Phillip raised one eyebrow, amused and looked back at Sam. “Oh girlfriend, do tell!” He sighed dreamily. “Is he alpha? I picture you with a total alpha male. Does he have big bulging muscles? I can see it now arms so big you could swing from them.”
Sam looked back and forth between Phillip and Mallory, wishing she could crawl underneath the table. Why couldn’t they work on Mallory’s list first?
“Fine, don’t share, Samantha. We thought we were your friends.” Mallory said, laying on the guilt.
Sam blew out a breath and propped her head on her hands, her elbows resting on the table. She looked over towards the bar, and her heart skipped a beat. She sat up straight and watched him lean against the bar. His eyes were on hers and she wondered how long he had been watching her.
Nick lifted his beer to his lips and took a sip, his eyes didn’t leave hers. Not for a millisecond. He looked good enough to eat standing there in faded jeans that hung low on his hips. The black t-shirt he wore stretched across his broad shoulders. She imagined the seams were stretched and on the brink of splitting open to contain the muscular biceps that protruded through the fabric. She didn’t need a definition of swoon factor, or even panty dropping. The definition was in front of her, tipping his beer bottle towards her in salute.
Phillip’s eyes widened as he caught the stare down between Nick and Sam.
“Samantha! That, my girl is a panty dropper.” Phillip said dreamily.
“Don’t I know it,” Sam muttered miserably and shifted her eyes away from Nick’s.
“I say we forfeit the list all together and get you dropping.” Mallory said as she stood. She wobbled for a minute, getting her balance intact.
Sam looked up at her alarmed. “What are you doing? Sit down, please.” Sam said nervously, but she was too late. Mallory had a game plan in motion, and once that happened, no one stood a shot of getting in her way. Sam grabbed Phillip’s arm desperately. “You have to stop her!”
Phillip stuck a straw into the pitcher of slushy strawberry margarita giving up on refills. He helped himself to the entire batch.
“Phillip! Did you hear me? We have to stop her!” This would be a disaster of epic proportion unraveling before her very eyes. She tugged on Phillip’s arm again, this time with a little more force.
He rolled his eyes and looked at her. “I heard you, I just haven’t heard why.” He slurred.
“Nick Foti is my brother’s best friend.” She blurted out. She knew it sounded lame, but it was better than telling Phillip he was the first guy to break her heart, or the last for that matter.
“Mmm… Nick Foti is yummy.” Phillip said and licked his lips as he stared admiringly at Nick, who was now side by side with Mallory. Sam felt her palms begin to sweat, and the bile rise in her throat as Mallory grinned up at Nick. Sam swallowed her pride, and threw her hands up in the air exasperated. She pushed her chair out and stumbled towards the bar. She barely heard Phillip’s protest as she stalked to where Nick and Mallory were standing.
“There you are, come on we’re leaving.” Sam said as she grabbed Mallory’s elbow in an attempt to drag her away from Nick. She watched as he placed his empty bottle on top of the bar, and turned towards her. He leaned his hip against the bar. His eyes grabbing Mallory’s attention. Sam closed her eyes and begged for her not to bat her eyelashes at him. Slowly she opened her eyes and watched as Mallory bat her lashes. The grim line that Nick’s lips had formed threatened to curve.
“Sam, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend.” Nick asked, tearing his eyes from Mallory’s to Sam’s.
Anger boiled in her veins, as the past resurfaced and she remembered how many of her friends had intrigued him, but never her. He was immune to her. She gritted her teeth as she stared daggers at him, wishing that if looks could kill, he’d be dead by now.
“It’s Samantha.” Mallory sang, and then giggled. “She doesn’t like to be called Sam, first rule you must abide if you expect her to---“Sam covered Mallory’s mouth with the palm of her hand and groaned.
Nick cocked his head to the side, his face a blank canvas as he stared at Sam. She was giving him the signature look of hatred, the one he had become accustomed to. He wondered if he would ever get her to smile at him, wondered if it was even worth his efforts.
“Samantha.” He let her name roll off his tongue, watching her eyes as he said it. He never knew that the nickname bothered her, and wondered if Luke and Jake knew. His eyes must’ve been playing tricks on him because he would’ve sworn they softened as he stared into their blue depths.
“I’m Mallory.” The brunette said as she shoved her hand in front of him. Nick reluctantly tore his eyes from Sam’s, and shook her friend’s hand.
“Nice to meet you.” He mumbled and then motioned towards the bartender. “What are you girls drinking?”