Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Blaze! Thought I lost you. Hey, guys, so glad you came out to celebrate,” she gushes at the group, her hand curving around my bicep.
Charisma’s eyes watch Dani. “Yes, you did find him. A plus. He’s all yours.”
There are a few moments of tense silence as we all look at each other. Margo and Connor have wide eyes on us, and even the guys in the back seem to be waiting for something to happen. One of them keeps giving Charisma a sheepish grin, a clear look of appreciation on his face. Heat rises inside me. He’s right up her alley: nice, subdued, smart…malleable. Everything I’m not.
“Aw, thanks, honey. What’s your name?” Dani says as she gives Charisma a quick, assessing look, sizing her up.
“Charisma. No ‘i’ on the end, in case you were wondering.” Her elegant brows arch. “My friends call me Charm. You don’t have to.”
“Lovely name with just a touch of tacky. Very hipster.” Dani scrunches up her pretty face.
I watch Charisma—you never know what she might do—but there’s no discernible reaction to Dani except a slight curl of those pink lips.
Charisma grabs a glass off the table and raises it. “To tacky names, Blaze’s included,” she says dryly.
Touché.
I lift my own glass. “My mom was stoned when she picked mine. She said the world was ‘ablaze’ when I came out.”
“I had my pop’s eyes, and that’s why Ma gave me mine. He’s one charismatic guy,” Charisma mutters before tossing back her drink.
“Both of you have lovely names,” says Margo, her eyes bouncing between us.
“At least it’s not Dimpleshitz,” Connor adds, and everyone laughs—everyone except for Charisma and me.
I stare at her. Fuck, I can’t help it. My hands twitch at my sides and the muscles in my jaw tighten while her face is void of emotion, carefully blank, her eyes leveled at some point across my shoulder.
How can she keep her cool when she hasn’t seen me in months?
She’s ice. Subzero. Antarctica in a wet dress.
She hates you.
Dani clears her throat. “They cleared a big table for us, Blazey. Let’s do some shots.” She attempts to tug me away from the group.
I don’t budge.
“You guys wanna join us?” My gaze sweeps over them, lingering on Charisma.
“No,” she says coolly.
Margo and Connor say they’re in and the chess guys look semi-interested, except for the one who keeps giving Charisma Hey, wanna play with my knight later glances.
Whatever.
I should walk away, but I want a reaction from her, and I don’t even know why.
I lean into her space, pulling Dani along with me. “Sure, babe? The owner said all drinks are free for us.”
She gives me a long, slow blink. “I have better things to do…better people to associate with.”
Margo gasps, but really, she should know Charisma says whatever the hell she wants, which is part of what attracted me to her—her spirit and fire.
“Better people, huh? Like who?” Is she seeing someone? I throw a look around at the guys with Connor, and they visibly shrink back.
“Like…it’s none of your business, football player. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” She snatches her coat off the back of a chair and throws it over her arm.
I take a step closer, blocking her path, and her scent hits me, fresh and clean with a hint of peppermint. You’d think such a regular smell wouldn’t get my dick hard, but it does.
I stare down at her. “Just one drink?” Shit. What is wrong with me?
Dani laughs, the sound a little forced as she caresses the inside of my bicep. “Some people just aren’t in the party mood, right? Come on, let’s go, Blazey.”
“Not yet,” I say firmly.
Charisma’s mouth tightens. Some of her control is slipping, and part of me is glad. Because standing here close to her…it feels like I’m winded, and I want her to feel the same.
There’s a slight tic under her right eye and her hands are tense and balled up, one at her side and one holding on to that coat. She blinks rapidly and glances away from us, chewing on those full lips, working the bottom one with her top teeth as she answers my question. “Sorry, no more drinks for me. I need to run. Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, and Raj won’t wait forever.” Her voice has an ever-so-slight quiver around the edges.
“Who are they?” Dani asks, her expression bored.
“Big Bang Theory,” I tell her, still looking at Charisma even though she won’t return the favor. “Popular TV show.”
“Never heard of it,” Dani says. “Sounds lame.”
“The characters are hilarious, smart people. You wouldn’t enjoy it,” Charisma says, her expression tight as she stares at Dani’s hand on my arm.
Her eyes finally lift to mine, and she seems to take a deep breath. “Congrats on the win. I mean that. I know it was…everything you wanted.” She looks at Dani and then back at me. “I’m happy for you.”