11. Austin #2
Is this her type?
Pfft.
I’m better looking than that. And I don’t wear beige slacks to house parties.
Maisie glances awkwardly between us, then offers the guy a tight smile.
“Sorry, I’ll uh… I’ll catch up with you later.”
The guy doesn’t even look mad that I just stole her away.
I guide her off before she can rethink it, my hand still curved around her waist, my thumb brushing the soft cotton of her shirt.
She doesn’t pull away. Doesn’t say a word.
She just walks with me, quiet and slightly breathless, like she’s still trying to figure out what the hell just happened.
It’s not until we’re out of the room and into the quieter hallway that she finally turns to me, her eyebrows scrunched in disbelief.
“What was that?” she demands.
Good question.
Because now that I’m here, feeling my heart slam against my ribs like it’s about to bust out… I have no clue.
“Was that him?” I blurt before I can stop myself.
“What?” She blinks up at me in confusion.
“The guy you like,” I clarify.
She makes a face. “What? No. He’s just someone I tutor.”
I squint, shaking my head. “No.”
“No?” she echoes, a little laugh slipping out.
“I’m your only student.”
Her laugh spills out again, and my god, I want to bottle that sound forever.
“You’re acting ridiculous,” she says, shaking her head.
She’s right. Dunno what the hell is going on with me, or what the fuck I’m feeling.
“Come on,” I say, slipping my arm back around her waist. “I wanna introduce you to some people.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Are you always this touchy?”
“Only with you, Freckles.” I grin and shoot her a wink.
Her mouth opens like she’s about to argue, then closes again as she looks away, her cheeks flaring pink.
I don’t miss it.
God, she’s fucking gorgeous when she’s flustered.
We weave through the crowd, and I keep my hand low on her waist, partly to guide her, mostly because I don’t want to let go.
I lead her to the corner of the living room where the guys are clustered, half-drunk and arguing about whatever the fuck else.
“Hey,” I call out. “Play nice. I brought someone.”
They all look up.
Maisie hesitates beside me, a flicker of tension in her.
“This is Maisie,” I say. “She’s my tutor.”
Her face flushes a deeper shade of pink as she tucks a loose strand behind her ear. Shy isn’t a word I’d ever used to describe her before, not like this. Sure, she’s quiet at times, but she’s always been cutthroat and stubborn and had no problem calling me out on my shit.
“She’s the one trying to keep me from failing out,” I add.
Nathan nods. “Thanks for your service.”
Maisie laughs, glancing up at me. “It’s an uphill battle.”
I grin. That’s my girl.
“She’s cute,” Aurora says, sliding in from the side, a drink in her hand. “Why haven’t you brought her around before?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “Felt like keeping her to myself.”
Maisie goes quiet. Her eyes flick to mine, and I feel that spark in my chest again, something I don’t quite get, but I really fucking like.
Aurora eyes her for a beat, then nods toward the butterfly clip nestled in Maisie’s dark hair. “Cute hair clip.”
Maisie fingers it self-consciously. “Oh, um… thank you.”
I glance down, catching that soft pop of pink against her hair, and my lips curl into a stupid smile.
Before anyone can say more, some random dude strolls over, eyeballing Aurora like she’s the only girl in the room—which, to him, maybe she is.
“Hey, you’re hot as fuck,” he starts, running a hand through his hair, flashing her a smile, coming off way too strong. I huff out a laugh. Rookie move. “Can I buy you a drink or something?”
Before Aurora can shut him down—given that she has a boyfriend—Cole jumps in. “She’s a venomous snake, man. I’d stay the hell away.”
Aurora doesn’t even blink. Her eyes narrow sharp enough to slice his throat, and honestly, I don’t doubt she wants to.
“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t touch your tiny dick even if you paid me.”
Logan chokes on his drink. My eyes widen, an amused smirk tugging at my lips. But Cole’s jaw locks tight, the muscle ticking.
“My dick’s nowhere near small, Viper,” he replies. “Too bad you’ll never find out.”
Aurora cocks her head, rolling her eyes. “Spare me the bullshit, Reaper. I bet you couldn’t find a woman’s clit with a map and a compass.”
The poor dude mutters something and scrams, disappearing into the crowd.
“Jesus,” Ryan mutters. “You two, cut it the fuck out before you scare Maisie off.”
Maisie’s standing there, mouth slightly open, shocked.
I lean in close, chuckling against her ear. “Don’t worry, they’re always like this.”
She smiles up at me. Christ . She has got to stop looking at me. Or like… do it forever. I don’t know which I want right now. My brain is muddled.
I shake my head, trying to steady myself. “Fuck, every time you smile at me, I forget what I was about to say.”
Her lips part just a little, and I swear I catch a blush rising in her cheeks.
“Oh wait,” Isabella says, perched on Ryan’s lap. “I’ve seen you before. You skate, right?”
Maisie’s gaze snaps to her, and she nods, surprised. “Yeah. I’m on the team.”
“You’re really good,” Isabella says with a warm smile. “I watch you skate sometimes when I’m waiting for the guys to get geared up.”
Maisie blinks, clearly not expecting that. “Thank you.”
And something about the way she says it, quiet and sweet, does something to me. And I realize this is probably the first time I’ve ever seen her really interact with other girls.
Maisie’s always alone, always quiet. Even when I pass her on campus, she’s off to the side, like she doesn’t quite belong anywhere.
I don’t know why that bothers me.
Maybe it’s because I like seeing her with my friends. Because she fits in here—with us.
When she laughs at something Isabella says, something in my chest eases.
I want her to laugh like that again.
I want her to be friends with my friends.
I want her to keep looking at me like I’m something other than the pain-in-the-ass student she’s been stuck tutoring.
Because now?
I’m not just looking at her.
I’m seeing her.
And I don’t think I can stop.