Just a Little Crush(4)

“Don’t worry, someone will come out for a smoke or we can walk to the front. Want to sit?” He gestured to the curb.

I glanced around, not liking the idea of being locked out. No one knew where we were. “Maybe we should knock and see if someone hears?”

“Let’s give it ten minutes. If no one comes, I’ll call my roommate to open the door.”

“Oh, yeah.” I didn’t even think about the phone. I could just call Mason. “Okay.”

Noah sat and pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He tilted it toward me. “Want one?”

“No thanks.” The fact that he smoked made him even less attractive.

He flicked a lighter and his face illuminated. With a cigarette in his mouth, he tilted his head and raised the dancing flame.

I scrunched my nose, anticipating the odor, and he paused.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask if you minded.” He lowered the lighter.

“Oh, it’s fine.”

He laughed. “No, it’s not.” He slipped the cigarette back in the pack.

“Really, you can smoke if you want.”

“It’s cool.” He patted the curb next to where he sat.

I hugged myself and glanced around. I was being paranoid. Noah was a good guy.

I sat and tucked my knees to my chest. “It’s cold.”

He stretched his legs out and reached into his pocket. “Wanna sip?” He lifted a flask.

Who was this guy? Definitely not the cute-but-not-my-type book nerd, I thought.

“It’s whiskey and will warm you right up.” He twisted the lid and tilted the bottle to his lips.

I was freezing but preferred not to warm myself with anything served in a flask.

“Here you go.” He handed me the metal bottle.

I sniffed then jerked it away.

“It’s warm going down.”

I swished the whiskey around. Maybe I could fake a sip just to indulge Noah.

The door screeched open and Ryder stepped out. He stared at me then at the flask in my hand.

He raised an eyebrow. “Locked out?” He kicked the rock into place then crossed his arms and, from my vantage point, towered over us. “Your friend’s looking for you.” He tilted his chin in my general direction.

“Oh. He is?” I handed the flask back to Noah and stood. I was happy to have an excuse to go inside, but couldn’t help but wonder if Ryder actually remembered me or just knew where to find Noah. Though we’d gone to high school together, it had been a year and a half since we’d last seen each other. If he did actually know who I was, I feared the only thing he’d remember was our disastrous kiss, but then again, he’d probably kissed a lot of girls in the last few years and had forgotten all about me…which was a good thing.

“Yeah, so you should get inside.” Ryder nodded toward the door.

But, of course, after that comment, some idiotic part of me didn’t want to go inside now, merely out of spite, and regardless of the fact I wanted to get away from Noah.

Noah stood, his arm brushing against mine. “She’ll go in when she’s ready.”

The corner of Ryder’s mouth quirked up. “She looks ready to me.”

“Hey.” A girl’s voice came from behind him. The blonde from earlier wrapped her arm around his waist and slipped under his arm. “There you are.”

Noah glared and tucked the flask into his pocket as he grumbled, “And now we see why.”

Ryder whispered something to the girl. She smiled, nodded and disappeared back the way she came.

So was this where guys brought girls to hook up? Had that been Noah’s intention? And why Ryder had been eager to help find me? Just clearing this area out for himself? I tried convincing myself that the feeling of annoyance settling over me was directed at Noah for bringing me here, but really it was Ryder who had me all frustrated. I had no reason to be, considering I had absolutely zero claim on the guy, but maybe that’s exactly what made me jealous. I’d never be the kind of girl he’d be interested in, and I was envious of the girl who was.

I hugged my arms to my sides. “Um. I’m going in.” I glanced at Noah. “Mason’s looking for me.”

Ryder leaned against the doorjamb, leaving me very little room to squeeze through. I waited for him to move. He smirked and it caused my heart to flip and flutter.

I was so not this girl. He was about to hook up with someone else. What was wrong with me?

Ryder.

Of course he was what was wrong with me. He always had been. I hated him. From his dark hair brushing over those green eyes to his kissable mouth stretching into that taunting smile.

Our bodies rubbed against each other as I slipped by and I swear he tensed. Or maybe it was me. Damn, he unnerved me. I moved quickly down the hall but a loud bang halted me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Ryder’s hand pressed against the door, blocking Noah.