Page 95 of The Cheerleader is Off Limits

It doesn’t take long for me to spot River in the corner talking to another teacher, and though he doesn’t react, I know he likes what he sees. I was wearing a strapless, short pink dress that clung to my body like it was made for me.Delaney’s words.It cupped my breasts and my ass just right, and coupled with the softness of the baby-pink color, I had never felt so sexy and girly at the same time.

And based on River’s reaction when I tried it on for him after I bought it, he’ll enjoy taking it off me later tonight. I curled my hair with large rollers, giving it a bouncy, sexy look that I let fall around my shoulders.

The dance had been going on for about an hour, so the dance floor in the center of the room was just starting to heat. “Let’s go dance!” Delaney, who was wearing a sexy and classic black backless minidress, grabs my hand and tugs me toward the dance floor, where there’s a crowd of people dancing to the sounds of Drake. We start dancing, and it isn’t long until hands wrap around me, and Mack is there.

I’d been in gymnastics since I was a child, and I was a cheerleader, so I knew how to grind on a man, but I wasn’t planning to do too much of that. I keep things pretty tame, barely pressing against him, or turning around to face him while we danced. After a few songs, he started dancing with other girls in a way he may have expected from me, but I didn’t want to make River any more uncomfortable than he probably alreadywas, having to watch his girlfriend with another man, even if we were just friends.

When a slower song finally began, the atmosphere in the room shifted instantly, and everyone spread out slightly. The room quieted as everyone swayed to the softer, more sensual beats underneath the fairy lights. Mack’s arm wraps around my back while his other hand finds mine. “I’m really glad I asked you to be my date.”

“Me too.”

“Even happier you said yes.”

I give him a smile before looking away, briefly scanning the room to look for River, and when I find him, in a different place than he’d been all night, I can see the heat in his gaze.

Almost like he’s mad.

He can’t be? There’s practically enough room for a person to stand between Mack and I right now, and slow dancing is so awkward unless you’re in a relationship with the other person. I frown at him before turning back to Mack.

“So I know you said you just wanted to be friends, but… are you open to a date?”His eyes are warm and kind and I hate that I wasn’t interested because he was a nice guy.

Shit. Didn’t I make this clear already?I wince, thinking that maybe I’d given him mixed signals. “Mack, I think you’re amazing. You are sweet and funny and charming as hell.” I smile up at him.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I think you’ll be happier using those charms on someone else.”

He chuckles before rolling his eyes. “Believe me, a lot of girls have already seen my charms.”

I scrunch my nose before giving him a deadpan expression. “Hi, do you know anything about women?”

He tosses his head back in laughter. “I just mean, I’ve been happiest using my charms onyou.”

“Mack…”

“Come on, Sloane, I swear I’m a nice guy.”

I nod, before looking away because having this conversation was awkward enough while slow dancing. I don’t know how to look him in the eye also. “I know you are.”

“What’s one date going to hurt?”You, when River finds out.I don’t say anything, and he sighs. “Alright, I’ll let it go for now.”

I’ll take it.“Thank you. Now let’s just enjoy tonight.”

The music fades into another, faster song, and Mack mentions he needs to talk to Sam, so he walks away, leaving me alone on the dance floor. Delaney looks at me before mouthing,okay?While giving me a thumbs-up. I nod before leaving the dance floor. I left my purse on one of the tables, and when I open it, I see I have an Instagram notification, which is still the only way River and I communicate digitally.

@Rkincaid:

You guys looked really sweet out there

@HuntersIntheWild:

You can’t be serious. That was nothing. I promise. Slow dancing is so awkward!

@Rkincaid:

It looks like he wants you.

How could he tell that from across the room? God, he doesn’t miss a thing.