Page 22 of The Love Penalty

“Stop looking at me like that,” I grouse.

“I can’t help it. You’re twenty-one, dude, and you sound like a fifth grader.”

“Shut up. I do not.”

“Ah, yeah, you do.” She bulges her eyes at me. “We’re all grown-ups here. You can handle being around someone you don’t like for one evening.”

“I don’t not like her,” I clarify. “She doesn’t like me. As soon as I get to the table, she’ll probably want to leave.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know!” I hedge. Like I’m going to admit to our searing kiss or the fact that I can’t stop thinking about her.

“Okay.” Mick pats my arm. “How do you know she feels this way?”

“Because she told me.” I turn to give her an emphatic look. “Right to my face.”

Mikayla’s mouth pops open. “She said it your face?”

“Yes. She told me she hates me and that nothing I say or do will ever make her change her mind.”

Mick’s eyes spark. “Well, that’s a bit of bullshit right there.” She looks back to the table, then up at me. “I know you’ve got some douchy qualities…”

“Thanks?”

“But”—she holds up her finger—“you’re a really lovable guy. So that girl over there is not allowed to hate you.” Mikayla clicks her tongue. “She obviously just doesn’t know you that well yet.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “She doesn’t want to get to know me.”

“Well, tough shit for her. She’s here. You’re here. We’ll be eating at the same table. She’s just gonna have to get over herself.”

Rearranging my hair back into place, I steal another glance at the table and mutter, “Maybe I should just go.”

“Or…” Mikayla’s face lights with a grin. “We could have ourselves some fun.”

My eyes narrow as my ears start burning. What is this lil’ mouse up to?

“Fun?” My tone is dry and skeptical.

“Yeah.” Mick wiggles her eyebrows. “I’m gonna wager ten bucks that you can’t make her smile.”

Dammit, this woman knows me too well.

A bet? I can never resist one of those!

“Ten bucks.” I grab the bottle of beer off the tray and take a swig. “If I can make her smile, I win ten bucks.”

“Yep.” Mick nods like she’s all proud of her smarts.

I snicker and stick out my hand. “Let’s make it twenty.”

“Deal. I wanna see how much this chick really hates ya.” Mick laughs, skipping away from the bar with our table number and leaving the tray of drinks for me.

I slide it off the bar, carefully navigating my way around the crowds of people, making it to the table without spilling a drop.

Mick’s already climbing onto a stool next to Ethan while I place the tray down and start doling out drinks. Lani’s standing right beside me, stiff as a two-by-four.

I give her a side-eye, then sense Mikayla watching me. She winks before taking a sip of her ginger ale and whispering something to Ethan.