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“So, who have we got here?” Darian’s lips rise in a flirtatious grin, and if I wasn’t completely gone on Carson, there’s a chance it would win me over in a heartbeat. Seriously, he’s gorgeous.
“This must be Nylah.” Charli wipes her face with a towel, then jumps up the bleachers to greet me. “Hey.” She sticks out her fist. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Oh no.” I cringe and steal a glance at Jolie while lightly bumping Charli’s fist.
Both girls laugh. “Don’t worry. All good things.”
She takes a seat beside me, and her sweaty ass is clearly in desperate need of a shower, but she doesn’t seem bothered by it.
Downing some Powerade, she then offers the bottle to Sawyer, who takes a big swig before grinning at me.
“It’s nice to meet you guys.” I raise my hand in greeting. “Jolie’s already told me all your names.”
I nod at each of them and get a mix of broad grins, a shy smile from Jimmy, and a cocky smirk from Mac. He kind of reminds me of Carson a little bit. He’s got a wild edge about him. But my man wouldn’t smirk like that at a girl he didn’t know. He’d keep his expression stony and unreadable.
Shit, I miss him so much. I could always get his lips twitching. Who’s gonna make them twitch now?
A gray cloud threatens to build inside me. Now that the game’s over and I’m no longer distracted, I can feel it rolling in, until Darian climbs the bleachers and takes a seat in front of me.
“So, what’s your story, then, pretty girl?”
“Uh.” I frown at him. “I don’t have a story.”
His eyes dance as he drinks me in, and then he surprises the hell out of me. “You know, I’m looking for a date to the Gamma Kappa Winter Dance in a couple weeks. Wanna come?”
My lips part.
The winter dance?
That sounds familiar for some reason.
Probably because posters are plastered all over the school. I was never planning on going because I knew it wouldn’t be Carson’s thing. That guy hates wearing a suit.
“That’s a great idea!” Charli perks up. “And don’t stress about my brother. He’s a puppy dog.” She pats the top of his head. “The guy’s got no game.”
“What the fuck?” Darian frowns at her. “I’ve got game. It’s not like you’re walking ’round campus with a harem of guys chasing you.Cuidadito con lo que dices, hermanita.”
She rolls her eyes and mocks him. “Watch your mouth, sis. Watch your mouth.”
Sawyer snickers and shakes his head. “My boy’s got game. She’s just jealous because no one ever hits on her.”
“Oh!” Charli jumps from her seat, charging after Sawyer, and the two get into a laughing wrestling match on the gym floor, which I have to assume is a regular occurrence, because no one is paying any attention to them.
Ben, having dried off and changed his shirt, is now walking up the stairs and taking a seat beside his girl. Jolie gives him a loved-up smile, and they share a kiss that makes my stomach clench.
“Okay, guys. I’m out.” Jimmy raises his hand, and Mac quickly follows suit.
I watch them walk away, then dart my eyes to Darian, who’s still grinning at me.
Letting out a nervous laugh, I shake my head. “I’m not really up for dates right now. Sorry.”
He shakes his head. “Then don’t come as my date. Just be my plus-one, and we can all hang out together.”
“I don’t know.” I wrinkle my nose.
“Oh, come on, please?” Jolie prompts me. “We’ll have fun. We can dress up and dance a little.”
“Last year’s was awesome.” Ben nods. “It’s like the one big thing Gamma Kappa do every year, so they go all out.”