The third guy, I think his name is Maverick, gives him a look. “Is she the one whose dress—”
“You told them?” My mouth drops open. Why in the world would he tell people about my outfit fail?
Nick holds up his hands. “I swear it wasn’t me.”
I give him the stink eye until his friend Jinxy pipes up across the table. “Everyone’s been talking about how you rescued our little Hazy Daisy. And the subject of your great… dress… might’ve come up.”
Nick sighs. “One of our neighbors saw everything go down from across the street.”
Awesome.
I stare at my notepad and will myself not to cry because I freaking hate this place sometimes. I’ve never felt like I belonged in Charming. Transferring to Lone Star State for Ezra is the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. Maybe things would’ve been different if I’d started here freshman year, but nothing ever works out for me at this school. I can’t seem to make friends, I never know how to act, and I’m constantly embarrassing myself.
“Abby,” Nick says softly as he slides out of the booth and walks me a few feet away with his hand on my back. When we stop, I look up into his concerned eyes, and some of my anxiety melts away. Good Lord, he smells good. Would it be wrong to lean closer and sniff him? “Sorry my friends are making this weird. Do you want us to leave?”
Weird is me wanting to brush my nose against his neck.
Wait. What did he ask me?
“It’s fine.” Do I wish he and his friends would leave? Yes, but I also know that despite how busy this place is, Moe needs every one of his customers to stay afloat.
“Are you sure?”
I nod.
“You probably didn’t get this from my teammates’ comments, but you’re the hero in that story. I’ll always be grateful for you stepping up to help Hazel. She’s my whole world.”
My throat gets tight, and I try to smile. “Th-thanks.”
“I’ll keep everyone in line, okay?”
I fidget, not knowing what to say, so I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “You’ve been playing great this season.”
He lifts a brow. “Have you been watching my games?”
I roll my eyes. “There have only been two.”
“And?”
“Fine. I’ve watched your games.”
The smile he gives me stops my heart.
This is bad. Really bad. Having a crush on my next-door neighbor is a terrible idea. Because that’s what this is, right? This is how things started with Ezra. He smiled and flirted, and I basically fell at his feet in a big puddle.
I scramble to think of how to justify watching him play. “I promised Paige I’d watch her cheer.” Which is not a lie. It’s just not the entire truth.
“Sure.” He winks.
I hate this charming bastard so much. But, ugh, does he have to smell so freaking good? Like sandalwood and leather and a hint of citrus. I want to roll around in his letterman jacket until that scent rubs off on my skin.
Jesus, Abby. Could you be any weirder?
Taking a deep breath, I remind myself that he’s just being nice. He’s not actually flirting with me. This wouldn’t be the first time I misinterpreted the intentions of someone being friendly.
The man has a girlfriend. I repeat that to myself three more times. That girl Larissa announced it on the day we moved in next door to him.
I follow Nick back to the table, where the guy who’d eyeballed me holds out his hands. “Hey, I’m sorry, Abby. Didn’t mean to be an asshole. I’m Dax, by the way.”
