always been fit and in good shape, but as I got older and more dedicated to football and my health, I was ripped. I knew it. Anyone who looked at me with or without clothes on knew it.
He had me beat when it came to ink in terms of quantity, but no one could touch me when it came to quality. I didn’t have a body full of ink, I didn’t want to relive all my memories through images on my skin, but I did have one intricate, detailed piece my father worked on over a period of time once I was old enough. It started out as a way for me to try and relate to him, to understand him and figure out what made him tick, and turned into one of the few experiences we shared where I felt like we finally got closer. It was something he gave me that I would have with me forever. So even though tattoos had never been as big a part of my life as they were for so much of my extended family, I felt like I had a good grasp as to why they were so special and important to so many people, and why they could show the world who someone was without words.
He cleared his throat and shifted his weight on his feet as we continued to stare at one another. Again, he demanded to know, “Who in the hell are you? I’ve never seen you before, and I spend pretty much all my free time with Bowe.”
I straightened my head and gave it a shake, sending water flying everywhere. “Are you her boyfriend?”
If so, it would explain why he was envisioning tearing my head from my body and not bothering to hide it.
I saw him start to nod just as a raspy voice with a soft Texas twang drifted up from behind me.
“No. He’s not my boyfriend. But he is my friend, and we’re in a band together.” I felt Bowe put her hand on my bare shoulder as she shoved me to one side to peer out the open door. “Why did you answer my front door half-naked, Ry? And what are you doing here, Nyle? We don’t have plans today.”
Bowe’s bright hair was a tangled mess on top of her head. She was still wearing the same outfit she’d had on last night when I showed up unannounced. She was always a little rough around the edges, which was annoying because she was such a pretty girl, but it was pretty cute when she was rumpled and sleepy. It reminded me of another time and place when I was the reason her hair ended up wild and snarled. I could clearly recall just how soft and silky it felt in my hands and how fucking sexy it was when the neon strands dragged across my skin.
The edge of her elbow caught me right in the gut, making me cough in surprise as she glared up at me. I lifted the towel back over my head and turned on my bare heel.
“I was just getting out of the shower when someone started knocking and wouldn’t stop. It seemed important, so I answered the door.” I shrugged a shoulder. “Had no clue it was just one of your many admirers anxious to see you. So boring.”
I heard her swear under her breath at the slight dig. It was true, though. Everywhere she went, it seemed like she had different boys falling at her feet. It was partly the edgy, hot girl in a band thing she had going on. But a big chunk of it was her whole unattainable vibe. Everyone wanted what they couldn’t have, and Bowe was a master at playing the ‘you-can-look-but-not-touch’ game.
“For real. Who the fuck is that asshole, Bowe? I just saw you last night, and you didn’t mention you were going to have a visitor anytime soon.”
I chuckled to myself as I stepped back into the house and headed toward the bathroom. I kept the door open a crack so I could unabashedly listen to their conversation.
This guy had to be a new addition to Bowe’s circle of friends. Otherwise, he would know one thing she absolutely hated more than anything was being questioned or pushed into a corner. She liked to think she didn’t answer to anyone. Especially not some guy who wasn’t even her boyfriend… even though he clearly wanted to be.