“Where are you taking me?” I yell at him, dodging people as he tugs me through the crowd.
“I’m not having this conversation in the middle of the kitchen where everyone can hear.” He pulls me down the hall—the hall that leads to the secret back staircase, and he’s opening doors, one after another. He finds a supply closet, a linen closet, an empty bathroom—bingo—and drags me inside, shutting the door behind us. “Now what did Livvy say?”
“She said you…liked me.”
“I’m going to kill her,” he mumbles, running his hand through his hair, messing it all up. He looks adorable. What’s up with cute boys with messy hair? “Listen, you’re fine as hell. And you’re a senior. If you were into me and we hooked up tonight? I’d be a freaking legend.”
Seriously? “You probably shouldn’t tell me that.”
He frowns. “Why not?”
“You only want to hook up with me because I’ll give you legend status.” He just blinks at me. “That’s not really cool, Eli. You’re just using me because I’m a senior?”
Well, I’m supposedly only using him because he’s interested, so I guess we’re even.
Now he’s full on grinning. “But that’s a good thing. An honor. You’re hot, Amanda. And the best thing? It’s like you don’t even know it. You wear those tight jeans and we’re all staring at your ass out on the field while you’re handing out water bottles or bent over one of us, taping up our hands. We’re all trying to catch a look, or even better, cop a feel.”
“Cop a feel?” I’m dumbfounded.
“You don’t even notice, huh?”
“No.” He’s got to be exaggerating a little. “I had no clue.”
“Oh yeah. None of us would touch you, though. Tuttle made his claim and we weren’t allowed to hardly look at you.”
So freaking primitive. What is he, a caveman? I ignore the warm feeling that washes over me at the thought of possessive Jordan Tuttle. When he acted like he cared about me. When I believed I was the most important person in his life.
I shove the thought out of my head before I start to cry.
Eli takes a step closer, then another. I back up, until my butt hits the edge of the counter and a wave of Axe body spray washes over me when he looms. “But now you two are done. So I called first dibs.”
He says the worst things. “You did not just say that.”
“I did.” He is all up in my business, his hands braced on the counter on either side of me, caging me in. The boy may say stupid stuff, but he has a few moves. And he’s rather persuasive. “I know you were all about that Tuttle life, but hopefully you’ve moved on.”
I can’t stop myself from laughing. I’ve never heard such cheesy lines, not that I’ve had much practice. Eli starts laughing too, and I appreciate his cheesiness because it’s a total distraction. Tuttle’s rejection still stings.
“Amanda.”
Glancing up, I find Eli leaning into me, his head tilted to the side, like he’s coming in for—what?
Oh God. A kiss.
I can’t do it. I can’t do it.
I turn my head away at the last second and his lips collide with my cheek. It was sweet, a missed chance, and I felt…
Nothing.
Not a damn thing.
Eli pulls away and licks his lips, his gaze laser focused on my mouth, like he can’t wait to taste it. “Can I touch you?”
“Um…”
He goes ahead and touches me anyway, one hand resting lightly on my waist. He studies me intently and it’s like I can see the cogs turning in his brain, trying to come up with a plan.
“This isn’t going to happen, Eli,” I say softly.
He frowns. “You’re not even going to give me a chance?” The disappointment in his voice rings clear.
I slowly shake my head. “I’m sorry.”
“Is it because of Tuttle?”
Being with Eli like this, in Jordan’s house, I can’t help but think of him. His smell and his taste and how he knew just how to touch me.
The last time we were together in this house, in his room, naked and on his bed. The memories come one after another. Quick and intense and unavoidable, and then I’m pushing Eli away, a gasp escaping me when the door slams open and I see who’s standing in the open doorway.
Watching us.
It’s Jordan.
“What. The. Fuck.” I bite the words out, my fingers curling against my palms, my blood running so hot I feel like I’m about to burst into flames.
Eli Bennett backs away from Amanda, holding his hands up in front of him and scared shitless. His eyes are wide and he can’t stop shaking his head. “It’s not what you think, bro.”
“I’m not your bro, asshole.” I flick my head. “Get the fuck out of here.”
He sends Amanda a quick look before he’s scurrying out of the bathroom like the scared little rat he is. I make a disgusted sound as I shut and lock the door, pressing my forehead against the cool wood for a moment so I can gather my thoughts. Gather my emotions. My anger.