Page 26 of Chasing Home
It doesn’t help that he smells really fucking good tonight. Like something deep and rich and woodsy but also the tiniest bit sweet. I want to lean into his body and bury my face in the front of his shirt just to get a stronger whiff of it, and that’s fucking weird.
As if he can tell exactly what I’m thinking, Johnny glances over at me, a knowing smirk tugging at his plump lips. God, they’re really plump. The bottom one looks almost swollen, but in a sexy way. Like it’s been sucked and bitten on for hours prior to him coming out tonight.
My gut pinches at that thought, and I’m quick to extinguish the discomfort at the thought of him coming here directly after a hookup. I’m not jealous, and I’m absolutely not annoyed that he’s got a sex life. But I would be put off if he’s here flirting with me so soon after.
“Is beer your liquor of choice?” he asks lowly, starting up a conversation for just us.
“Usually.”
“I had a feeling.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, oh,” he teases, flicking his eyes to the almost empty bottle I have clutched in my hands. “I’m a lightweight, so it’s always beer for me.”
I swirl the bottle between my palms. “I’m not even close to a lightweight.”
“Ooh, interesting. So how many of those would it take to have you giggling at my bad jokes?”
“More than I plan to drink tonight.” I twist so my shoulder’s pressed to the wall and I can look at Johnny properly. The loopy grin on his face has me blurting out, “How many will it take to have you telling me said bad jokes?”
“Oh, darlin’. I’m already halfway there.”
“From two beers?”
“From two beers,” he confirms.
“That’s got to be a record somewhere.”
“If it was, does that mean you’ll give me a reward for my success?”
A laugh slips from me far too easily. I blame it on the alcohol. “What kind of reward are you hoping for?”
He taps a finger to his lips and hums for a minute before deciding. “Let me walk you home tonight.”
“That seems like a waste of a reward.”
His eyes snare mine, the determination in them causing an uptick in my pulse. “Not even close.”
I swallow before clearing my throat, and when I still feel like I can’t breathe, I bring my beer back to my lips and drink the last sip.
“I drove here, but I won’t be driving home. I’ll drop you off and come back so I can grab a ride from someone. All I want is to walk with you,” he adds.
“Fine. But when you get bored of walking in silence, it’s not my fault.”
That determination I saw flares, growing into something even stronger. “Bored? I doubt it, Rory.”
He purrs my name, and I set my bottle down before smoothing my sweaty hands down my thighs, careful to keep my arms to myself.
“Are you two done with your private conversation yet? I have a question for you, J,” Brody says from across the table.
I blink and stare at the several sets of eyes now fixated on me and Johnny. The man beside me doesn’t seem to mind the attention as he winks at Brody, but me? I want to crawl into a hole and wait for it to collapse on me.
“Go for it,” he tells his friend, sounding far too casual.
Brody tips his chin and starts to speak, but I miss the entire first half of his sentence when Johnny nudges me with his elbow, the touch searing through me. It would be an accidental brush if it were anyone else, but by the mischievous twitch of his features, I know it was anything but.
“—she should be okay, but I want an extra set of eyes on ’er while we’re gone. You up for it?” Brody asks.