“Why are you laughing?” I ask Ness.
“The situation.”
I hover, focusing my eyes away from any body part which could earn me a slap if I linger my gaze there. Her eyes meet mine, they’re swimming a little.
She sips her drink. “Are you staying or loitering?”
“I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome.” I pull out the stool opposite her.
“Why? You haven’t done anything wrong.”
No, I never got the chance. “True.”
I set down my drink and sit opposite her. Ness studies each move I make, watching my hands as I take a drink.
“How’s poetry class?” she asks.
“Fine. How’s the battery farm?”
“Painful.”
Funny we should have a greeting, a shared joke. “I didn’t think you came to the Union? Hated being amongst the student masses?”
“I don’t but Abby insisted. She’s not been out since your friend dumped her so I couldn’t say no. She’d probably have locked herself in her bedroom with ice-cream for another two weeks.”
I grin at her Ness view of the world. “Having fun yet?”
“Immense. Nothing brightens an evening like watching your best friend make a drunken embarrassment of herself.”
This girl amuses me, I’ve missed talking to her and wish I’d not avoided her. Hopefully I haven’t blown my chances completely. She was eager enough when we kissed. Ness’s vanilla perfume hangs in the air evoking a memory of holding her, tasting her and the softness of her lips. I’m staring at her mouth again and Ness looks confused.
“You look good tonight,” I say.
Her eyes narrow slightly. “Thank you.”
“You do.” I thought girls liked compliments?
“So, which girl are you screwing?”
Ness and her out of the blue questions. I’m caught off guard. “None. No-one. Recently. And let’s not start playing that broken record again.”
A smile edges onto her face. “I told you before, go the poetry option, if you’re not having any success. Girls love that crap.”
“You’re funny, Ness.”
Ness takes a drink and looks at the table, I can’t figure out what I’ve said wrong. I tip my head trying to catch her eye.
“And you’re strange,” she says, looking directly into my eyes, in the unsettling way she does.
“Strange?”
Ness rubs her lips together, and sips from her glass. Her cheeks are flushed; she’s drunk. “That night. When you ran away. And now you’re sat here talking to me again.”
Oh shit. The kiss.
“I didn’t run away. I had to go.”
“Who called?”
I shake my head, “No-one. It wasn’t important.”
“Not important… But you had to go. Okay. None of my business, I guess.” Ness cranes her neck, searching the crowd for someone or something.
Now I know I’ve said something wrong, and I am aware what this time. I told her she was unimportant. Way to go, Evan.
“Serendipity.” I say to her.
She snorts as she turns back to me. “What’s that? Word of the day?”
“That I saw you tonight. When I’ve been thinking about you.”
Ness sinks back in her seat. “Wow, you use the dictionaryandpoetry in your seduction techniques.”
“If you stopped behaving as if I was going to try and tear your clothes off at the first opportunity, we might have an actual conversation. Get to know each other.’
“You want to get to know me?”
Ness sits up and tips her head to one side. Her face is flushed but I think that’s the alcohol and not me. I’m not drunk but the few beers in my system are making me admit things I’ve not considered. “I do. Yes.”
The weird something from before hovers in the air again, our barriers wavering.
“Why?” she asks.
“Because you’re different to other girls.”
Ness chokes on her drink. “Are you resorting to clichés now?”
“No.”
Leaning forward she says, “Because I’m a challenge?”
I lean forward in response. “No, because you’re Ness. And I like you and I’m sorry I never got in touch before.”
Our heads almost touch as her eyes search mine, gauging my bullshit meter. “Really?”
“Really.”
Ness sits back, takes a drink and keeps her eyes on me. “I need to look after my pissed friend,” she says.
“Okay, can we meet up? Maybe tomorrow?”
I’m waiting for her reply when Abby returns. “I’ve changed my mind! Let’s go! I don’t want to be in the same city as him!”
Ness shrugs at me as Abby pulls her up. As she leaves, Ness walks backwards and calls out to me. “Shame, I was looking forward to the poetry.” She turns away again.
I’m not the only male gaze on her beautiful, round ass and undoubtedly not the only male in the room wanting to get her out of that dress. Abby and Ness stop briefly to chat to a group and one of the guys touches Ness on the arm. The jealousy hitting me takes me by surprise. My resolve over not chasing Ness is edged out by the discomfort of seeing another guy’s hands on her; I don’t think forgetting about Ness is a possibility anymore. She’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Chapter 11
NESS
Abby drags me home, and for once I don’t want to leave at the end of one of Abby’s nights out. The tiny part of me that had wished Evan would be at the Union was evidently bigger than I thought, because seeing him again brightened my evening. I hate to admit the fact but it’s true. Maybe because instead of just looking at me as a prospective conquest, he held a conversation with me. Other guys came on to me tonight, and male attention flattered me. But Evan told me he wanted to get to know me. Which puts him in a different box to the one I originally placed him in. I’m confused.
Abby foregoes the ice cream for wine and chips. And yet another viewing of her favorite chick flick. I think that’s her problem, someone forgot to tell her reality isn’t like the movies. I can’t stand to watch the same movie again so I curl up in the sofa, head in a book.
I also think I had one too many vodkas, the words on the page are blurring. I’m reading one of Abby’s romance books. Ridiculous girls, falling for buff men, who can magically give the girl multiple orgasms the first time they get down and dirty. No wonder Abby is delusional.
Abby’s phone rings and I jump out of the book, about to get into the steamy part. She puts down the bag of chips and picks her phone up, licking salt off her fingers as she looks at the screen.
“Bastard.”
She puts it down again. The phone rings out, then starts again. A feeling of déjà vu comes over me. But I doubt Abby will kiss me like Evan did.
“Going to answer that?”
“It’s him. Dick brain.”
“I kind of got that. But if you don’t tell him to stop, he might keep ringing.”All night.
Abby pulls the blanket up to her neck. “Nope.” She throws the phone at me. “You answer it.”
“You’re not twelve!” I switch the phone off and put it on the table.
An hour later, the doorbell rings. Abby pauses the television and her arm hovers in the air, remote outstretched.
“Abby!” Matt’s voice. Something crashes against the door. Not a fist. Probably his whole body.
I look at frozen Abby. No response. I groan.
“Matt, come on. Let’s go.”
My stomach twists at the sound of Evan’s voice.
“Oh yay, it’s both of them,” says Abby.
One of them hammers on the door. “Abby! Baby! Let me talk to you!”
The banging takes on a rhythmic beat. I can’t stand the noise for longer than a few minutes and give in, open the door. Predictably, Matt falls through the door onto the carpet. Evan hangs behind him, leaning against my car.
“Take him home?” I ask. “I don’t think Abby’s interested.”
>
“I tried. He’s out of it, refuses to listen.”
“Try harder.”
Evan steps forward into the light of the doorway and pushes past me, the rough cotton of his jacket scraping my face. I catch a hint of Evan’s scent, sending memories of his kiss scattering across my mind.
“Come on, man, you’re not wanted.” Evan grabs Matt’s shirt and pulls him into a sitting position.
Guys frequently say how pathetic girls are after break ups. In my experience, scenes like this occur more with guys than girls. Sure, girls sometimes cry and eat junk food until they’re sick, but in the privacy of their own homes. Pathetic, blubbering messes like Matt? That’s a guy thing. Matt mumbles something to himself.
Abby remains on the sofa, no use whatsoever, blanket tucked under her chin. I give her credit for not rushing over to Matt and welcoming him back into her life. But this doesn’t solve the problem of what to do with him.
“How pissed is he?” I ask Evan.
“Do you even need to ask? I’m surprised he made it here.”
“You could’ve stopped him.”
Evan leans against the front door, pushing his hair from his face. “Yeah, right. He weighs twenty pounds more than me and his determination outweighs my upper body strength.”
I consider the eloquence of Evan’s words. He’s not as drunk as his friend. “Good job you’re here to look after him.”
“Story of my life,” he mutters.
Matt slumps back to the floor.
“Sorry. I did try and stop him, I was worried what he might get himself into.” He pokes the now snoring mass with his boot. “I think he’s harmless now.”
A strange noise escapes the blanketed figure behind me, and a wailing Abby disappears upstairs. Evan blinks and I tip my head to indicate the empty bottle of wine besides the chip packets.
A loud burp from Matt alerts Evan and he crouches back down.
“Fuck my life,” says Evan as he maneuvers Matt into the recovery position. The ease in which he does this suggests he’s had practice.
“Do you want a drink?” I ask, unsure what we do now.
“Water, please.” Evan sits back on his heels.
When I return from the kitchen with the water, Evan is sitting in the armchair, staring at the ceiling.
“Will he be okay?” I pass him the water.
“Yeah.”
“You’re a good friend.”
He makes a small noise in his throat. “Yeah, too good. Who knows how long it’ll take for him to come round.”
“Stay here. You’re welcome to the sofa.”
He turns his brown eyes to mine. “Maybe I should go. I don’t know.”
“Staying has never bothered you before. Our sofa was your new best friend a few weeks ago.”
“I feel awkward now.” He looks down at Matt again.
Awkward is the best word to describe the whole situation, from inebriated guy on the floor, to the unspoken situation with Evan.
“Because you kissed me?” I ask, surprised by my words.
“Partly.”
This newer side to Evan intrigues me. Caring for his friend like this. Asking me out in the Union. The guy I thought Evan was would’ve left Matt and sloped home with a girl. He didn’t. And now my softening heart - and a lot of vodka - means I want to kiss him again.
I flop onto the sofa and look at him. “Got some poetry for me, bad boy Byron?”
The troubled look on his face is replaced by curious interest and he moves to the edge of the sofa arm. Like I did, last time we were in this situation.
“I don’t bite,” I say.
He grins. “That’s predictable.”
There’s something cute about the way he remembers our old conversations. Most guys don’t even listen. Evan drops into the small gap between me and the edge of the sofa. His muscled thigh pushes against mine and my arm is trapped against his side. I wriggle uncomfortably and he shifts around to look at me.
“So, can we continue our conversation from the Union?” he asks.
I’m overwhelmed by the sensation of his body touching mine, wishing my breathing would return to normal. He makes me dizzy, and with the alcohol flowing inside me, I want to lean into him and hope he kisses me.
“Sure.” I say instead.
“I have something I want to say to you, Ness.”
I can smell spicy him, evoking memories of sitting in exactly the same place once before. Apart from last time with his lips on mine. “What?”
“I let you get the wrong impression about me, and I wish I hadn’t.”
I focus on his mouth.I don’t care, just kiss me again. “Mmm?”
He pulls his head back a little. “You’re quite monosyllabic tonight.”
“That’s a big word for 1 AM on a Saturday morning.”
Evan smiles and reaches out a hand, fingers touching my face. “And that is one of the reasons why I want to get to know you. You’re so…you.”
I can’t concentrate on anything apart from his touch and remembering to breathe. But I have a nagging question. “How many girls have you had sex with since you came to Leeds?”
“One.”
I expected a retort at my intrusion into his sex life, but I have my reasons for wanting to know. “One?”
“That’s the truth. You’ve seen the state I get into. How many times would I have been capable, even if I wanted to? I was so bloody wasted I fell asleep most times I had the chance.”
I giggle. Quietly at first, and then I start snorting in an unladylike manner.
“What’s so funny?” Evan’s smiling too, and laughing at me.
“Those poor girls, getting a piece of Evan’s sexy fit body and then you pass out.”
“You’re a maddening girl.” He gets hold of my face and holds me so I have to look directly at him.
“Maddening?”Kiss me. Now.
“You are so smart and so funny and it’s wonderful.”
“Wonderful?”Now. Please.
“Because you don’t care. You do what you want and don’t let anyone stop you. You don’t pretend to be something you’re not.”
I take hold of one of his hands and move it from my face, lacing my fingers through his. In his eyes, the intent is barely hidden behind his seductive words.
Evan’s mouth hovers close to mine, his warm breath on my skin. The effect on me is weird, different to before, with other guys. Abby once told me she met this guy who didn’t even need to touch her and she got aroused. At the time, I concluded Abby was exaggerating. Now I think maybe there is something primal, where that can happen between two people. Because the heat floods through my body towards the surface, searing where his hand touches my face.
Evan’s eyes focus on my mouth. “Sorry I left last time.”
“Who said I was inviting you to stay last time?”
“Okay, sorry. But I did kiss you goodbye.”
Is he teasing me again? Because Evan’s mouth remains a tantalizing distance from mine, and he’s not kissing me. I shift, trying to disguise my rapid breathing and realize he’s waiting for me to make the move. Fine. I place my mouth on his, wriggling into him. Evan winds his hand into my hair, and gently holds my head to his, kissing me lightly, lips sparking power across my skin.
Our position on the sofa allows me to lean against Evan, half on top of him and I push myself into him, not taking my mouth from his. Evan’s arms wind around my waist and pull me closer. Where I’m lying on him, I can feel his erection against my thigh. Wow. I’ve hardly touched him - maybe I do the same to him? I pull my head back and meet his eyes, the hungry look I expected is held in them.
“Are you pinning me down so I can’t leave this time?” he asks.
I smile. “No. You can go now.”
“I think I’ll wait for Matt to wake up.”
With strong, rough hands he holds my face again and his tongue darts into my mouth. He tastes less of beer than last time. Our teeth collide and I move away from him, hold
ing my mouth. He watches as the dress rides up over my legs.
The short black dress isn’t very decorous when it comes to lying on top of a man. But I’m not behaving very decorously. Evan’s hand slides up my leg, stroking gently.
And I’ve definitely had too much vodka but screw it. He’s here and he’s fucking hot and it’s my choice. I’ll deal with the emotional fall out later. I don’t know if it’s the alcohol, or the sexual confidence I’ve found from tonight - guys watching me in the Union and Evan wanting me - but I make a snap decision.
“Do you want to make it two?” I ask.
“Two?”
“Girls. You’ve slept with in Leeds.”
I’ve seen the look on Evan’s face before, the night in the pub when his mask slipped a few seconds. He hesitates.
“Ness…”
“You’re saying no?” I remove my hand from where I’m trailing fingers across his muscled stomach.
“Honestly, I don’t know what to say.”
I tug him towards me by his shirt. I’m a bit drunk and a lot reckless but what the hell, it’s about time I had some fun. “How about you hit me with some poetry, I hear the girls really…”
“Ness. Shut up.” He drags me onto him and crushes his mouth on mine, the breath sucked from my lungs as the urgency of his kiss overwhelms me. The tiniest amount of self-control I had just disappeared.
Chapter 12
EVAN
When Matt pulled his stunt tonight, I almost managed to stop him. At one point I calmed him down enough to edge him towards the bus stop. Apparently the pull to see the girl he dumped several weeks ago became too much, and he staggered off. He’d be an easy target for any lurking gangs looking for a student to bash, so I didn’t have a bloody choice. I followed him.
Man, I was fucking furious, I wanted to continue my evening into the city with our mates. But now I could run downstairs and kiss him. Because Ness, spilling out of her sexy dress, and taking control, is straddling me as I lie on her bed. She leans over, and as she kisses my neck her soft hair tickles my face. I want to ask her why she’s doing this, but know asking girls why is a bad idea. And she might stop.
Because of Lucy Page 6