The girl that I instantly recognized as Mariah let out a squeal and hopped onto his lap, wrapping an arm around his neck. “So much better now that I ran into you. I thought you were meeting up with a friend tonight,” she eyed me suspiciously but somehow managed to paste a fake smile on her lips.
“Well, I was. Mariah, this is Della. I’m sure I’ve told you about her before. We were just catching up,” I watched Nash squirm under Mariah’s glare before she turned back to me, her nose scrunched in distaste.
“Oh, you’re Della? With the way Nash has talked about you I was picturing someone much…different.” I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult. I really didn’t care either way, so I just shrugged my shoulders. “Yup, that’s me I guess. And you are?”
“Mariah, Nash’s girlfriend. He hasn’t mentioned me?” She stiffened on Nash’s lap and I felt a kick under the table, which I could only assume was from Nash. Oops. He really hadn’t mentioned her though, it’s not like I was lying.
“No, actually he hasn’t. We were just catching up on all the good times we used to have together. Hopefully, we’ll be able to hang out some more, I’m sure you can tag along.” She stuttered with a response as I stood up and grabbed my clutch. “I’ll be back in a minute, I have to use the restroom.” I spun on my heel and walked quickly away but not before I heard Nash getting an earful. Payback was a bitch for all of those times he used to throw worms down my shirt.
I dabbed on some lip-gloss in the dingy bathroom mirror and fluffed out my curls. I really wasn’t looking forward to going back to the table, since I figured Mariah was still there. There was no way in hell she was going to leave Nash alone with me now.
I made my way out of the bathroom and instantly felt like I crashed into a brick wall. The last thought that ran through my head was that I was going to look like a complete idiot landing flat on my ass before a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist, and I was pulled against a very hard chest.
“Whoa, if you wanted me that badly you didn’t need to throw yourself at me, sweetheart. I’d be pretty willing.”
I looked up, meaning to tell off the arrogant asshole who thought I would actually throw myself at someone, but all words ceased to exist when I looked up into a pair of startling gray eyes. He pulled me closer when I failed to say anything and pushed me lightly against the wall so our bodies were flush with each others.
I caught the glint of a lip ring as he turned to stare down at me with an intense gaze that set my body on fire. He wasn’t the normal type of guy I went for. One arm was covered in an array of colorful tattoo’s and from what I could tell, he had multiple piercings. Who knew how many others there were under the tight gray V-neck and black shorts he had on? For some reason, I really wanted to find out.
“You don’t look familiar. What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Della,” I managed to whisper out. Why in the hell was I so nervous around this guy? I had no reason to be, he was the one who should be worshipping at my feet. Right?
“Della.” My name rolled off of his tongue before he ran a thumb over my cheek and dropped his hand down to his side. “I like it. The name’s Justin and I think you and I were meant to be. Want to get out of here?” Whatever fog had been cluttering my mind, suddenly cleared, and I shook my head, pushing at his chest as I stood up taller, even though he still had to look down as he towered over me.
“Seriously? That was about the lamest pick up line I’ve ever heard. No thanks.” I turned to walk away, but he jumped in front of me and held up a finger. “Wait, that didn’t come out right. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong me, normally I’m a whole lot smoother at this.”
“So normally you pick up girls a lot easier? Good for you.” I crossed my arms over my chest and let out a loud sigh when he still didn’t move.
“C’mon, Della. Let me buy you a drink at least, I’m really not that bad of a guy. Give me a chance?” His eyebrows knitted together as he waited for my response, and I was just about to tell him where he could stick that drink when I caught site of the table where Nash and Mariah were looking awfully cuddly. Apparently they had made up. It made my stomach coil just at the thought of having to sit there and watch the two of them together.
“Fine, follow me.” Surprisingly, he did and by the time we got back to the table with the drink he had promised me, Callie, Drew, and Zoey were also back, looking slightly uncomfortable by Mariah’s presence.
Callie’s eyes widened as Justin situated himself next to me and she kept looking back and forth between the two of us in utter confusion. I introduced Justin to everyone, and he stood up to shake everyone’s hand before sitting back down next to me and leaning in, brushing his lips against my ear. “Can you say awkward? Want to dance?”