“You’ve got such a pretty voice,Noah.”
I popped the tab, leaned over my knees, and took a biggulp.
“Super pretty.” She sighed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw you on the CMAs oneday.”
I laughed into my beer. “Yeah, that’sdoubtful.”
“Oh, come on, you sound better than half those singers on the radio, not to mention”—her hand was back on me, rubbing over my chest—“you’re much better looking.” I just took another sip of beer and stared at the beetle crawling across the grass. “Want to goinside?”
As annoying as she was, Daisywasa good-looking girl. Had that been two weeks prior, I probably would have already had her naked, but there was a nagging feeling twisting my gut. I didn’t want that girl, and more importantly, the one I did want, deserved better thanthis.
Before I could tell her no, my phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled itout.
“Bad Reputation”by Shawn Mendes. Your theme song?LOL.
I knew there was a stupid grin plastered on my face, and Daisy noticed it too. Her gaze strayed to my phone and she tilted her head before slowly taking it from my hand and leaning into me. “Is that…Hannah…Blake?” Her nose wrinkled like a little rat. “See,” she whispered close to my ear. “All the girls want you.” Her lips pressed against my throat and I exhaled. “Even thevirgins.”
The what?“What?” I ask, grabbing my phone from herhand.
“She’s a preacher’s daughter.” Shelaughed.
“And?”
She rolled her eyes so hard her lashes fluttered. “Oh, come on, No-No, you know girls like that aren’t any good for you.” My face heated. “You need a girl that will”—she kissed my throat again, her hand pawing at my thigh—“give you what youneed.”
I ducked away from Daisy and pushed to my feet just as Trevor came jogging down the stairs, no shoes, no shirt, his pants halfway down histhighs.
“Whatthe…”
“Come on, Noah!” he shouted, storming around the corner of thehouse.
Lori came running through the back door, hurling his shoes over the porch railing. “You’re an asshole, Trevor Davis.” Her voice strained. “Anasshole.”
I didn’t wave goodbye; I just followed Trevor to his car, glad to be getting the hell out of there. Swearing under his breath, he yanked the door open and climbed in. He slammed it shut so hard the carrocked.
“What was that about?” I buckle my seatbelt when the engine firedup.
“She saw some text Joanne sent me and went off the rails nuts. She slapped me. Threw a lamp and a figurine of Jesus at me.” He slammed the car into reverse and floored it. The tires squealed over the pavement, fishtailing before we turned onto thehighway.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “What the hell kinda text wasit?”
“Just a titty picture.” He groaned. “Lori started screaming some bullshit about me cheating onher.”
“You weren’t seeing herthough…”
“Hell no. I don’t see girls. I fuck ‘em.” He shifted gears, his jaw tensing. “I swear, you sleep with a girl more than once and they think there’s something toit.”
I nodded. “Man, you should know better than that by now. You have to lay out the rules. Call them your friend every time you get a chance. We’ve been through this.” We had been through that more times than I wanted to count. Guys and girls expect different things. And no matter how many times you have the conversation with a girl that it’s just for fun, that it won’t turn into anything serious—no matter how many times they agree they are on the same page, no strings attached… you get burned. You do something or say something that makes them think it’s going in the direction of a relationship and the next thing you know, you have the reputation of a grade A certifiedmanwhore.
“I’m sticking to one-night stands from now on,” Trevorsaid.
“Well, I’d say you’re about to hit a dry spell because I’m pretty sure you’ve been through all of Coosa county already,” I said, pulling my phone out and sending Hannah atext.
“Bad Reputation”? Sounds about right. I’ll have to check itout.
18
Hannah
