Page 16 of The Golden Boys
A blatantly cocky stride tells me I’m right.
The white, ribbed fabric clings to his pecs, as well as the discernable ridges of solid abs that have me biting my lip. Then, I’m done in by the rest of his godlike features, the towering height, the half-smile revealing perfect, white teeth set behind fleshy lips.
But he’s not smiling atme. I’m not even sure he’s seen me yet. He’s smiling atthem,the two he’s conversing with. The two I know must be his brothers, or they’re possibly even triplets, considering they’re all here together at orientation. They’re not identical, but nearly. Each one obviously aware he could have any girl in this world, but somehow giving off a vibe that they don’t care.
Oh, they care.
I’m a fidgeter around boys. Always have been. So, to keep my hands busy when I realize they don’t intend to sit at the other end of the row, but instead close tome,I shove the abundance of paperwork I’ve gathered today inside my purse.
Then, he looks up, and thathave-my-babiessmile of his casts it’s spell.
For a second, I wonder if he recognizes me from the bonfire, but he can’t. He’s probably had twenty or thirty girls on their backs and/or knees since then.
I’m smiling, but it feels weird, like I’m thinking too much about what my face is doing. He’s still coming this way and I’m starting to think he spotted me before I realized. Actually, I wonder if he spotted me and then decided to approach.
Don’t say anything stupid, Blue. They’re just boys. Yeah, they’re really, really cute boys, but boys, nonetheless.
I tell myself not to look up when he stops and hovers over me, but that would be even more awkward than acknowledging him. So, I take a chance, only to realize I wasn’t anywhere near ready.
He wets his lips and I hold my breath when he speaks.
“Anyone sitting here?” His glance shifts to the seat beside me when he asks, and I try to recover from the shockingly deep voice that left him. It’s smooth and melodic. Perfect for talking girls out of their panties, I imagine.
My throat is so, so dry. “Uh, n—no! It’s just me.”
I sound super eager, which I hate. For that reason, I tone down the smile I offer.
“Cool. Mind if we sit?”
I blink up at him, and then shake my head. “Sure. That’s fine.”
I turn away as all three drop down in the seats beside me. When I do, I’m suddenly aware of all the eyes on us. Even with the lights dim, everyone seems to have taken notice that these three have sought me out.
Great.
Not exactly helping me fly under the radar.
When I turn, I sense the one Jules identified as King Midas staring, and I’m right. He is. His gaze makes its slow trek upward, from where my shoes are propped against the back of the seat in front of me, to where my knees and thighs press toward my chest. Aware of having his attention, I lower both feet to the floor. The sudden movement brings his eyes to mine with a snap—the perfect shade of what Mom calls ‘heartbreaker green’. She coined the term before I was even thought of, but she’s used it often. So often I know it describes irises such a deep green they look like true emeralds.
“I’m West. These are my brothers—Dane and Sterling,” he adds.
“Hey.”
“What’s up?”
I wave after both brothers offer their short greeting, then decide to ask a question I believe I already know the answer to. “So … you’re triplets, right?”
West nods and my stomach fills with knots when he smiles. “That obvious?”
“Kind of,” I manage to say through a super cheesy grin. “I mean, there’s obviously some sort of relation, but seeing as how you’re all here for orientation, I kind of put the pieces together.”
He’s nodding again and I realize I still haven’t given my name.
“Oh, I’m Blue. Blue Riley,” I share. He gives me the same look everyone does when I tell them.
“Is that short for something? Or a nickname?”
My cheeks feel hot and I’m grateful it’s dark, because my entire face is probably red.