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Right. I’m getting ahead of myself, aren’t I? “Okay, I’ll let you know when I’m free. See you Friday night?”
“See you.”
I turn toward the library, finally letting the goofy smile I didn’t want him to see overtake my face. A few steps further, I catch sight of a group of girls whispering to themselves, all eyes on something behind me, interest on their faces.
I glance over my shoulder, finding Austin putting his helmet on, then he starts his bike and speeds away. Facing back toward the girls, one of them looks at me, sneering, then says something to the group. They all stare at me, my stomach dropping at the expressions I can’t quite interpret. Jealousy? Disbelief?
I hurry past them, my buoyant mood gone. They’re probably wondering why this plain, nobody girl would be getting a ride from him. I mean, he practically oozed sex appeal astride his bike like that. Like that guy fromSons of Anarchy.
Hair all sexily wind tousled. That broken-in leather jacket fitting him just right. And the way he had smiled at me when I said the ride was crazy, his eyes lighting up with amusement… Of course they’d be looking at him. He’s the sort of man your gaze gravitates to.
What’ll it be like at Element on Friday? Will he be snatched up by some girl as soon as we walk in the door? It’s not like we’re going together. We’re part of a group. He’s free to do whatever he wants. Dance with whomever he wants.
Go home with whomever he wants.
This was a terrible idea. Why’d I let Lexie talk me into inviting him? I don’t want to see girls hitting on him. It’s Valentine’s Day. Presumably, it’ll be a bunch of single girls looking to hook up with someone. And he more than fits the bill.
I drop my backpack at the first empty table inside the library and unload my textbook and notes, taking deep breaths to calm myself. I probably look like a crazy person to anyone passing by, but what’s new?
Why am I getting worked up about this, anyway? Austin has become my friend. He’s never hinted at feeling anything more than that toward me. He’s been respectful. Kind. A gentleman, despite my initial impression of him.
I’m lucky he’s spent so much time with me already. He could be spending his nights a million other ways than watching me make a fool of myself practicing these self-defense moves. I probably wouldn’t even be able to use them in a real-life situation, anyway.
I’ll make my first time at a club as fun as I can and test drive a new experience, but I’ll ultimately be on my own. Lexie will be with Ethan, Mia with Tyler, Austin will get picked up by some beautiful girl, and I’ll… dance, I guess. Even though I don’t have a clue about that, either.
Yeah, this is going to be real fun.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
AUSTIN
A waveof disgust crawls over me as the third person of the night knocks into me and disappears back into the crowd. All we’ve done is check our coats so far, but there are too many damn people in here. This is why I don’t go out.
“Can you believe this place?” Tessa shouts over the pounding music. “It’s crazy.”
And not like our motorcycle ride earlier in the week. This is crazy bad. But where else will I get the chance to spend a night with her like this? I have a ready-made excuse to dance with her, to get close, to touch her again.
If she’ll dance with me, that is. For all I know, she could meet someone else tonight. Despite the Anti-Valentine’s Day party theme, there’s an electric vibe in the atmosphere, people searching for others to connect with.
But if a guy were solely looking for a girl to hookup with, his gaze would probably pass over her, to be honest. She’s dressed for warmth in a long-sleeve tee and jeans, no different from what she wears at the Stress Lab. It’s a far cry from the minidresses and abundance of cleavage that grace the dance floor.
But those guys would miss the real Tessa. Not overtly sexy, but beautiful. A little nervous when she first meets you, but incredibly giving and kind once you get to know her. And so fucking smart. I wouldn’t have a clue about whatever exam she was studying for the other day.
“Do you see them?” she shouts again, standing on her tiptoes to look around. She’s too short to see over the mass of dancers, though.
Right. We’re supposed to meet up with everyone.
Scanning the room, I spot Ethan and Tyler over in a booth along the wall. “Over there.”
I point, not that she can see, and lead the way, skirting the edge of the dance floor to avoid the worst of the crowd.
“You want a drink?” I ask as we pass by the bar.
“Sure.”
Over here, I can hear myself think, the music not as loud. “What’s your poison?”
“Ooh.” She motions to a pink drink in a martini glass that a bartender’s handing to a girl. “What’s that?”
