The hot guy finally had a name. A name I could call him by the next time I saw him. Because if our lives were any indication, I’d be seeing him sooner than I figured. His stare finally pulled away from me and directed itself over my shoulder, landing on the excited boy behind me. I wanted to take the wins as I could get them, even though I wasn’t sure why I thought getting the man’s name was a win.
Either way, I wanted to treat myself to some celebratory coffee. Specifically, at the coffeehouse they wouldn't be at. So I stepped around Max’s body and started for the sidewalk.
Then I felt someone’s hand around my wrist.
10
Max
“What’s your name again, sweetheart?”
I didn’t like the way Benji was touching her.
“Danika, you twit.”
I watched her cheeks flush deeper as her eyes fell to her feet. It was cute, in a way. If I squinted hard enough.
“Please move. I have to get to my next class,” she said softly.
I snickered. “Yeah, Benj.”
Benji giggled. “Hey, I’m just trying to make friends with my classmate.”
He pulled her back until the two of us were standing in front of her.
“I’m serious. I have to get to class,” she said.
Benji shook his head. “You’re so skittish. Like a baby deer. Isn’t she like a baby deer, Max?”
Her doe eyes cast their way up to mine and I stood there, rooted in place. She implored me with her eyes, begging me to answer. To save her from the boy who wouldn't let her go. She had been pretty in the dark. But in the sunlight, there was something about her stare that caught my attention. The way her long black hair poured down her back in a low ponytail called to my hand. My entire fist. I suddenly wanted to wrap my hand around it and drag her off to her class just to get her away from Benji. Away from his prying eyes.
Mine.
“You’re right, Benj. She is kind of like a baby deer.”
She snickered. “Great. You too.”
Benji licked his lips. “Yep. Him, too.”
Her imploring eyes grew angry, and I found myself paying attention to the details. How thick her black eyelashes were. How her eyes sparkled the angrier she grew. She had strength behind those eyes. There was a wildness to their color that was accentuated by the way her eyes slanted softly upwards, with her eyelids completely invisible beneath the deep ridge of her brow. The angular structure of her face was softened by the roundness of her cheeks. Especially since they were now flushed with red.
Angry, furious red.
This girl has no idea who she’s staring at.
The idea was almost laughable.
“What are you looking at?” she asked.
I nodded. “You.”
“And why is that?”
Benji scoffed. “Maybe because that’s his right as a man.”
“Well, don’t let those hands get any ideas.”
I licked my lips. “And if they do?”