“Hey, Beautiful,” he said, eyes trained on Serena, “wanna hook up before graduation?” Then he stood there, muscular arms folded, grinning down at her. He looked so smug with his spiky blonde hair and bright blue spandex top that showed off every cut of his chest muscles. The glint in his eyes and the self-satisfied curl of his lips told a girl everything she needed to know. This guy thought he was God’s special gift to womankind. Period.
Tammy and Jen, forever in awe of the college stud, looked at Serena and giggled. Then they started preening for him, Jan straightening her back so her tiny breasts could finally be seen in her loose sweater and Tammy dabbing daintily at her lips with her napkin and peeking up at him with wide, worshipful eyes.
Serena rolled her eyes then looked away. Chad had been pursuing her all year…ad nauseum…no matter that he’d slept with half the women on campus. What part of ‘no’ didn’t he understand? What could she say to get rid of him once and for ever? Then, like a whisper from an angel on her right shoulder…or more likely a devil on her left…it came to her. Just crush his inflated male ego, girl, right here right now in front of his adoring fans. Slam him when there’s an audience and he’ll be gone for good.
And then he did the unthinkable. In the middle of her ponderings he had the audacity to lean down and try to plant a kiss on her cheek, his face suddenly so close that, with a gasp, she drew back sharply. The nerve of him to try that. And in front of an audience.
Eyes wide, she leaned away from him then reached down and grabbed her purse. “Hold on just a minute,” she gasped, feigning astonished awe. “I didn’t expect that.” She gave him a tremulous smile.
Quickly, she fished around in her purse then as her fingers circled the intended object she nodded. “There. Found it.” She pulled out a pack of mint gum and held it up to Chad in full view of her friends and all those who had turned to watch. “Take the whole pack. Trust me, you need it.”
Serena never saw a man back off so fast. He jerked back and when he straightened his face was red as tomato. His lips worked like he wanted to say something biting and couldn’t find the words but he only flexed his muscled arms and glared down at her. What was he going to do? Hit her? He couldn’t be that stupid.
With a flick of her head, Serena dismissed him. She turned her attention back to her sheepishly grinning friends, totaling ignoring the man glowering down at her. Then as if finally getting the message he turned and stormed out of the restaurant, almost bowling over a server carrying a tray of food.
“Ooh,” Jan said, giggling out loud once he was gone. “You can be such a wicked witch sometimes.”
“Sometimes a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do,” Serena said, unapologetic. “I don’t have time to waste on flirts.”
“So how do you think you’ll ever find a husband?” Tammy chimed in.
“Don’t worry about her.” Jan rolled her eyes. “That’s how she’s always been. She’s a cold one. Never has time for guys.”
“I’m not cold.” Serena glared at her friend. “I’m just picky.”
“You’ll pick yourself right into spinsterhood if you’re not careful.” Jan grinned at her.
Serena was unperturbed. She smiled. “You never know. I may find the perfect guy in Paris.”
“It’s going to be great,” Tammy said, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement. “Just the three of us traveling all over Europe. We’re bound to run into some hotties.”
“Yes, well,” Serena said in her most snooty voice, looking down her nose, “I’ll be going to Europe for the culture not to look for men.”
“Yeah, right.” Jan grinned at her.
Serena laughed then waved the server over for the bill. “You’re right. I’m looking forward to this trip for more reasons than one. I can hardly wait.”