Kissing the Player - Maggie Dallen Page 0,14

declare, you are such a brave gentleman.”

Simone collapsed into hysterics beside me, bending at the waist as she laughed at Rose’s antics.

Rose straightened and dropped her hand along with the accent. She gave me a grin that softened the mockery and then she reached out and patted my cheek lightly. “You’re cute, Jax. Did you know that?”

I opened my mouth and nothing came out.

“Bye, Simone,” she sang as she left.

“See ya!” Simone sounded way too giddy as she said goodbye to Rose who was sashaying away from us like she was on a freakin’ catwalk.

“Don’t say it,” I said.

Simone laughed.

I glared down at her. “Do not say a word.”

3

Two Years Ago: Bobby Newman’s Party

Rose

Jax's gaze met mine evenly, his dark eyes glinting with amusement.

"Please tell me you're joking right now," I said.

His lips twitched as he tried to smother a smile. "I would never joke about something that clearly means so much to you."

I leaned back on the ratty old sofa in Bobby's basement, ignoring the birthday party going on around us like I'd been doing for the better part of an hour. Who could focus on cheesy music and awkward conversation among fifteen-year-olds when Jax Hadley was flirting with you?

I mean, yes. I’d made this happen. And I was already planning out the thank you letter I'd send to Cosmo because, holy crap, their article about how to get your crush to notice you totally worked.

Ask him to do a small favor?

Check.

That's why I was sitting here pretending to nurse the punch that someone had spiked when Bobby's parents weren't looking. I'd had Jax fetch some for me.

Little touches?

Check.

I'd touched his forearm, his shoulder, and even his chest. I was rocking the flirting, and the best part was? Once I'd gotten his attention, it was so easy to keep up the flirting.

With Jax, flirting was like breathing. It was a give and take, a push and pull. Everything we said seemed to have a hidden subtext, every look a different meaning. We were in innuendo city over here and it was heady.

He was freakin’ intoxicating.

I’d had a crush on Jax since I’d transferred here in the eighth grade. Who wouldn’t? Dark hair, lean body, and he played the guitar! Every girl had a crush on Jax, and I was the one flirting with him.

Life was good.

“So, it’s that good, huh?” he asked. He reached a hand out and brushed a lock of my platinum blonde hair out of my face.

I held my breath as the butterflies in my belly went into overdrive. Oh heck yeah. Either he’d read the same Cosmo article I had, or he was just looking for an excuse to touch me.

And I loved it.

The air between us was freakin’ vibrating. I’d read about first love a million times over, but nothing had prepared me for this. It was magic.

He was perfect.

“That good?” I repeated, making him laugh with my exaggerated speech. “That good? Jax, Grease is a classic. It’s a staple. It’s one of the definitive movie musicals of our time.”

He arched his brows. “I guess I’ve been missing out.”

I leaned in farther and patted his arm, letting my hand rest a little too long and thrilling at the way his eyes darkened at my touch. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you all you need to know.”

His lips curved up into the sexiest smirk known to man. “About…musicals.”

I nodded with a pert expression. “Of course,” I teased. “What else would I be talking about?”

His gaze dropped to my lips and I held my breath.

He was thinking about kissing me.

I just knew it.

My heart went wild in my chest.

“Tell me more about this musical,” he said. “Which part are you?”

I couldn’t tell if I was disappointed or relieved that he wanted to talk. I’d never kissed a boy before, and I didn’t want my first kiss to be in Bobby Newman’s basement. And besides…flirting was just so much fun.

I curled my legs up underneath me as I told him more about the community theater production I’d just been cast in. “I got the part of Rizzo.”

“Is Rizzo good?”

“She’s the best,” I gushed. “The true lead is Sandy, she’s the sweet young ingénue role.” I shifted closer to him, getting even more comfortable as I warmed to my topic. “She’s got some good songs, but overall she’s pretty boring.”

He shook his head. “I can’t imagine you playing anyone boring. You couldn’t be boring if you tried.”

I beamed as I tossed my hair. “Exactly.”

He laughed and I grinned.

A song