“Collin Preston, I’m not leaving until you agree to sing with me,” I announced.
The place definitely had the distinct scent of dirty socks and sweaty gym clothes. I was glad I was wearing my mom’s Givenchy white top sneakers because I was pretty sure the entire floor was covered in athlete’s foot. Still, I had a mission to complete. And if utter humiliation wasn’t going to win my singing partner back, I didn’t know what would.
My cheeks were burning and I was pretty sure I was having a minor heart attack. Still, I stood strong, hoping he wouldn’t leave me hanging. He couldn’t ignore me. Not here.
“Audrey, what are you doing?”
Collin’s voice came from my right. He didn’t sound completely angry, so that was encouraging. Maybe just a little annoyed. Peeking through my fingers, I sighed in relief when I saw he was still clothed in his t-shirt and jeans. He was leaning against the lockers, shaking his head at me. His buddies around him had already changed into their practice jerseys, so I dropped both my hands to my hips and gave him my best impression of Mom’s disapproving glare.
“You don’t get to quit on me,” I said sternly. “We’re doing this song together, whether you like it or not, so I’d suggest you get used to the idea.”
He huffed and arched an eyebrow at me. “Seriously? You’re doing this here?”
“This is what happens when you avoid a girl for too long.” I crossed my arms across my chest, mimicking his pose from earlier. “And you’ve left me no other choice.”
The buzz around us was growing impossibly loud. Guys whooping and hollering, pointing and laughing at me. My nerves bounced around my stomach, feeling an awful lot like the painful sensation of a tickle session gone too far. My feet wanted to move toward the door. To turn tail and run. Still, I didn’t move.
“All right, everyone out,” Collin yelled, glaring at his teammates.
I could feel dozens of pairs of eyes on me, but I kept mine glued on the guy in front of me. As we stared each other down, the others began to move past me and out the door, until only the two of us remained.
&nbs
p; The locker room quieted. I was pretty sure my heart was beating faster than a hummingbird’s. The longer Collin was silent, the faster it pulsed. If he didn’t say something soon, it was going to explode.
“You know you’re crazy?” Collin finally asked, a deep frown forming on his face. “I thought you wanted this song all to yourself.”
“Maybe.” A trickle of sweat ran down the back of my neck. I curled my fists to keep from wiping it away. “But Mrs. Banks assigned it to both of us. I’m not letting you walk away.”
He flared his nostrils and shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s up to you. And I’ve got to get to practice. You should leave. Or not. It’s your choice.”
Despite the fact that I wanted nothing more than to exit this petri dish of foot fungus, I stood my ground, my skin flushing from my collar bone to my hairline. Collin’s amused gaze met mine head-on, his eyebrow cocking in a challenge. Grasping the bottom of his t-shirt, he swiftly pulled it up and over his head, revealing a trim torso and rows of abdominal muscles. I gulped, unable to stop my eyes from roving over his stomach. Was that a look that came standard with all high school quarterbacks? Or was all of Rock Valley just lucky?
My gaze moved back to his face and I blushed violently to see him watching me with a grin. He totally knew I was checking him out. Probably planned it that way. But it didn’t stop there. Shifting his hands to the top of his jeans, he moved to unbutton them and paused.
“I hope you know, you standing there isn’t going to stop me from changing for practice,” he said.
I squeaked and spun around, staring at the white painted cement block wall. The sound of jeans hitting the ground behind me made me sweat harder. I snapped a hand over my eyes again, just in case, and tried not to let my voice shake.
“Collin, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings in the park the other day. I’m sure you care about more things than football and hooking up. I really didn’t mean it that way.”
It wasn’t easy for me to apologize. Especially not to someone like Collin Preston. But the lunch time conversation with my besties had given me a lot to think about. There was something beneath the jock surface of Collin. Despite the rippling muscles, ridiculously good looks, and the confident swagger, I was sure that he had to have his own problems. Just like me. And maybe, that meant I should cut him a break.
I felt him move closer to me just then, the heat of his body evident next to my right shoulder. There was a charge in the air. I wasn’t sure if it was just me or if he felt it too. But either way, I couldn’t help but inhale sharply and wait for him to say something. Anything.
“Don’t give yourself that much credit,” Collin said with a sour laugh. “You can’t hurt my feelings.”
I peeked through my fingers at him, exhaling when I saw him dressed in his athletic shirt. The coast was all clear. Turning around to face him, I frowned, not buying his reply.
“Well, whatever, I’m still sorry.”
His slightly amused gaze trailed down my face, landing solidly on my mouth. That was when I realized he was standing awfully close. Like close enough to lean forward and kiss me. With a shaky hand, I tucked my hair behind my ear and tried to step backwards, only to find myself pinned against the wall.
“What do you want, Audrey?” The tip of his tongue ran slowly between his lips and my knees nearly buckled. “At first, you told me the performance was yours. You practically threatened me. And now, you’re saying you won’t let me quit? What is it that you want?”
At this moment in time? I wanted nothing more than to be the kind of girl who could reach up and press her lips against his. To feel how soft his hair was between my fingers. To run the palm of my hand over the sinewy muscles of his throwing arm. I’d bet anything that Savannah was that type of girl. She had confidence to burn. Why couldn’t I be more like her?
“I-I want you to sing with me.”