Page 17 of Scoring Lessons

When did I start to like the sound of my name from her lips so goddamn much?

Why the hell did I want her to say it over and over again?

“I’m wearing a leather mini-skirt with a pair of black tights even though it’s been unbearably warm today because they make my legs look incredible.” She let out an annoyed sigh. “Hope that answers your stupid question.”

My eyes dropped to them on instinct. Even without heels—just those chunky black leather boots—I could make out every toned line. The soft, dark fabric hugged her skin in a way that made my mouth go instantly dry.

What the hell was I doing? This wasn’t a path I should be walking on. This was a big, bright-red danger zone. And yet, my eyes kept drinking her in like I wanted to commit her to memory. My skin buzzed with static electricity, suddenly becoming aware of my surroundings and the woman in front of me.

She snapped her fingers in front of my face. “My eyes are up here, Wesley.” She pointed to her almond-shaped eyes, and under the red neon bar lights, they were a darker shade of midnight blue.

I ran my tongue across my bottom lip, followed by a lazy smirk. “I like my name on your lips.”

She let out a sharp scoff. “Are you drunk?”

“Nope.”

She crossed her arms as she studied me like I’d lost my goddamn mind. “Then why the hell are you flirting with me?”

I blinked and remained silent for a few seconds then gave my head a quick shake like I could knock the trance out of me.

She wasn’t wrong. I was flirting.

That realization sent a shiver down my spine. The worst part? I didn’t know if it was the good or bad kind.

Still, an edgy laugh slipped past my lips. No way in hell I was admitting that. “No, I’m not.”

“It’s okay.” Her voice dripped with amusement. “You can say you find me attractive. My brother’s not gonna pop out of a lamp like some genie and kill you.” Her grin was sly. Knowing. I think I liked it a bit more than I was willing to admit.

And call me crazy, but was she also flirting?

“Do you want me to find you attractive?” I raised a brow, matching her grin.

If she wanted to play whatever game this was, I was in. There was no way I was going to back down first. Flirting was my domain.

Her shrug was casual. “I don’t really care.” Her lips turned up in a mischievous smile that made my blood thrum. “But just so you know, if you ever get this sudden urge to kiss me, I like to be grabbed by the neck⁠—”

I choked on nothing, coughing into my sleeve like a goddamn idiot. “Jesus, Olivia. Warn a guy next time.”

Her smile was triumphant, like she had been expecting that sort of reaction from me and reveled in it. God, she was a fucking heathen when she wanted to be. It was like her old self would peek out from the shadows. But it was so fleeting that by the time I blinked, it was gone, and I was left wondering if my mind was playing tricks on me.

“That’s what you get for asking dumb shit.” Her words were so relaxed, you’d think we were talking about the weather.

The laugh that bubbled out of me was strained. “Fair. But that’s not how a normal person answers that kind of question.”

The mirth dancing across her eyes dimmed. I’d have missed it if she hadn’t been grasping all of my attention like gravity itself had shifted and pinned me to her.

“I think you’ve known me long enough to know that I’m not a normal person,” she said.

“I also know you love fucking with me.”

The glitter in her eyes came back to life as she casually grinned like she hadn’t set my brain on fire.

She twirled the cocktail straw as she shrugged. “At least we know you’re not dumb after all.”

Disappointment hit me right in the center of my chest, leaving me breathless. Part of me already knew she was messing with me, but I wondered—for the briefest second—what would have happened if she wasn’t.

“Why is it easy for you to spar with me”—I leaned against the dark wooden bar to get closer to her—“but the second some random guy talks to you, you start listing your favorite bands in alphabetical order?”