Chapter 5
Quentin
It’s funny how I accidentally knocked a girl on her ass because Cole is an idiot who shoved me, yet I feel like the one who was knocked on my ass.
We didn’t talk for long, but the short conversation we had was enough to pique my interest. Something I’m not used to. I haven’t been interested in someone beyond sex in years. While yes, I’m attracted to this woman, I also want to talk to her again. She’s witty, and I like it.
A smile forms on my lips as I head back to our table, which is right next to where the line ended that she was in.
When I see Cole standing at the high-top table, I push my hand into his shoulder, making him stumble. “That’s payback for shoving me. Don’t do that shit again.”
Cole rights himself, then gives me a shit-eating grin. “Can’t blame a guy for being excited that you actually came out. I might’ve overreacted and shoved you a little too hard. You know me and my love aggression, but it seems like it worked out in your favor.”
After I left my sister’s house earlier, I sat in the quiet of my house, debating on whether to come out with the team. I ultimately decided to come, arriving a few minutes ago and clearly surprising my two closest friends, Cole and Pauly.
I shake my head, clapping him on the back. “We’ll see.”
There’s no way I’m leaving without talking to her again. I just need to gather the courage to do it. I usually wouldn’t be this nervous, but I’ve never had a girl not fall at my feet.
Pauly, our catcher, juts his chin over my shoulder.
I follow his line of vision to the girl I knocked over as she exits the bathroom, walking toward her friends and exuding a confidence I’ve never seen before.
She struts like she owns the place, with all eyes on her, a natural path being cleared for her.
It’s nearly impossible to keep my eyes off her. She’s wearing a black miniskirt with a leather tube top and matching boots that accentuate her legs.
“She’s a fucking smoke show,” Pauly says, ending with a low whistle. “If you don’t go after her, Q, I will.”
Irrational jealousy hits me like never before, making me twist back around to glare at him. “Don’t even think about it.”
I have no right feeling this way over a girl I just met, and yet here I am, fists balling against my sides at the image of him with her. While I may not know anything about her, what I do know is that I’ll put up a damn good fight to get my chance with her before anyone else does.
“Sheesh,” Cole mutters before sipping his beer.
“Quentin’s got a crush,” Pauly singsongs as he waggles his brows at me.
“Sometimes I question why we’re friends,” I say as I shake my head in disbelief at how childish Pauly can be.
I take a sip of my beer while the boys resume talking about our series of games next week, but I find myself unable to be present because my thoughts are filled with her.
My eyes flit back in her direction, seeing her sitting at a high-top table with two other girls, her eyes on me.
She shoots me a wink, and God, I feel like a teenager the way my cheeks heat. I look away, needing a moment to think about my approach from here on out.
Sure, I’ve been with beautiful women before. Yet, there was something about her that drew me in like never before, and it intimidates the hell out of me.
Minutes go by, and I do my best to add to the conversation at the table, but I’m far too distracted.
Every now and then, I fixate my gaze on her from across the bar, watching as her head falls back on a laugh, or the way her pouty lips wrap around the straw of her drink. I’m obsessed and I don’t even know her fucking name.
I want to change that fact, but I don’t know how. She is with two of her friends, and I don’t want to walk over there and interrupt that.
I’m about to tear my eyes off her when she locks eyes with me, a knowing grin on her lips as she moves her fingers in a little wave.
I shake my head and smile back, giving her a small wave.
“You two are waving at each other? What are we, in elementary school? Go and talk to her, Q.” Cole bumps his shoulder into mine.
“You want me to just walk over there and start a conversation?” I reply cautiously.
“Yes, that’s how most adults converse,” he deadpans.
“Look, I know it’s been a while for you,” Pauly speaks up, his tone even and serious, no longer joking. I swallow hard as I stare back at him. “But clearly this girl interests you, and I haven’t seen that in a while. Go talk to her, or I swear to everything, I’ll do it for you,” he finishes.
“All right, all right.” I throw my hands in front of my chest in surrender. “I’ll go talk to her.”
I stand, glancing toward where she was sitting, except she’s not there anymore.
Disappointment fills me at the idea that she left. When I look at the makeshift dance floor, I see her there with her two friends.
If I thought I was intrigued before, nothing compares to now as she rolls her hips with confidence, sings along to the music, and smiles wide.
There’s something about seeing her so carefree, so sure of herself, and not afraid to dance in a bar full of people that turns me on even more.
The music changes from an upbeat remix of a pop song to a slower, softer melody. Her eyes roll at the change in music, and I can tell she’s about to beeline it off the dance floor, so before I can think twice, I’m charging toward her.
She’s nearly off the floor as she follows her friends, so I gently reach for her hand, and as soon as my skin makes contact with hers, an electric current jolts throughout my entire body.
I pull my hand back as she spins around to face me.
“Hey, no namer,” she says, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
A quiet chuckle leaves my lips. “Dance with me.”
“I don’t slow dance.” She shrugs. “So I guess—”
Her words falter when I grab her waist and pull her body against mine, her hands falling against my chest. “You do now,” I tell her and for the first time, her confidence seems to falter slightly, but it doesn’t stop her from snaking her hands from my chest up to my neck where they rest.
My body buzzes with how close we are to one another, at the way her nails are gently scraping the back of my neck. She smells like coconut and mint, and all I want to do is taste it off her lips.
I sway us around the dance floor, and with her eyes on mine, she relaxes under my touch.
“What sport do you play?” she asks, breaking the silence.
“I’m a pitcher.”
I leave it vague, not wanting to delve too much information just yet because you never know people’s intentions.
“And yet you’re getting shoved around with ease,” she quips.
“You’re never going to let that go, are you?” I question as a smile attempts to break free on my lips.
“Nope.”
“Tell me then, what sport do you play?”
“What makes you think I’m an athlete?” She tilts her head to the side in question.
“Your muscle definition speaks for itself.”
“Checking me out, huh?” She smiles at me for the first time, and I swear to God, I’ve never seen something so pretty. It’s like seeing the sun again after a long winter. Full of warmth, hope, and beauty.
“More like I can’t keep my eyes off you.”
Her brown eyes dip to my lips and the urge to find out how her lips feel against mine takes over.
I tilt my head down to do exactly that when she slightly pulls back, averting her gaze from my lips and back up to my eyes, her breath brushing against my lips. Desire coats her eyes in a glaze, and I’m about to kiss her when another couple bumps into us.
The trance is gone just like that, and I internally curse at the missed opportunity to see what she tastes like.
“You’re right. I, uh, I’m a figure skater,” she confirms, her voice shaky as she tries to return to the conversation we had prior to our near kiss.
I clear my throat. “That’s amazing. You ever compete professionally?” I ask, going along with the conversation because I don’t want to move too fast.
She scoffs playfully. “Ask my gold medals.”
I pause our movement as I go still. “So not only are you beautiful, you’re also a world-renowned champion? I should be bowing down to you.”
She raises a brow before leaning up on her toes to whisper in my ear, “I wouldn’t mind seeing you on your knees.”
Those words nearly undo me, almost bringing me to my knees right then and there.
She’s making it clear what she wants, giving me an invitation to decide how this is going to end.
I know I told Ryker I was done with meaningless hookups, but I’d do just about anything to spend more time with her.
My hand on her hip slides around to the small of her back, using it to press her body against mine as I whisper back. “It’d be my honor.”
She pulls back, her brown eyes staring up into mine with want as she says, “People are only honorable when their actions match their words.”
“I’m willing to put my words into action,” I tell her, my blood turning hot as desire thrums throughout my body.
There are so many things I’d like to do to her, and tonight is hopefully only the beginning.
“Your place or mine?” She bats her eyelashes as she smirks at me seductively.
“Keep looking at me like that and we’re not going to make it farther than the back of my car.”
She leans up on her toes, her lips brushing my ear as she says, “Lead the way.”