“Kitten. ”
The deep, sultry voice stopped me in my tracks as my smile faded. I turned toward the source of the voice with revulsion. “You know, I don’t even like cats. ” I lifted one brow and fixed Jack with a fierce stare.
He fiddled with his baseball cap before putting it back on his head and tucking his dark hair underneath. I felt almost mesmerized as he ran his fingers absentmindedly across the white stitching of our school’s initials. I found myself noticing the way his dark blue shirt fit snugly against the muscles in his arms and shoulders. I hated how good-looking he was.
“Actually, I didn’t know. But I’m glad I do. ” He smiled and I swear part of my heart melted right then and there at the sight of his dimples.
I totally suck.
I tried to walk toward Melissa, who eyed me with piqued curiosity, but he stood his stupid gorgeous body in my path. I quickly moved to the right, but he hopped to his left to block me. I took another step to the left and he quickly moved too.
“What do you want, Jack?” I said, the anger in my voice taking us both by surprise.
“Are you always this hostile?” His smile told me he was teasing, before forcing his dimples to reappear and my body to flush with heat.
“Only to guys like you. ”
“So tell me, Kitten, what’s a guy like me?”
“Not worth my time. ” I shoved my tray into his gut and when he let out an ooof, I scurried past him, trying not to spill my soda.
“You’ll come around,” he shouted.
“I wouldn’t hold your breath. ”
I rushed to our table, throwing down my tray of food.
“Nice scene. ” Melissa’s eyes were huge as she fought a grin.
“Huh?”
“Look around. ” She waved an arm, gesturing toward the crowd.
I glanced around the bar and the other tables. All eyes were either on me or Jack. Great. The last thing I wanted was the entire school thinking I was Jack Carter’s latest conquest.
“Is he always that obnoxious?” I ripped the top off my raspberry yogurt.
“I don’t know, Cass. I’ve never seen him act that way before if that’s what you’re asking. ”
“I don’t know what I’m asking. ” Irritated and annoyed, I scanned the room for Jack’s face. He sat at a table surrounded by giddy girls, tossing their hair, pawing his muscles, and laughing obnoxiously at whatever he said. His eyes briefly met mine before I turned away, and I felt my heart beat a little faster.
“Jesus. How have I never noticed this spectacle before?” I wondered out loud.
Melissa chuckled. “I honestly don’t know. Happens every day. ”
“Those girls have no shame. I’m almost embarrassed for them. ”
“You know they all want to be the one he actually falls for. ” Melissa sounded sympathetic as she removed the crust from her slice of cheese pizza.
“Good luck with that, ladies!” I gave the gawking girls a fake salute, then turned my attention to attacking my yogurt.
Curiosity got the best of me when I heard shouts and the sound of slapping high-fives. I looked back to Jack’s table to see a boy about Jack’s height and build sitting down next to him. “Who’s that?” I asked Melissa, nosy in spite of myself.
“The one who just sat down? That’s Dean…Jack’s little brother. He’s a freshman. ”
“How the hell do you know that? You’re like a freaking college directory,” I teased.
“He’s in one of my classes. ”