“By the way, Allie Kat. We’re going to a party tonight. You might want to put on something a little more…festive.” He eyed my clothes as though I had peeled them out from a dirty suitcase.

He’s wearing blue jeans and a thin black t-shirt. How is that any better?

“How are your clothes any better than mine?” I objected.

And what does he have to be vengeful about?

That look he’d given me made me shiver but I could admit it wasn’t in fear. Though I wasn’t about to pick apart what did cause it.

“I’ll put on something nice for you too, Allie Kat.” He gave me a teasing wink and slid off the couch. Staring down at me thoughtfully.

“Mmm, mmm...This is going to be fun!” He turned his back and walked off before I dared ask what that meant.

I was pacing my room, cursing at everything I could think of. But mainly Eric.

What’s he going to do to me? I shoved a hand through my loose, dark hair, worriedly. Tossing it back over my shoulder. As it fell over my nearly bare back, I realized that the open back of my tank top might be a bit much. And my torn blue jean shorts are too short I realized.

“I’ve got to change.” I rounded to head for my dresser.

“The hell you do.” His voice made me stop in my tracks.

***

My door was closed.

I turned my head reluctantly and spotted him leaning lazily against the doorframe. Like usual.

He was wearing some silky looking shirt that molded his chest and stomach like it was painted on. And black dress pants.

I hate that he looks like that.

If he looked as evil as he is, there’d be pus-filled blisters all over his pretty face. My lip curled in disdain.

“What?” He straightened and opened his arms. “Don’t like it?”

When he moved, I caught a whiff of some sandalwood cologne that nearly had me teetering forward on my toes.

“No.” I glared at him.

“Why?” He teased.

Uh, oh. I know that tone.

“Because you want to get your hands on all this?” He grinned. Smoothing his hands down over his chest and abdomen to just miss his crotch. Looking every inch, the confident porn star about to do some seductive little dance.

It was by far the most erotic thing I’d seen. What the hell am I thinking?

“You’re disgusting you know that?” I spat.

“Not from the way you’re eyeballing me.” He chuckled and sauntered in to catch my hand. Pulling me behind him.

“You look good enough to eat, by the way.” He tossed over his shoulder as he led me to the stairs. He caught his white leather jacket by the door and tossed it over his shoulders.

“You need a jacket?” He stopped moving as though he’d take it off to offer it to me.

No way am I wearing his coat to a party.

Like some bit of marked property.

***

“I wouldn’t wear that thing, if I did.” I hissed. “So many females have worn that, that the girl sweat has probably permeated the lining with the crab infestation.”

Eric tipped his head forward and gave me a dark look. “I’m not that bad.”

“I think I’ve seen three walking around with you wearing that, just that I can think of, off the top of my head.”

“In how many years, Allie Kat? Just cuz a guy gives a girl his coat doesn’t mean he’s doing her.”

“Doesn’t it?” I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a black look.

He laughed outright. “Yes, I’m really not as bad as you seem to think.”

“I think you’ve tortured me for years...There may still be some gum in my hair.” I pulled a chunk over my shoulder to inspect it.

He opened his mouth to argue but snapped it closed. “Come on.” He turned and hooked an arm around my lower back. “Let’s go.”

I shrugged his arm off and walked to the car. Giving him dirty looks over my shoulder.

“Glare at me all you want.” He dismissed in an amused voice. “It isn’t going to deter me.”

“What will?”

“Not a thing you could possibly do. After all,” He opened his fancy car door and looked over the orange roof to level that blue gaze on me. “you’ve been trying for how many years now?”

“I have not.”

“You have.” He got in and slammed the door. Leaning across the seat to kick my door open for me. Peering up at me.

Looking down at all that black leather interior and his smoothed blonde hair, his scent filling my nostrils and blue eyes keen on me I suddenly felt like a moth in a bug light.

This is going to end badly.

I’m going to get hurt.

***

“You coming or chickening out already?”

I groaned and slid in.

He leaned back behind the steering wheel. Giving me a wide grin and a sideways look as I tugged my door closed.

It banged with such finality, I jerked.

I’m screwed.

I knew that look on his face. Pure joy.

He’s up to something awful.

“Are you going to clue me in on what exactly is your plan tonight?” I asked, grimacing as I posed the question. Afraid of the answer.

“Certainly. But first, let’s set some grand rules. As far as I’m concerned, everything about you is fair game this week. So, if you get scared, don’t want something or you’re backing out. Just say you’re done and I’ll consider you officially wussing out of our bet.”

“It was a shitty bet.” I crossed my arms again. Still wounded at having lost the race. And even more at the fact that he knew it was me all along. “You rigged it.”

All those comments he’d made about Tomboy...Were for my benefit.

I gasped. My eyes widening on him.

“You lost fair and square.” He looked at me before turning the wheel to make the car glide around a corner before his eyes slid sideways to glimpse me again.

“Oh, what now?” He averted his gaze out the windshield. “I know that look. You’re about to tear me apart for something.”

“Everything you said about Tomboy.”

He cringed. His neck nearly vanishing.

“You were saying that about me.” I accused.

He tipped his head and gave a grudging shrug.