Lucci’s comment made me chuckle. My lids absolutely felt heavy, but I could see just fine. “I can see very well,” I assured him with a smile.
He didn’t respond. Despite the thunderous bass of music blaring throughout the club, the silence that hung between us was loud. Lucci’s gaze never wavered. He continued to study me until I swallowed uncomfortably hard and took another sip of my drink.
“You driving?”
“No. Lauren and I shared an Uber. We knew we were going to get well past fucked up.”
“I’m pretty sure Lauren is about to leave with Ty. You shouldn’t be in an Uber this late alone. I’ll take you home.”
With raised brows, I stared at him. The gesture was kind. Seeing as how I was about to start tutoring him, being in his presence would be the norm, but my skin still flushed. It was suddenly uncomfortably hot in the club.It’s just a ride home.
Inwardly, I had to remind myself of that because he had me sweating like a stripper in church. “That’s very nice of you, but I don’t live too far. It’s less than ten miles.”
Lucci checked the Rolex that adorned his wrist. “It’s after three in the morning. It’s not up for debate. I got you. Let me know when you’re ready to go.” Without waiting for a reply, he stood up and walked off.
I realized that I was staring and made myself tear my gaze away from him. Lauren walked back over to me with a coy smile on her face. “What were you and Lucci talking about?” she sang.
“He seems to think you’re about to ditch me and leave with Tyler, so he offered me a ride home. I know he doesn’t care about me more than you do.”
“Fuck no,” Lauren declared with conviction. “Tyler was going to take you home too. I wouldn’t leave you in a club or let you take an Uber alone this time of the morning.”
I smiled before finishing off my drink. “I knew you wouldn’t do me like that. It’s cool though. He didn’t really leave me a choice, so I’m going to take him up on his offer.”
Lauren playfully nudged my arm with hers. “Oh, shoot now. You think we both gonna get lucky tonight?”
“Ew no.”
“Ew?” she asked incredulously. “Did you just say ew? Have you seen that man?”
With a roll of my eyes, I kissed my teeth. “I said ew as in I don’t know him, and he has a girl. I am not sleeping with him just because he offered me a ride.”
“Okay, okay, I get it,” Lauren rolled her eyes. “Are you ready? Because Tyler doesn’t have a girl, and I know him very well. Meaning, I’m about to go get some.”
Giggling, I set my empty cup on the table. “Yes, I’m ready to go nasty ass.”
I scanned the vicinity for Lucci and saw him giving Tyler dap. They must have been saying their goodbyes. Lauren and I walked in their direction, and I waited patiently for Lucci to finish his conversation. When he was done, that penetrating gaze bore into me.
“You ready?” His voice came out in a low rumble that I heard perfectly clear in the noisy club.
“Yeah.”
“After you.”
I exited the section with Lucci so close behind me that his cologne dominated the air around me. I could practically feel hisbody heat. He wasn’t close in a creepy way more like a protective way. Like he had my back. Had I been sober, I probably would have thought that metaphor was kind of cheesy, but I could appreciate Lucci’s closeness. I wasn’t really worried about anything popping off in the club, but it was nice to have him escorting me. I felt safe.
Okay, now you’re doing too much, Breezy.
Once we were outside, I let Lucci take the lead because I didn’t know if he was driving the same car he was in when he toured the house or something else. He was definitely in something else. He guided me to a charcoal gray BMW and opened the passenger door for me.
“Thank you,” I slipped past him and got in the car.
Lucci closed my door and walked around to the driver’s side. As soon as he started the car, I gave him my address, so he could put it in his GPS. It was my third time being in his presence, and I was going to start tutoring him weekly, but it was still kind of awkward in the car. I really didn’t know what to say or if I should say anything. There wasn’t anything wrong with riding in silence. I just didn’t want to come off as rude or antisocial. I also didn’t want to come across as flirtatious or overly friendly.
“You hungry?” Lucci glanced over at me briefly.
“I’m good. I have something at home that I can eat.”
Lucci bobbed his head. “When is your car club getting together again?”
