“I’m really glad you decided to come out with us.” Dylan’s eyes were more smoldering than I remembered.
Gosh, he really was gorgeous. I didn’t stand a chance. If he showed any interest, I knew I’d be a goner.
Sure, the pain was still fresh from my last boyfriend, but maybe a rebound wouldn’t be so bad.
Yeah, I know, I said I didn’t want one, but shortly after the meeting, Becca sat me down and gave me a mini lecture on how this could be good for me.
In her words, “Rebounds are good for the soul, it’s like a cleansing or something. Besides, haven’t you heard? The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. Maybe not literally under them, but still, fun is what you need, and I’m going to make sure you get it.”
And that was that. I didn’t think I’d give in so easily though, but here I was, giving him my heart and basically handing myself over on a golden platter.
“So long as no pizzas attack me, I think I’ll stay.” I lowered my voice, again cringing at how awkward I was. Too late to go back now. I leaned in like I was going to share a big secret. “Besides, the company isn’t all that bad.”
There. That last part was cool-ish. Right?
Right. I mentally high fived myself.
“You’re dang right, it isn’t.” A loud voice boomed. I jumped back like I had been caught in the middle of something bad and narrowed my eyes at the culprit. It was the same guy from before. The one who seemed to do most of the talking for the group of guys. Maybe he was their leader or something? Who knew.
Oddly though, he reminded me of Becca with his confidence and blunt attitude.
“Jake here was just telling me how he and Dylan played football together in high school,” Becca provided, hanging onto Jake’s arm, who’s name I was glad to finally have learned.
“Do you still play now?” My question had been directed at Dylan, but before he could speak, Jake opened his mouth.
“Nah, I’m man enough to admit that my skills aren’t that great but Dylan’s were. He just wanted to focus on his studies in college. Said playing a sport would’ve been too much of a distraction.” Jake took a bite of the slice of pizza hanging from his hand. “I explained how girls are an even bigger distraction, but I guess if you have to choose between one or the other, I would’ve gone with girls, too.”
Dylan laughed, shaking his head. He flicked his middle finger toward his friend. “Screw you, man. You’re so full of crap, I’m surprised your skin isn’t more brown.”
“So, you do still play?” I asked Dylan.
He shook his head. “No. I messed up my shoulder pretty bad last season and the doctor said it’d be a dangerous move. So, I decided to just focus on school and getting my education.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“It isn’t but some people were disappointed when they learned of this decision.” He nodded toward Jake. “Mainly my buddy here. He was hoping to mooch off of my popularity, the one I supposedly would’ve had by playing a college sport.”
“Well, I’m sure your popularity is safe. Have you seen the way these girls have been ogling over you?”
“No. I’ve been too busy seeing you.”
“A little cheesy, but I’ll play along.” I gave a light laugh. “What do you mean?”
“They say you can look at someone but not really see them.” Dylan leaned his forearms on the table in front of us. “But when I look at you, I do see. I don’t know, I can just tell we’re going to be really good friends.”
I felt a blush color my cheeks. “I could use more friends, so I’d really like that. But, isn’t it a little too early for sweet talk?”
“It’s never too early for sweet talk,” he said in a confident tone before laughing. “In all seriousness though, I heard Becca talking about an ex-boyfriend of yours, so I’m not asking for anything more than you’re ready to give.”
I narrowed my eyes at Becca, mentally burning her favorite clothes. Of course she had shared that info. She meant well, but sometimes she didn’t go about it the best way. “We just met, so let’s take this friendship one day at a time, shall we?”
We stared at each other in a silence that almost felt challenging. But it also felt comfortable. I knew that if things were different and I had an unbroken piece of my heart to give, that I would have given it to him, no questions asked. Those eyes, so dark and full of life, I’d be crazy not to.
“Alright, man, these girls in the corner with short skirts have been staring us down since we got here.” I rolled my eyes at the interruption. Jake didn’t seem like the type of guy to mind his own business, but I was grateful for the distraction. Dylan didn’t need to be wasting his time on me. We had just met, and though I felt an immediate connection with him the way I had with Tian, I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. “What do you say we go over and introduce our tongues to their throats?”
“Jake, such a way with words,” I sassed.
Dylan shook his head in mock disgust as he stood up to leave. “You’re lucky you’re my best friend, otherwise I’d punch you for being so disrespectful.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jake said, turning toward me and Becca. “I’ll be seeing you ladies later.”
“Thanks for the company, Jade.” Dylan gave me a secret smile, and I shot him one back, ignoring the parts of me that wanted to beg him to stay. I released a sigh as he walked with Jake toward the group of girls in the back of the shop.
“Boys will be boys.” Becca sat beside me, disappointment clear in her eyes.
“Crushing on Jake?” I teased.
“Crushing on Dylan?” She shot back.
“Far from it,” I said with a shrug, trying to play it coy. “I hardly know him.”
“You’re not fooling anyone, it’s okay to like someone again. Besides, you don’t have to know someone to fall for them. Sometimes all it takes is smile, a wink, and a set of captivating eyes to draw you in and never let go.” She had a dreamy look in her eyes as she said it, so I knew she was in deep.
“Wow, that bad huh?”
She bumped her shoulder into mine. “Isn’t it always?”
She had a point. Falling in love felt a lot like free falling and most of the time you had no idea if you’d land on both feet or not. But it was worth it, wasn’t it? It had to be.
I took a drink of my soda, doing my best to stare at anything other than the scene unfolding in front of me. A stab of jealousy probed at my insides, but I pushed it aside. I had no reason to feel envy. I didn’t even know him. But Becca was right. Those eyes were captivating.