Well actually, I’m more fed up with the way he looks at me. Okay, maybe not how his attention is always on me but the way my body reacts to his gaze.
I’m wearing a skirt and crop top—I should not be this hot right now.
“You coming to The Clone House tonight?” he asks, casually walking alongside me and Amiyah.
Of course I was already planning on going to said frat party tonight, but I don’t feel the need to share that information with Lucas.
I try to keep my focus straight ahead, weaving past people walking around the mall. Amiyah falls a little behind but when I turn my head to look at her, I become fully aware she’s doing it on purpose.
Fine with me. We’re at a mall. She can buy walking shoes.
I steal a glance at Lucas but he’s already watching me. “Why would I tell you and make following me around easier?”
He grins. “’Cause I think you like it.”
My whole body comes to a halt, causing Amiyah to collide with my back. I turn my head to look at her when I hear her giggle. My glaring doesn’t deter her.
I’m glad one of us finds this whole thing amusing.
I whip my body back around to face Lucas and that was a mistake because he’s standing close enough for me to smell the woodsiness of his aftershave and the mint from the gum he’s chewing.
The act pulls my attention to his lips. Round. Full. His defined cupid’s bow not helping much with pulling my eyes away. One kiss wouldn’t hurt, right? People kiss all the time. Doesn’t mean it has to lead anywhere.
Oh god, I really want it to lead somewhere.
Before I can collect my thoughts and tell Lucas that he’s out of his goddamn mind, my phone rings. I busy myself with digging through my purse, fishing out my phone.
Dad’s name pops up on the screen.
Needing the excuse to not acknowledge what just came out of Lucas’s mouth or scold Amiyah for her laughter because that’ll just give her answers, I answer.
“Hey, Dad.”
Lucas’s eyes widen, taking a short step back from both me and Amiyah, his head jerking around as if my dad is going to appear out of thin air.
I grin, finally feeling like I’m back to having the upper hand.
The ‘hands-off’ rule was the very first thing my father made clear when Amiyah and I started coming around the ice rink more often during practices.
My dad thought that somehow being surrounded by hockey goons would help distract me from a failed hip surgery and an eventual end to me attending Joffrey Ballet School. I knew my dad was just trying to help get me out of my own head, but seeing a bunch of hockey players being able to do what they love did the opposite, actually.
But it’s how I fell in Lucas’s line of sight a few months ago. Before then, I was busy with classes at Kingswell and running back and forth to ballet classes.
All it took was one day and a curious look at the jock to set him off and follow my every move.
I like to think that I’m nice enough to not have mentioned any of this to my father because technically Lucas hasn’t done anything. It has nothing to do with me sometimes getting a kick out of his stalking tendencies.
“Hey, DD,” Dad greets. “You busy?”
“Nope, just at the mall with Amiyah.” I make direct eye contact with Lucas, my grin growing wider as I bring it upon myself to add, “…and Lucas.”
Lucas’s head snaps toward Amiyah, who looks just as shocked that I’d stoop that low. What can I say? The fear in Lucas’s eyes excites me a little.
Dad stays silent for a moment and I can almost hear the quiet ticking coming from inside his head.
“Callahan, huh?” He finally speaks.
“Yup.” I make sure to exaggerate the word. “Just doing some shopping.”