“That cocky son of a bitch.”

“Um, did anyone else see the fireworks?” Lizzy asked, her eyes wide and full of all things gooey and sweet. Like how they always got when we would watch a stupid romance movie. She loved that shit, but I’d be damned if she put that fake shit on me. That was not my jam.

But before I could even mutter anything, Maci squealed, “Yes! Oh my goodness! They are so into each other.”

“I’m right here,” I complained, but obviously no one was listening.

“Did you see the way he looked at her?” Natalie asked. “It was so hot. So hot. And oh my God, I’m hot everywhere.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I mumbled as Lizzy pointed to Natalie.

“Right? I mean, holy moly. Bo, tell me you didn’t feel that?”

I looked her dead in the face. “I felt nothing but my hate fire growing fast and hot.”

“Right! I’m hot too!”

For the love of God. I was getting nowhere with these people. All I felt was my growing anger toward Gus. How dare he! He didn’t know me! He was delusional, and how dare he say those things! He basically made me out to be some smart girl who fluttered around, acting dumb. That wasn’t me. He and his stupid antics could go right to hell!

And that kiss?

Argh! Oh, how he used my words against me. That son of a bitch! Even if he did taste like everything right and wrong in the world. Or that his lips took mine in a way I had never experienced before. Because, damn it, I didn’t want to experience it!

Damn it!

Stewing, I leaned back in my seat and crossed my arms over my chest as the girls went on and on about how fucking hot Gus Persson was. I bet he was watching, loving every second of it. He strived for this kind of attention. It was all a ploy, another way to get all the attention. He was so pathetic, and I wished he would just go away. But he wouldn’t, not anytime soon. Which was annoying as hell.

Ugh.

When his laughter filled the room—the obnoxious sound sending chills down my spine—my gaze cut to where he was leaning on the pool table. His whole body was moving with the motion of his laughter. Glaring, I watched as he leaned into his pool stick, his jaw slack as the guy in front of him said something that was apparently very funny. Looking at his dark hair and thick jaw, I wanted to say he looked like Jesse, the guy who had fucked me over, just like Gus had said. But he didn’t look like Jesse. Jesse had soft features and wasn’t that big. Gus took up the whole room. He was so big, so handsome, and fuck, yeah, maybe he did do something to my insides, but I’d never act on it. Not even in my drunken state.

It was just a simple movement, his gaze casually meeting mine. My skin was prickling, and it wasn’t from a draft. Gone was the smug look and even the cockiness. All that was left was a dark and smoldering look in his eyes as he held my gaze. His shoulders went back, his tongue coming out to wet his lips, and within seconds I could feel that tongue on mine. It was quick, maybe just half a second, but I would never forget it.

Leaning on his pool stick, he took in a deep breath, filling his wide chest before blowing it out, his gaze never leaving mine. Heat gathered between my legs, and soon I was squirming in my seat, but I wouldn’t look away. I wouldn’t let him win.

But he must have seen my struggle, because within seconds, back came that stupid cocky grin, and then he blew me a kiss.

“Motherfu…” My words trailed off as I looked away, mad that I’d allowed him to hold my gaze for that long. What the hell was wrong with me? Was I really that drunk? I reached for my purse, but Lizzy stopped me.

“No, don’t leave!”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not. I’m going to the bar for a drink.”

“We can order them.”

My gaze went back to where he was watching me, and I shook my head. “I need some space.”

And I wasn’t lying. Plus, I planned to get some water and didn’t want her to see. I did not like the person I was becoming with each swig of my drink. Nope, that girl was dumb, and I refused to not be level-headed right now or lose control. Not with Gus in the room.

Even if I wanted so desperately to do so.

Ugh. Why had I thought that?

Shaking my head in disgust, I left the room and entered the next. It was busy, so it took me a moment to get to the bar. When I reached it, I leaned on it before waving to the bartender. He saw me, flashed me one finger that I assumed meant one second. Letting out a breath, I leaned on my elbows and pulled out my phone. Hitting Facebook, I scrolled through my feed as I waited. When Gus’s earlier words came into my head, I rolled my eyes. He didn’t know anything about me. I shared all kinds of stuff that I believed in—but, oh my God, why did I care?

He was an asshole anyway.

When a picture my mom had posted appeared, I smiled. Davis’s toothless grin took up the whole screen. He was so adorable and getting so big. I hated that I was missing this time with him. But I’d decided that was what I wanted when I left home. Conflicting emotions clogged my throat as I took in his dark-red hair and light-blue eyes. Closing my eyes, I cursed the stupid alcohol I had consumed.

New rule: no more drinking.

Apparently, I turned into a complete sappy idiot.

“Cute kid.”

My eyes shot open at his voice. When I looked over and realized that Gus was way too close for my liking, I tried to step back, but someone was behind me. Since I’m pretty sure the dude behind me didn’t want me on top of him, I was stuck. I didn’t want to lose my place at the bar, so I stayed where I was. Even if I could feel every inch of him. Swallowing hard, I hit the home screen on my phone so the picture would go away.

“Thanks,” I said brusquely.

“Yours?”

My heart stopped, and I slowly shook my head. “No.”

“Brother?”

“Yeah,” I answered, but I wasn’t sure why I was answering him.

“I thought you were too young to have a kid.”

I shrugged.

He laughed. “I’m surprised you’re talking to me.”

I nodded. “Me too.”

He chuckled as he leaned into the bar beside me, holding up a finger. Apparently, Gus had magic fingers, because the bartender appeared right away. “Bus, what’s up? What can I get you?”

“Another beer for me and my friend here.”

I shook my head. “Just a water, please, and my tab.”

The bartender nodded before going to work, and I could feel Gus’s gaze on me before he said, “Done drinking for the night?”

“Yeah, I turn into an idiot when I drink.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I argue with irresponsible and pigheaded people.”

He scoffed. “I’m guessing I’m the irresponsible and pigheaded people you speak of?”

“Yup,” I answered simply. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that stupid grin of his. Looking over at him, I was once again hit with his good looks, and instantly, I was annoyed. Why was he so beautiful? It was honestly unfair, especially considering how talented he was. “The one and only, actually. I should correct that sentence to person.”

“Well, I’m sorry you feel that way.”

I scoffed. “You are not. You couldn’t care less.”

“I do, actually,” he said simply, his eyes burning into mine. “I still feel we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”

“Again, no foot needed,” I said as my water, tab, card, and ID were laid on the counter. “We don’t have anything to say to each other.”

He moved closer to me, but I ignored him as I signed my tab.

“Actually, we have a lot to say— Holy shit, is your name really Bocephus?”

My stomach dropped as I realized he wasn’t getting close enough to me to make me nervous but to see my name! “You sly asshole!” I yelled, tucking my ID and card into my pocket. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”

“I wouldn’t want anyone to see that either. No wonder you wouldn’t tell me your name!”

“Oh, shut up!”

His eyes were wild. In another world, I’d say he was adorable.

“Bocephus? As in Hank Williams Jr.? That’s just cruel.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Jesus, do your parents even love you?”

I glared. “Shut up. They do! They’re big fans.”

His eyes widened, and his shock was actually charming. “So, my parents are big Mötley Crüe fans, but my name isn’t Mötley!”

“Like Gus is any better!”

He feigned hurt. “Hey, Gus is a man’s name. A strong name. Plus, it rhymes with Bus, which works well for my career.”

I pursed my lips in aggravation. “So you’re telling me your parents wanted to call you Gus ’cause they knew you’d play hockey and you’d be the Bus?”

He curved his lips and slowly shook his head. “No, actually, my name is August, but my mom has called me Gus since I was a baby. It stuck.”

It was obvious he loved his mom. His cheeks reddened a bit, and his lips turned up in such an innocent way. Watching his face, I couldn’t help but think he looked like an August. Which knocked me right back into reality. He was the rich kid I was supposed to hate! He was probably carrying all his daddy’s credit cards and all his bills were being paid on time, but not by him. Shit, all he was missing with that stupid tight shirt and even tighter shorts was his silver spoon.

“Awesome. Information I’ll never need to know again.” Pushing the tab forward, I took a long swig of my water and then set it down. “Yeah. So this was fun—not.”

I went to turn but his arm came around my waist and he pulled me against his chest, hard with muscle. His hips pressed against the small of my back, and I swore my pussy came to attention. Breathless, I closed my eyes as his lips grazed my ear.

“But when I do see you again, should I call you Bocephus? Or do you go by something else?”

Swallowing hard, I struggled against him, but his grip was ironclad. If I was honest, I wasn’t fighting that hard. I loved the feel of him against me. The way his thighs pressed into my ass and how I swore I could feel the length of him. Tomorrow, I would be angry with myself that I allowed him to touch me like this. But tonight, I’d let it happen for a second more.

His lips pressed into my ear. “What’s your middle name? Surely, you go by that.”

His laughter had my skin breaking into gooseflesh as I gasped for breath, and when I stepped forward to put some space between us, he took ahold of my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. My gaze moved from our entangled hands to his gaze. His green eyes were dark, like emeralds, and everything went blazing hot.

“Maybe I go by Bocephus.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “No, you don’t, and even if you do, I don’t think I can moan that without laughing extremely hard afterwards.”

He wasn’t funny. He wasn’t, yet I found myself fighting back my laughter as I looked away, my hand on fire in his. Swallowing hard, I looked up and shrugged. “I think it would be hot.”

That had him laughing more as he pulled me closer to him, and I found myself not fighting him. I wasn’t even drinking. How was I getting even more drunk? What the hell was wrong with me?

“Give me something to call you.”

I shook my head. “No reason to.”

“Sure there is.”

“Give me one good reason,” I demanded.

“So when I see you, I don’t have to call out ‘Howdy, Bocephus!’”

I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want him doing that since no one knew my real name, so I shrugged. “It’s Bo.”

“Bo?”

I nodded. “Yeah, when I was younger, I went by Bo Jane. BJ for short.”

His eyes lit up. “So what you’re really telling me is that you’re amazing at BJs?”

My smile dropped, and I pulled my hand away. “And I’m out.”

“Wait!” he called, taking my hand once more, but I pulled it away as he followed me through the bar. “Let me take you out.”

“Drop dead.”

He laughed. “You say no, but I know you mean yes!”

“I hope you die slowly.”

His laughter followed me out and into the easy breeze that I had started to love more and more since moving to California. As I pulled out my phone to request an Uber, he came up beside me.

“Are you really gonna blow me off?” he asked.

“Sure am.”

“But we were getting along so well.”

“Go step on a Lego, please.”

He laughed. “I think we’d have fun.”

“If I wanted fun, I’d fuck someone else. Promise.”

He made a face. “So you’re telling me you’re not attracted to me at all.”

“Exactly. Not even in the slightest.”

He just laughed. Hard. “Liar. Everyone is attracted to me.”

I didn’t react as I requested the Uber and then opened my Facebook. “Well, I am not everyone.”

“I am seeing that. How can I get you to admit you want me?”

“Won’t happen. Go on, we’re done.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that he had crossed his arms over his chest. He leaned close to me, and I could feel his lips against my cheek as he whispered, “Oh, Bo Jane, we are far from done.”

I closed my eyes and inhaled sharply. I hoped he’d go away, but then his lips pressed into my cheek, and I jerked my head away. Meeting his gaze, I glared, but he just grinned in the easygoing and confident way that had my blood boiling.

“Till next time.” He smirked.

“There will be no next time.”

His eyes sparkled with certainty. “Yes, there will be.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m telling you. There won’t.”

“There will,” he called, and when I went to disagree, I saw that he had closed the bar door with a slam. Biting my lip, I looked back at my phone, my skin crawling. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared by the confidence in his voice.

No, it didn’t matter.

Nothing was going to happen between us.

Right?