Page 40 of The Cheerleader is Off Limits

“What about you?” he adds.

“The happiest I’ve been…” I let out a whistle. “Right before I moved here, I was in Tuscany with my family for a week. They weren’t working, my brother was actually not being a pain for once, the food, the weather, the house they’d rented, everything was amazing. Fifteen out of ten recommend,” I tell him. “I think I was also just trying to soak up every last minute with them before I left.”

“That sounds great. I’d love to go to Italy.”

“You absolutely should, if not just for the pasta, which is absolutely as good as they say. But it would be fun to go with your family. Especially somewhere like Tuscany. I mean obviously, Rome is the hot spot, but for a more chill vibe, I love Tuscany, and honestly, you could do both. It’s about a three-hour drive.”

“They’d probably love that.” He drums his fingertips on the bar. “I’ll be sure to consult you for help before making any plans.”

“I would be happy to be your travel agent.” I can’t stop the grin from crossing my face as I nod in agreement.

There’s a comfortable silence between us for a few moments that I use to briefly imagine what it would be like to go to ItalywithRiver when he suddenly breaks it.

“I had a date earlier tonight,” he says abruptly, and my prior excitement over our previous conversation is replaced by slight irritation.

Not that he owed me anything, but why did I need to know?

“And you’re telling me this… because?” I blink at him.

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Because I thought about you the whole fucking time.” He puts a hand over his eyesand rubs his temples. “She left the date early because I was so distracted,” he continues, and I suppose that makes meslightlyless irritated.

“You know, as cute as that might be in theory, it kind of sounds like the reason you can’t stop thinking about me is because the night didn’t end the way you wanted it to, which was with me in your bed. Maybe you’ll be over it as soon as you get me out of your system.” I pull the straw to my lips and take a long sip of the icy liquid.

“No, it’s not like that,” he says, and while it sounds genuine, River seems exactly like the kind of guy where it isexactlylike that.

I shrug. “It’s not? I mean, look, we met, and clearly, we’re attracted to each other and enjoy each other’s company. It canjustbe that, you know. I wasn’t necessarily expecting to go riding off into the sunset with you like the end of a cutesy rom-com.”

Because that is definitely out of the question.

“I was trying to do things differently. Not to think so much with my dick.”

“And I commend you for that, but what’s wrong with having fun? You’re single and still… relatively young,” I say, which earns me a glare from River.

“Nothing is wrong with it, and believe me, I’ve had plenty of it. I was just… looking for something deeper, I guess? I don’t know,” he rambles, and I try to hide the wince that crosses my face because there’s no way I can give him anythingdeep.“But you are also insanely gorgeous and interesting and funny and…” He takes another long sip of his whiskey, and I wonder how much alcohol he’s already had tonight. “I kind of want to spend more time with you before you leave for college… if you’re open to that.” A smirk pulls at his lips, and I return a smile of my own.

“So at the risk of saying another line that’s older than me: you want to get out of here?”

CHAPTER 9

RIVER

For the love of God, River, sober up.

The seats are black and warm from the hot, summer night, and I settle in, feeling the exhaustion hit me from the multiple whiskey drinks I’d had. I wasn’t drunk, but I was certainly more intoxicated than I would like to be before having Sloane over for the first time, especially when she’s completely sober.

I take a deep inhale, relishing the new-car smell mixed with her sweet, sexy perfume again. “I meant to tell you last night, but nice ride,” I tell her as she turns the Volkswagen on.

“Thanks.” She smirks before pulling out her phone. “You know, passenger princess, you have to tell me where you live now. I remember you were concerned about showing me your license before.” I reach for her phone, type in my address, and watch it pop up on her navigation screen. “And put your seat belt on.”

“Bossy,” I tell her as we pull out of the parking lot, and the car gets significantly darker as the lights disappear.

“You like it,” she quips, and I turn my head to look at her while she’s driving in the same way that I’ve been looking at her all night. Her blond hair is styled into loose curls that fall around her shoulders and more sexily, around her breasts that I’ve beentrying not to notice. But she’s wearing a thick-strapped black tank top that shows off more than a little cleavage, and I’ve had more than one flash of pushing my face between them.

“You’re staring at me.” She glances over at me briefly before turning back to the road. “Are you okay?”

“Just… appreciating the fact that a beautiful woman is driving me home. This is… new.” I rest my head against the back of my seat while I continue to study her.

“Oh? Never picked up a girl at a bar and she drove?”