Together we walk out of the building in silence. But still… I can’t get his words out of my head.
Fluid!
This guy is a real piece of work.
I’ll give him fluid alright… right up the ass.
My teeth are tightly clenched and my hands are balled up into fists that hang uselessly at my sides. As soon as we’re outside, I scan the parking lot for Finn. He still drives a hunter green Jeep and almost immediately I spot it idling about six spaces from the entrance. As our eyes meet, I have to consciously unlock my tensed muscles before giving him a halfhearted wave and smile.
“Finn McKenzie? Hmmm… now there’s an uninspired choice.”
His comment has my teeth once again gnashing together painfully. Straightening my spine, I continue ignoring him as I walk down the cement sidewalk that lines the parking lot.
“I enjoyed our ride in the elevator, Ivy. We’ll have to do it again sometime.”
My jaw literally aches from clenching it so tightly. I’m so tempted to give him the finger, but I don’t. Not unless I want to end up explaining what just happened to Finn.
Which I don’t.
It irritates me to no end that I’ve allowed this guy to crawl under my skin. Again! For goodness sake, I should know better. It’s been obvious from the get-go that Roan is nothing more than a manwhore looking for an easy lay.
And I refuse to be that for any guy.
Yanking open the door to the Jeep, I have to make a concerted effort to smooth out my features along with my jangled nerves. “Hi.”
Finn smiles before his eyes slide to Roan who is now walking past us. I watch as his brows lower. “Were you two just together?”
I can’t help but glance at Roan. It’s as if my eyes are irresistibly drawn to him against my will. Like an idiotic moth to a flickering flame. As our gazes collide, he gives us a huge shit eating grin. Jerking his chin in acknowledgement to Finn, he keeps on walking. When he’s about ten feet past us, he turns, walking backwards a few steps before calling out, “Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon, Ivy.” Apparently not satisfied that he’s needled Finn nearly enough, he adds a little wink before disappearing inside a huge black SUV.
The smile Finn had been wearing moments ago melts into an irritated scowl as he continues watching Roan through narrowed eyes that spark and snap with anger.
Clearing my throat, I mutter, “No. I told you he lives next door to us. I ran into him in the hallway when I was walking out.”
Even though he continues glowering, he says nothing in response.
Not wanting this to ruin our evening, I try making light of the situation. “Finn, I barely know the guy.” My mind tumbles back to the elevator ride and his lips sliding deliciously across mine. To the feeling of electricity that shot clean through me. For some reason, it occurs to me as my eyes involuntarily fall to Finn’s mouth, that he’s never made me feel that way.
Out of control and completely turned on.
It’s like comparing a light spring shower to a tsunami. It just can’t be done. The feelings Finn had always aroused hadn’t crashed over me, making me forget everything in the whole entire world except for him.
Knocking me out of my silent reverie, Finn grumbles, “I don’t like how familiar he is with you.”
I’m so tempted to roll my eyes. This date with Finn isn’t exactly off to a great start. The last person I want to talk about is Roan. Sliding into the front seat next to Finn, I try placating him one last time. “Like I said before, I barely know the guy. He’s just a neighbor.”
With narrowed eyes, he watches me suspiciously, as if I’m lying to him. Which… I guess… I am. “You two are meeting up tomorrow?”
I suddenly remember that we are indeed getting together tomorrow. Shifting uncomfortably in my seat, I say in the most offhanded tone I can muster, “Oh… um, yeah. We’re partners on a project for our business ethics class. We need to start working on it.”
“Did you ask to be partners with him?”
It takes a moment for me to remember that Finn and I aren’t together. I have nothing to feel guilty about. Not even for the kiss that just happened ten minutes ago. Finn is the one who ended things between us. Not me. I don’t owe Finn any explanations as to what I’m doing or who I’m spending time with.
Raising a brow, I finally say in a no-nonsense voice, “Actually, I asked the professor if I could change partners. It’s a huge project and I want to work with someone who’s going to pull their share of the workload but she wouldn’t let me switch.”
Finn snorts in response before reaching out and tangling his fingers in my hair. “I think the guy’s a real dumbass. You were smart to try and get rid of him. You’ll probably get stuck doing most of the work.”