“Russell U. You’re an alum, too?”
Before I can respond, riotous laughter goes up from across the lot.
“Fucking A, Adam!”
“Ignore him,” he murmurs. I blink up at the man in front of me, who tugs the hood off my head. “Why’d you want me to watch you dance?”
“What makes you think I did?”
“You wanted everyone to, or you wouldn’t have been up there. A woman like you is desired. I think you’re tired of the reason people desire you.”
There’s no reason I should be smiling tonight, but the way this man looks at me, like my life isn’t over, has me gulping night air.
“I’m Sawyer.” He bends to pick up something from the ground. The sticker from my shirt. “Nice to meet you, Cherry.”
“Come on, let’s get out of here.” A voice carries on the breeze.
Adam and the other guys cut across the lot, and my heart rises up my throat as I scan the lot and notice the RU Basketball bumper sticker on the Jeep in the next row.
If they don’t notice my car, they’ll still notice me when they head this way.
I duck behind Sawyer. “Quick. Act like you’re my boyfriend.”
A brow lifts. “You want me to pick a fight with you?”
Despite everything, I laugh. “That’s what you think of? No, just—” I grab his jacket collar and drag him down to the ground with me.
I land hard enough the gravel scrapes my knee.
We’re crouched between the cars. He’s inches away, and my heart skips because of how he’s looking at me. Not me on stage. Me in my hoodie, makeup smudged.
“You didn’t want me to argue with you,” he murmurs, a mocking lilt to his voice. “You wanted me to kiss you.”
I’m not sure I was thinking at all when I said it. But heat strokes down my spine at the thought of his mouth on mine.
“You make it sound so sexy,” I whisper.
“It is sexy.” His throat flexes, and the way he says that word is the hottest thing I’ve ever heard. “A kiss is a promise. A declaration of intent.”
“Most guys think anything less than a blowjob doesn’t deserve their attention.”
Sawyer shifts closer, his gaze knowing. His lips are an inch from mine. I’ve never felt this kind of chemistry with anyone, and he’s practically a stranger.
His fingers find my hair, and I think he’s going to tuck it behind my ear but he doesn’t—just strokes the back of his hand down my cheek.
“Do me a favor, Cherry. Don’t judge me by that tool.”
Before I can respond, he leans in and brushes his mouth over mine.
He’s warm and firm, confidence without arrogance, and every slide of his lips is pure fucking finesse.
His fingers find my chin, holding me in place. When he changes the angle, taking me deeper, I can’t help but open under him.
The gravel is rough on my bare knees, but his kiss is exquisite. He’s exquisite. A soft sound escapes me, but it’s lost in his mouth.
When he pulls back, it’s all I can do not to say wow.
His breathing is rough, too, those gorgeous eyes dilated in the dark.
“You taste like trouble.” A thrill races through me. “I’m going to give you my number.”
“You’re asking me out?”
The surprise on his face is chased by a grin. “Tonight, you’re going to let me know you got home safely.”
And what about tomorrow?
But as he takes my phone and types in his contact, I’m relieved. Adam cheated on me, and I’ll break up with him in person tomorrow...but this is moving fast.
I survey the parking lot. They’re gone.
I tuck my phone back into my purse and straighten to test whether my knees still work.
He’s up the next second too, tall enough his jaw is eye level on me. He checks his watch. “You have to work early too?”
I can’t tell him I’m a college junior, and tomorrow is the first day of classes in my third year.
“Let me guess. You’d rather take a bullet,” he murmurs.
“You could say that.”
“I know the feeling.”
What could he dread? He’s gorgeous, confident, charismatic in a doesn’t-have-to-try way. If adulting is an art, this man is Rembrandt.
“I hope tomorrow’s better than you expect. Don’t let anyone drag you down, Cherry.” His gaze fixes on my legs, and he bends to brush my knee, loosening the bits of gravel stuck to it.
With a look that’s pure heat with a side of regret, he rounds my car, heading for the Mercedes on the far side.
I want to beg him to stay when I realize…
The truck isn’t his.
Sawyer could have left anytime without my ex spotting me.
He didn’t.
When he peels out of the lot, disappearing in a glimmer of red taillights and New York plates, the next breath I take is cold night air and engine fumes.
Nothing ever tasted so good.
2
Olivia
2:12 AM
Liv: Got home safe. I’m never getting the vodka out of my hair.
2:17 AM
Unknown: You look good dirty. But if it’s bothering you, I could come help you wash it out.
2:21 AM
Liv: What a gentleman. Thanks, but I should be fine as long as I don’t stand too close to any bonfires this week ;)
2:24 AM
Unknown: Please don’t. It would be a crime to watch tits like yours go up in smoke.
2:27 AM
Liv: Wow. That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said about my tits.
2:30 AM
Unknown: To your face.
2:41 AM
Liv: LOL
2:45 AM
Unknown: I’ve been called a lot of things, but never a gentleman.
2:51 AM
Liv: Are you one?
2:53 AM
Unknown: Do you want me to be?
3:01 AM
Liv: No. I’m over gentlemen.
3:03 AM
Unknown: Bold statement.
3:07 AM
Liv: You know something…Tonight on stage is the first time I’ve felt brave in a long time.
3:15 AM
Liv: Okay, that was my weird disclosure to a virtual stranger. Now it’s your turn to tell me something or I’m going to go to sleep feeling like a moron.
3:17 AM
Unknown: Well we can’t have that.
3:19 AM
Liv: Are you being sarcastic? Wow, you’re REALLY not a gentleman.
3:20 AM
Unknown: Hah, I was thinking.
3:22 AM
Unknown: I’ve been dreading today all week. I haven’t been to this town in years. Me being here is going to cause all kinds of problems. The past should stay in the past.