Scarred for Life. He doesn’t even realize how that phrase fits me so perfectly. I can actually picture it on a movie marquee.
I snap out of my thoughts long enough to remember that I just agreed to go somewhere with him. Me and my bright ideas . It also jogs my brain that I need to call Peyton.
I dial her number and after five rings she finally answers. “Where the hell are you?!” she screams into the phone. “It’s almost time for our lunch break!”
“Geez, nice to talk to you, too,” I shoot back.
“Sorry,” she mutters, her voice softening, “I was starting to get worried.”
“We just got off the elevator. It was kind of crazy, but Matt managed to calm me down. He was really great, actually.”
“Realllly,” she responds, her voice taking on a seductive tone.
“Anyway, I only have a second. We’re skipping out on the rest of the conference today. Matt’s taking me somewhere and I need to get ready,” I explain, holding the cell phone between my head and neck, sliding my shoes off and shoving my skirt down my legs.
“Where’s he taking you?” she asks, and there’s a muffled voice in the background and then a giggle from Peyton, leaving me to assume she’s with Caleb.
“I don’t know, but he’ll be here any second so I have to go. I’ll call you later.” I click the phone off as she says goodbye, pushing the buttons through the holes of my blouse and tearing it off.
After undressing at warp speed, I run into the bathroom and do a quick swipe of my teeth with the toothbrush, unclasp my hair from the tie, and comb through it to smooth out the tangles. I dab some blush on my cheeks and a hint of gloss on my lips before making my way back out to the closet and yanking a pair of skinny jeans from a hanger. While I’m tugging them on, a green tank top catches my eye and I slide it over my head just as a knock sounds at the door. I grab my sneakers and open it, standing on one foot as I try to coax a shoe on.
“Wow, I didn’t realize you’d be jumping up and down when you saw me,” he jokes, and while he’s distracted by laughter I take a second to check out the low-slung jeans and tight white t-shirt he’s sporting. “So, you all set?”
“Yes. But I’d still like to know what we’re doing.” I close the door and we walk side by side to the elevators. Matt’s eyes veer to the left and casually roam my body, my skin prickling at his attention.
“Fran, this was your idea, wasn’t it? And it’s a surprise. You don’t like surprises?”
“I know, and I like surprises,” I reply, as we step in the elevator, “but I like to be prepared for them.”
“Huh?” Matt shakes his head, a bewildered look pricking the blue of his eyes. “Then it’s not a surprise, Fran.”
We make it down to the lobby and outside the hotel entrance, finally seeing the light of day, and it’s a glorious one. The sun is warm and bright, helping to counteract the goose bumps on my arms from the frigid air conditioning inside.
The valet brings the car up pretty quickly and Matt opens the door for me before crossing to the driver’s side. He climbs in and rolls down our windows, pushing a button to slide the roof open. I instantly tilt my head back against the seat so I can feel the sun beating down on my face.
He eases the car onto the side streets of LA and we ride in comfortable silence until I dangle my feet out the window and Matt finally breaks it. “Hey sugar, watch the shoes near my car,” he says, half-joking, and I emphasize the half because I don’t really think he’s amused.
“Lighten up, sweet cheeks.” I angle my head to look at him. “It’s only a car.”
“Sweet cheeks?” he utters, and then he laughs so hard he snorts.
By the time we make it to what I gather is Matt’s condo, I’ve got both feet hanging out the window and I’ve sang to the likes of Pink and Maroon 5 . I think I even caught Matt bobbing his head a couple of times to the music.
For me, it’s
I snap out of my thoughts long enough to remember that I just agreed to go somewhere with him. Me and my bright ideas . It also jogs my brain that I need to call Peyton.
I dial her number and after five rings she finally answers. “Where the hell are you?!” she screams into the phone. “It’s almost time for our lunch break!”
“Geez, nice to talk to you, too,” I shoot back.
“Sorry,” she mutters, her voice softening, “I was starting to get worried.”
“We just got off the elevator. It was kind of crazy, but Matt managed to calm me down. He was really great, actually.”
“Realllly,” she responds, her voice taking on a seductive tone.
“Anyway, I only have a second. We’re skipping out on the rest of the conference today. Matt’s taking me somewhere and I need to get ready,” I explain, holding the cell phone between my head and neck, sliding my shoes off and shoving my skirt down my legs.
“Where’s he taking you?” she asks, and there’s a muffled voice in the background and then a giggle from Peyton, leaving me to assume she’s with Caleb.
“I don’t know, but he’ll be here any second so I have to go. I’ll call you later.” I click the phone off as she says goodbye, pushing the buttons through the holes of my blouse and tearing it off.
After undressing at warp speed, I run into the bathroom and do a quick swipe of my teeth with the toothbrush, unclasp my hair from the tie, and comb through it to smooth out the tangles. I dab some blush on my cheeks and a hint of gloss on my lips before making my way back out to the closet and yanking a pair of skinny jeans from a hanger. While I’m tugging them on, a green tank top catches my eye and I slide it over my head just as a knock sounds at the door. I grab my sneakers and open it, standing on one foot as I try to coax a shoe on.
“Wow, I didn’t realize you’d be jumping up and down when you saw me,” he jokes, and while he’s distracted by laughter I take a second to check out the low-slung jeans and tight white t-shirt he’s sporting. “So, you all set?”
“Yes. But I’d still like to know what we’re doing.” I close the door and we walk side by side to the elevators. Matt’s eyes veer to the left and casually roam my body, my skin prickling at his attention.
“Fran, this was your idea, wasn’t it? And it’s a surprise. You don’t like surprises?”
“I know, and I like surprises,” I reply, as we step in the elevator, “but I like to be prepared for them.”
“Huh?” Matt shakes his head, a bewildered look pricking the blue of his eyes. “Then it’s not a surprise, Fran.”
We make it down to the lobby and outside the hotel entrance, finally seeing the light of day, and it’s a glorious one. The sun is warm and bright, helping to counteract the goose bumps on my arms from the frigid air conditioning inside.
The valet brings the car up pretty quickly and Matt opens the door for me before crossing to the driver’s side. He climbs in and rolls down our windows, pushing a button to slide the roof open. I instantly tilt my head back against the seat so I can feel the sun beating down on my face.
He eases the car onto the side streets of LA and we ride in comfortable silence until I dangle my feet out the window and Matt finally breaks it. “Hey sugar, watch the shoes near my car,” he says, half-joking, and I emphasize the half because I don’t really think he’s amused.
“Lighten up, sweet cheeks.” I angle my head to look at him. “It’s only a car.”
“Sweet cheeks?” he utters, and then he laughs so hard he snorts.
By the time we make it to what I gather is Matt’s condo, I’ve got both feet hanging out the window and I’ve sang to the likes of Pink and Maroon 5 . I think I even caught Matt bobbing his head a couple of times to the music.
For me, it’s
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