Stone Creek by Davis, Lainey (reading diary .TXT) 📕

CHAPTER TWENTY

Alissa's plan seems to involve an entirely new look for me. She's arranged for CJ and some of the other senior players to drag Talon to a dive bar off campus, where I will be hanging out with the girls and trying to pick up a townie.

Alissa walks over to my closet and yanks the t-shirt out of my hand. She rummages through my clothes and makes a sound of disapproval. "You've settled into the friend zone, Serena. You need to shake things up a bit if you want to break in."

She drags me down the hall to her closet and starts handing me shirts that I throw on the bed. "I mean…he's seen me without a shirt on…"

Alissa grabs a tight tank top with a plunging neckline and shoves it into my chest. "Wear this," she says. "I promise, something interesting will happen tonight."

The more I protest that Talon won't be affected by a risqué shirt, the more she insists I wear it along with some skinny jeans and her red shoes. "Even if Talon has seen what's beneath the tank top, I promise he's going to notice other guys noticing you wearing this. Worst case scenario you get laid by someone tonight, right?"

Before I can say more, she's helping me with some of her mascara and hurries me out the door. I get to the bar early, so I walk up to read what's on tap. The place is empty, but there's a young-looking guy behind the bar cleaning glasses with a white towel. "What can I get you?" he asks.

I squint to read the taps in the dim light and ask him to recommend something. "I like wheat beer," I tell him.

His face lights up and he pours me a Fresh Slice. "It's by Otter Creek," he says. "You know…because of the Otters."

I smile as I take a sip, shrugging out of my coat, which I drape over my arm. I notice him looking at my cleavage and as the cold beer hits my stomach, I just let myself relax while he has a good look. I have a great rack, damn it, I think. "This is really good," I tell him. I decide to hang out up at the bar until the girls. I spend the next fifteen minutes or so chatting with Jim, the bartender, feeling like Alissa probably knew what she was doing as his gaze keeps dropping to check out my body.

Finally, Erin and crew burst into the bar, and I buy everyone a round of Fresh Slice. Jim turns out to be really funny, and the four of us are having such a good time, I forget all about the weird plan that brought us here tonight.

I don't hear the door open or notice Talon walk in because I'm laughing at Jim's story about some customers buying a keg of cheap beer just to see what happens when they shoot it with a rifle. I put down my empty glass eventually and see him out of the corner of my eye. It startles me and I jump, because he's standing drawn up to his full height, with his arms cross, his blue eyes shooting ice daggers.

I can see his pulse ticking in his neck and think, so you do care if another guy is into me.

I decide to ignore him, but I wave at Alissa, who gives me a thumbs up when she sees Talon's face. I see her nudge CJ, who nods, but keeps talking to the other guys on the team. They all seem to be having a good time, except for Talon. It's harder for me to pay attention to the conversation, especially when I'd rather be talking to Talon, but I manage to keep up the façade as we hang out at the bar. That is, until Talon comes up to buy a drink.

I send him my best smile and he relaxes slightly, but still looks stiff and imposing. "Talon," I say. "It's been awhile." As I turn my gaze up to meet his, I can feel Jim's eyes on me and I like it.

He sits beside me and starts chugging his beer. Talon wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and says, "What's with that guy," as Jim walks down the bar to serve another customer.

I shrug and turn to start talking with Erin and Mindy, but Talon grabs my arm. "Fuck, Serena, he's staring right at your tits," Talon growls. "What the hell are you wearing, anyway?"

This gives me pause and I glare at him. "What's that supposed to mean? Just because I wore something other than a t-shirt today you think you can act like an asshole?" I grit my teeth and look into his eyes, which are still hot with emotion.

I start to drink my beer quickly, and Jim walks over to take the empty glasses. He throws his towel over his shoulder and asks, "Everything ok over here?"

"We're good," Talon says, not looking away from me, his voice short. I hate that I'm getting such a thrill from this Neanderthal act of his, but I really enjoy knowing that Talon is upset another guy finds me attractive. I begin to hope that Alissa was right, that I might still stand a chance with Talon after all. Worst case scenario you get laid tonight, she'd said. I know I don't really want to go home with Jim, though. I want the brooding, angry guy next to me to want me.

When Jim walks back down the bar, I lay into Talon. "Listen, you are the one who turned me down, ok? I like being friends with you and I really like working on this project with you, but I also want to get laid before I turn gray. You