He glances over. “I wasn’t uncomfortable.”
“Right,” I say dryly. “You just stood there in the corner with a cup you didn’t drink from and a death glare that could’ve cleared the room.”
“I wasn’t glaring.”
“Could’ve fooled me. You had the face of a guy counting down the seconds until escape.”
He keeps his eyes on me. “Maybe I was.”
That pulls a laugh out of me. “And yet here you are. Still hanging out with the guy responsible for all that misery.”
He doesn’t smile, exactly, but the edge of his mouth softens. “You’re different when it’s just us,” he says, making my brows shoot up in surprise.
“Yeah?” I ask, trying to sound casual. “That a good different or a bad different?”
He watches me for a few seconds, and I don’t know why my heart rate picks up the longer he does. “Just an observation.”
I swallow a laugh, pretending like my pulse doesn’t jump. “You know, if you didn’t want to scare people off, you could try smiling once in a while. Maybe even talk to someone. Or… wild idea—flirt.”
That earns me the smallest eye roll, but there’s a hint of color rising in his cheeks, and I can’t help but grin wider. “I don’t flirt.”
I grin. “No kidding.” I lean forward, elbows on my knees. “Good thing I’m here. I could give you a few lessons.”
He looks up, brow furrowed like he’s sure he misheard. “Lessons?”
“Flirting lessons,” I clarify. “You’re overdue, and lucky for you, I’m an excellent teacher.”
He makes a face, his nose scrunching. “I’ll pass.”
“Come on,” I say, bumping his knee with mine. “Lesson one: Body language. You need to roll your shoulders back and maybe loosen your jaw a little. It’s a little intimidating to approach you when you look like Cole,” I joke.
His eyes flick to me, unimpressed. “You done analyzing me?”
“Just saying,” I shrug. “You’re hot, but you don’t give anyone a chance to figure it out.”
“I—” He coughs, blinking in shock. “What?”
“What?” I tease, a smile spreading across my face. “You don’t think you’re hot?”
He scowls, color climbing his neck. It starts at his neck, climbs right up to his ears. It’s almost unfair how easy it is to rile him up. “Shut up, Gray.”
“Lesson two,” I say, leaning back and stretching my arm over the couch. “Confidence. When someone calls you hot, you say thank you.”
He turns his head, frowning at me. “You’re seriously still going with this?”
“Yup.” I pop the p, draping my arm over the back of the couch. “It’s a public service, really. Can’t have our goalie terrifying every poor girl on campus.”
His jaw tightens. “Maybe I don’t want to flirt with any girls.”
“Everyone wants to flirt.” I smirk. “Even you, Captain Serious.”
Nathan exhales slowly, tipping his head back against the couch. “You’re exhausting.”
“Lesson three,” I say, shifting so I’m facing him. “Eye contact.”
He opens his eyes, glancing my way—and oh fuck, big mistake. His lashes are stupidly long, and there’s something warm in his brown irises that makes my mouth dry up a little. I swallow hard.
“Lesson four,” I say, clearing my throat. “Compliments.”