Page 31 of No Shot (The Toronto Tundra #2)

I look up from the register, into his puppy dog eyes. Did I mention he ’ s cute? He ’ s nice, and kind, and smart. Everything on paper checks out, so I don ’ t know why my stomach drops, dread plaguing my body.

“ Like a date?”

“ Uh.” He looks down at his shoes before looking back at me. “ Yeah, I ’ d like to take you out.” My heart feels like it ’ s breaking. It ’ s not that I ’ m longing for him or anything, but it just feels so cruel to think about turning him down. I don ’ t know if I can do it.

“ I ’ m in a bit of an odd headspace,” I admit to him.

It ’ s the truth. I ’ m insanely attracted to Penn, and I hate it.

He ’ s dangerous, and I refuse to let myself get attached.

I can ’ t fall for him. Plus, I like Clark.

Our conversations flow easily, and we have a lot in common, but I ’ ve never really thought of him as anything more than a friend.

I don ’ t want to lead him on, but I guess it wouldn ’ t be the worst thing to give it a chance, right?

Clark ’ s timid smile makes me feel like even more of an ass. “ Date feels like too much pressure, huh?”

“ A little,” I reply, the corners of my mouth lifting reluctantly, as I mirror his hesitant expression.

“ Well, I like you. Come to dinner. It doesn ’ t have to be anything serious.” Everything about him feels so reassuring. “ If it doesn ’ t help to clear your head a little, then we ’ ll pretend it never happened. How about you take some time to think about it?” My god, this guy is perfect.

I breathe a sigh of relief, so appreciative of his understanding. “ Sounds good, I ’ ll definitely let you know.”

He nods, and a spark of enthusiasm flickers across his face. “ Cool. Can I give you a ride to class?”

A deep throat clears, a sound I recognize immediately from my body ’ s reaction to it. I hate the way I ’ m so riled by him, my senses coming to life when he ’ s near.

“ She ’ s good.” The tone of Penn ’ s voice takes me by surprise. He ’ s usually pretty happy-go-lucky, except for when he ’ s bossing me around the bedroom.

Clark turns his head, coming face to—well, shoulder—with Penn. “ Sorry, who are you?”

“ Penn Brooks,” he replies with a dry smile, holding out his hand to shake Clark ’ s.

“ Oh, uh, Clark Denton. How do you two know each other?”

“ We go way back.” It feels a lot like he ’ s asserting his dominance. Ignoring Clark ’ s reaction, he stares intently at me. “ Still good for me to drive you this morning?”

“ I—um.” I look between the two of them, unable to communicate like a literal helpless woman. Earth to Bri, that is so not you, snap out of it. “ Yep,” I say, swallowing hard.

Welp, at least I made a decision.

It ’ s impossible to ignore the disappointment on Clark ’ s face.

I shift on my feet, busying myself with the tea, not wanting to get involved in whatever is happening here.

When I return, the guys looks like they ’ re having some strange pissing contest with their eyes.

Who ’ s going to be more uncomfortable? Surprise, it ’ s me.

Get me out of this strange friendship-triangle right now.

I hand Clark his drink with a smile. “ I ’ ll see you in a bit, ‘ kay?” I say, trying to diffuse the growing tension.

He grabs the cup from my hands, but when our fingers touch, there ’ s no spark, no zing, nothing but a platonic touch.

“ I ’ ll save you a seat in class.”

Once he ’ s made it out the door, I ’ m able to think clearly again, annoyed at Penn ’ s reaction.

“ We go way back, huh?” I ask.

“ Yup.” Even the way he pops his P is making me irritated.

“ You could have been nice.”

“ You could have chosen to ride with him,” he replies flatly, before smirking at me. “ But you didn ’ t, you chose me. ” Fuck, I did. I had the choice, panicked, and my gut said Penn. Not good, Bri, not good at all.

“ It ’ s fine, I ’ ll bus.”

“ Not a chance. I ’ m grabbing the car. Meet you out front in—” He stares at his watch, clearly connecting the dots of when I ’ ll be off shift. “ Seven minutes.”

I finish up, say my goodbyes to the girls, and clock out in time to catch Penn illegally parked with his hazards on in front of Java. When he spots me, he moves quickly, making it in time to open the door for me. He is a gentleman, I ’ ll give him that much.

It ’ s a comfortable ride, but I sit clutching my bag to my chest, watching the city flash by through the windshield. His entire car smells of him. Fresh, warm, and a subtle comfort I ’ ve grown used to. That alone makes me more uncomfortable than city transport.

“ So that was a tough watch.” Penn breaks the silence.

I turn to him. “ What was?”

“ Clark trying to wheel you.”

“ Wheel me?” I repeat the words back to him.

“ Yeah, ya know, wheel… trying to ask you out… trying to pick you up… looking to—”

“ I got it, Penn. Nothing tough about it, we ’ re friends, he ’ s really nice.”

“ Ouf, he ’ s nice ?”

“ Yeah, what the hell is wrong with that?” I ask, coming out more defensive than anything.

“ You don ’ t want nice, Soup.”

“ You think you know what I want?”

“ Damn right I do,” he replies confidently, staring ahead again, looking quite pleased with himself. “ You want someone who isn ’ t afraid of your bite. Willing to take charge. Ready to put you in your place.”

His words settle in my core, driving heat throughout my body.

“ Someone like you ?” I phrase it like an insult, and the jab lands, Penn ’ s grip on the steering wheel tightening. “ I think I know myself a little more than you do,” I continue.

“ Mmm,” he hums to himself, his head doing a slow nod. “ That why you ’ re wet right now thinking of me dominating you?”

My eyes dart to his, concerned he ’ s managed some mind-reading magic. He catches my eye, meeting my gaze for a second, and smiles to himself. He ’ s right, and I hate it.

“ You should go out with him.” His sudden shift takes me by surprise, but it ’ s the flicker of disappointment in my gut that throws me off kilter. “ Bet you ’ d have a perfectly nice time.” The words are dripping with snark.

Like a rebellious toddler, it makes me want to date Clark more, to prove him wrong.

Sure, I was hesitant. To Penn, this is just a game, but I ’ m feeling…

well, something, whether I care to admit it or not.

I wasn't about to pretend like I ’ m free as a bird.

Clark deserves better than that, so I went with the truth—that my head is confused—because it fucking is.

But now? Now, I ’ m going to test the waters.

I ’ m single, unattached, and exploring my options like I ’ m allowed to do.

As we approach the main building on campus, I notice how much quicker the ride is when you ’ re not stuck on public transit. I turn to him as he pulls into the drop-off circle.

“ You know what? I think I will.”

He breathes an irritated breath out of his nose, turning to face me.

“ Good.”

“ Great,” I reply, equally annoyed.

“ Awesome ,” he continues.

“ Thanks for the ride. Good luck tomorrow.”

“ You ’ re very welcome, friend.”

I smile, but it ’ s tight because for the first time, when I hear him say it, it stings just a little.