you.”
The linebacker next to me ignores my request, so I tap his arm to ask again, but he still ignores me.
“Thanks,” I grumble quietly.
I look back to the center of the group for another way out, when I lock eyes with one blue eye and one green. The guest of honor is staring right at me. And Georgia’s cute. Like—Really. Damn. Cute.
“You’re pretty,” he mouths, eyes trained on me, while taking the drink extended to him.
My brain has stopped working. Say thank you, Ava. Say anything. Jesus. My mouth is on a very shy lag, and although I mean to be polite, all that comes out is, “I have to pee.”
He reaches out, grabbing my waist, causing my head to dart down to where the warmth of his hand has landed. Before I can object, he pulls me closer, almost flush to his broad, muscular frame.
“Whoa,” I say, in a hushed tone.
He spins us, walking me backward a few steps, keeping our eyes locked.
“Trust me, darlin’.”
What the fuck is happening? I swallow hard, drawn to his lips and the way they look like they’re just about to smile. This one is t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And here I was about to leave. I don’t even remember why anymore. He stops us and puts the Solo cup between his teeth, dangling it as he leans in, pressing us even closer.
One hand rests on my lower back, and the other… What’s his other hand doing?
I blink a few times, snapping out of the moment, before twisting my head over my shoulder to see the bathroom door push open.
“Ask, and you shall receive,” he says between his teeth.
I giggle and take a step back inside the bathroom, closing the door, but not before I grin a thank you.
Holy hell. Oh my God. Okay, Ava. Calm down. I run my hand over my curly blonde hair and stare down at my white Gucci sneakers as I let out a long breath. My stomach tightens, reminding me that I need to pee, so I hurriedly unbutton my pants and do what I came here to do. Once I finish, I stand up, wiggling my tight jeans back over my hips, and zip them before retucking my shirt.
I look at the closed door as I walk to the sink. Is he waiting out there? Oh my God, this is so awkward and amazing all at the same time. What was all that? My stomach flips as I think about the moment, as if a million butterflies took flight at the same time inside of me.
The water runs over my hands as I wash them, biting my lip, lost in my head. I glance in the mirror—damn, I should’ve done my hair cuter—and let out another breath. I swear it feels like he took my breath away. And if that wasn’t one of the most dramatic thoughts I’ve ever had, I might give in to it more. Giggling to myself, I take a towel and dry my hands before tossing it in the basket.
“Okay. Just be cool. It’s fine,” I whisper a pep talk to myself. “Super-popular hot guys talk to you all the time. This is standard practice for someone so mint.”
These lies aren’t working. I drop my head with a groan mixed with another laugh because I’m not sure I could be any more embarrassing. It’s stupid, but I almost don’t want to reach for the door handle. But before I can chicken out and effectively move into the bathroom, I twist and open the door, all the noise turning back to full volume. My brows draw together as I step out. After all my bathroom preparation, a dismissive look greets me from some random girl—no Georgia in sight.
I step out farther, as the girl walks around me, and search the room, landing on him almost immediately, but my nose scrunches up as I see him tip his head back and laugh at something Laura says while he hands Caroline a cup.
I hope she chokes on it.
Dammit. It only took a few minutes before my newfound treasure became trash.
Jackson
I haven’t heard a word anyone’s been saying in the last five minutes. I just keep laughing when everyone else does, because damn if I’m not getting a neck cramp from looking at that bathroom door.
Where is she? Man, she’s pretty. All those angelic curls and plump red lips—she nearly buckled my knees. And so tiny—good for picking up and doing what I want.
“Huh?” I answer to whoever just said