But Sarah nudges me along and I realize that even I was just caught in the haze of Lucas’s charming nature.
Like he can feel the daggers I’m shooting in his direction, Lucas’s head turns, doing a double take. He says something to the journalist and now they’re both looking at me.
My skin now has this weird tingling feeling and my body wants to remain right where it’s standing, like I’m afraid that Lucas will disappear from my sight. As if that could possibly be a bad thing but that thought is ridiculous so I rip the door to my father’s office open and usher Bethany and Sarah inside.
Before I can make it past the door, Lucas is calling out to me and my body has the audacity to betray me and stop so that now he’s standing in front of me. He’s still in his uniform and his skates make him taller than usual, forcing me to look up at him.
A shiver runs down my spine that I’m chalking up to the chill in the building. It has nothing to do with how close Lucas is standing or how he, for some reason unbeknownst to me, looks actually happy to see me.
That’d be ridiculous.
He’s a guy, I have to remind myself. He’s simply checking the packaging before he attempts to open the goods.
I mentally facepalm at my own analogy, wondering when any guy has ever had this effect on me.
“Didn’t know you were here.” Lucas smiles. “You weren’t in your usual spot with Amiyah.”
I cross my arms, trying to create some sort of barrier between us. “Like you know where we sit.”
“’Course I do. You’re impossible to miss.”
Bethany and Sarah both come up to the doorway and I can already feel the teasing radiating off them before I even turn to look at them.
“He did good out there.” Sarah nudges my shoulder with hers. “Don’t you think, D?”
Lucas shakes his head, gently laughing. “Thanks for the ego boost ladies but Denise here avoids complimenting me like the plague.”
“Only because your head is big enough as it is.”
“Don’t take it personally.” Bethany smiles, deciding to join in. “That’s just Denise’s way of—”
“Will you two go sit the fuck down?”
The two of them snort into their hands, not even bothering to hide their amusement as they walk back into my dad’s office, leaving me and Lucas partially in the hallway.
I lean my back against the doorframe, trying not to notice that his curls are slightly damp and frizzy from his now discarded helmet. Because paying close attention to his hair makes me want to do something stupid like curl the ringlets around my own fingers.
Maybe even tug a little.
“What do you want, Callahan? I’m sure there’s other girls you can find on campus willing to stroke your ego.”
He shrugs. “Probably, but I’d really prefer if it was you. Actually, I’d prefer you did lots of things to me—”
“Lucas,” I warn.
I hate the way my throat tightens and my body wants to shift closer to him. I hate that the only reason I even reach out to hit his shoulder is because I want to feel the warmth of him underneath the palm of my hand.
Physical attraction, I remind myself.
That’s what’s happening and it’s only intensified with Lucas because the man follows me around like he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself, otherwise.
Lucas gently tugs at the hem of my Juicy Couture jacket underneath my puffer vest. The gesture makes me want to say “fuck it” and rip his clothes off right here in the hallway, but I don’t. I behave myself.
Yay-fucking-me.
“You know…” Lucas pulls his hand away but doesn’t step back. “You’re always welcome to wear my number, Stryker.”
I scoff. “In your dreams, Callahan.”