“Good,” I say, my lips just shy of her skin. “You can do this.” I guide her arms, helping her aim. “Now,shoot.” I look down at her. Her cheeks are flushed. I can see she’s trying hard to focus, and I feel my chest swell with pride and probably happiness that I can affect her like this. “See, you did it,” I say, a smile playing on my lips. Her back is still against my chest, and I’m in no rush to pull away. I have the sudden urge to rest my chin back on her shoulder.
“You’re a natural,” I murmur. In an instance, she steps from me, and I almost whine. “I-I think I should head home,” she says. Her abrupt announcement throws me off guard, and I can’t shake the sense of disappointment that washes over me. I want the moment to linger a little longer, but I think I pushed it too far.
“Okay,” I reply quietly. We stand there gazing at each other, my eyes never leaving hers. She’s too breathtakingly beautiful to ever pay heed to anyone or anything else in this world. She bends down to pick up her bag. As she starts walking away, I feel this urgent need to stop her.
“Come to my match, Firecracker. I would love that,” I whisper.
She halts mid-step, then turns slowly, a sarcastic smile tugging at her lips. “Why don’t you just invite your cheerleader friend instead?”
I blink, caught completely off guard. “What?”
“You seemed to be having a great time with her earlier,” she snaps, her words sharp, the smile on her face not reaching her eyes.
It takes me a second to piece together what she’s talking about, but then it clicks.Katie.She must’ve seen us talking earlier.Is this what I think this is? If so, I might be the happiest man alive.
I smirk, taking a step closer to her. “What are you talking about?”
She huffs, crossing her arms defensively. “You know exactly what I mean.”
“Anya,” I say, dragging out her name as I close thedistance between us. “Are you jealous?”
Her eyes widen slightly, and I catch the faintest gasp slip past her lips before she quickly schools her expression.
“No,” she says, though her voice wavers, giving her away.
I lean closer, grinning now. “Were you stalking me, Firecracker?”
She takes a step back, her cheeks burning. “You’re so self-obsessed,” she snaps, her voice rising.
I chuckle, unable to resist it. “If I’m so self-obsessed, why were you watching me?”
“I wasn’t!” she blurts, her tone defensive. “I was just going for a class. Siya was with me, you can-” I put a finger on her lips and lean down to whisper in her ear.
“Don’t over-explain. You're giving yourself away.” She doesn't move, her body stiff but I can hear her fast breathing.
Then, as if she is broken out of a trance she pushes me away, “Shut up!” She yells.
I smile. I love how easy it is to get a reaction out of her. “Why do you care who I was talking to?” I cock an eyebrow. She huffs, her lips parting as if to argue, but no words come out.
“Thought so,” I murmur, my voice dropping lower. “Youwerejealous.”
Her cheeks flush deeper and she glares at me, her voice laced with frustration. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re avoiding the question.”
She lets out a sharp breath, her hands clenching at her sides. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I just-” She shakes her head, “I’ll come to your stupid match. There's the answer to your question. Happy now?”
I grin, stepping back just enough to let her pass. “Ecstatic.”
“And that's not because I like you or something, do you get it? I just have never-”
“Over-explaining again.” I smile smugly. She closes her eyes and exhales sharply. She points a finger at me and opensher mouth but decides against saying anything. She gives me one final look and storms off, her steps quick and sharp, and I watch her go, unable to wipe the grin off my face.
∞∞∞
19
DANIEL
