Page 6 of The Cheerleader is Off Limits

She scrunches her nose, followed by a shrug of her shoulders. “Pity. I should get back to my friends. But I like tequila.” Shesmiles before turning and walking away, and I unashamedly ogle her from behind.

I scratch my jaw as I wonder what the hell just happened. She seemed like she was into it, intome, yet she practically blew me off.

I walk back toward the bar where I’d been sitting and notice that the brunette is gone. I don’t know if she left or just moved on to talk to someone else, but I’m surprisingly relieved. While I probably could have taken her home, I haven’t given up the thought that I’ll at least get to talk to Jordan again tonight, and I didn’t need a cockblock in the form of another woman hanging on my arm while I tried. I look toward where Jordan was standing, and I’ll admit that I’m pleased that I caught her gaze looking at me. I watch as she cocks her head to the side and stares down my frame. I realize she hadn’t gotten a good look at my leg tattoo, and I watch as she roams her eyes from my thigh to my ankle and all the ink that inhabits the space. It’s not completely covered, but maybe about 70 percent of it is covered in tattoos. She smiles before turning back to her friends, and I remember I’m supposed to be ordering her a drink. I wave over the bartender and nod toward Jordan. “Send the birthday girl and her friends a round of tequila shots on my tab. Whatever’s your best.”

The bartender chuckles as he grabs the bottle and begins pouring four shots. “You’re the third guy tonight.”

“Not surprising. She’s a fucking smokeshow,” a voice from next to me speaks, and I turn to see a blond guy in a suit who’s probably at least ten years younger than me, taking a sip from a Bud Light bottle as he unashamedly stares at the group of girls. “You're a little old for her, no?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t recall asking for your opinion or permission? I must have missed that.” I turn to look at him. “I bet you don’t even know her name.” I kind of regret saying that,as the last thing I want is to start some competition with this asshole, but I didn’t like the idea of him hitting on her.

“Not yet.”

“Leave her alone,” I grit out without thinking.

He narrows his gaze at me before turning back to her. “She your girl or something?”

“No,” I respond without looking as I pull the whiskey I’d just ordered to my lips.

“Then as far as I’m concerned, she’s fair game,” he says as he downs the rest of his drink, slams the bottle on the bar, and slaps me on the back before heading toward Jordan and her friends. I hate that I turn around and watch him approach them, already annoyed at the thought of her going home with him instead of me.

A member of the waitstaff with a tray of drinks follows him and places the shots I ordered for them on the table. Jordan’s eyes move toward me as she lifts the shot as if she’s toasting me from across the room, and I lift my glass in response. She holds my gaze for a few seconds before her attention is pulled to the blond joker by his hand on her arm. She looks down at where he’s touching her before taking a step back. She offers him a polite smile and turns back to her friend.

I turn away from them, not wanting to watch all of that unfold like some kind of creep, and turn my gaze toward the television mounted above the bar. I wave toward the bartender, indicating that I want to close my tab, when I hear Jordan’s voice next to me.

“Leaving already?”

CHAPTER 2

RIVER

Ellie:

You coming over for dinner? I’m making your favorite.

The next evening, I’m sitting at a bar at the airport, preparing for my flight home, trying to stave off the hangover that was not far off. I eye the text message from my future sister-in-law as I let the beer I’ve been nursing for the past hour hover near my lips while I try to recall my favorite. I have narrowed it down to three, and I find myself instantly regretting the dumb, reckless,and if I'm being honest— hornydecision to stay in North Carolina for the weekend.Because few things were better than Ellie’s cooking.

Yes, that included a night with the birthday redhead last night.

Fun, sure, but… predictable. Lackluster? Boring?

I wince at the thought, because boring was never a word I’d use to describe sex, yet last night, it all felt a littlebeen there, done that.

Me:

Can’t tonight.

Ellie:

Choosing bar food from The Dugout or takeout over my pot roast? Who are you?

Me:

Better question is where am I, which is still in North Carolina.

Rowan:

I thought you were done with camp two days ago?