is that even his friends can’t understand how he wouldn’t already be here, but it is what it is, and there’s no changing it now.
Much to my surprise, Spencer stands and pulls out my chair for me. I glance up at him, and he grins. “Thanks for having dinner with me, Charlie. Maybe next time it can just be the two of us?”
“You know she’s never going to say yes, right?” Audrey laughs.
