Actually, I can.

It’s going be freaking awesome.

“Thank God I see your car. My legs are killing me.”

I see my car the same time Markus says that, and I nod because my legs hurt too. Practice kicked our asses this morning and I know I am walking a little funny from it, but still my pace is quick as I pull my keys out. Just as I go to unlock it, I hear an arresting, throaty voice that has me pausing.

“What?”

“Do you hear that?” I ask, looking around until my gaze falls on a girl leaned up against a tree with a guitar in her arms. The guitar is bigger than she is, but it looks right at home in her lap and hands. Her straight brown hair is cascading down her shoulders as her fingers move perfectly across the strings of the guitar. All of a sudden, I can’t move. Her voice is so raspy, like she has been smoking for years, but beautiful at the same time, and I like it. I like it a lot. As lyrics leave her lips, I immediately know the song: “Tee Shirt” by Birdy, some girlie shit Baylor used to listen to all last year. I hated her music, but listening to this girl sing actually has me wanting to sit down and enjoy the tune.

Or her.

“She’s good.”

“Yeah,” he agrees as both of us watch her, listening to the music coming out of her like she was put on this earth to sing.

“You know what they say about girls who sing,” I say as she finishes the last verse.

“Nope, I haven’t heard that one.” His voice has laughter in it, which makes me grin.

Unable to tear my gaze from her, I say, “They are good with their mouths.”

That has him shaking with laughter, and suddenly, my legs are in control and I start for her.

“Dude, what the hell?”

But I don’t stop. “Give me a second.”

“I thought everyone was waiting for us.”

“They are. Shut up.” My voice must have interrupted her because she looks up and everything just stops.

I hear no noise from the quad.

No music.

No nothing.

All I see are her eyes.

What in the hell?

But they are so green, almost turquoise, and are brought out by the darkness of her lashes. Her eyes tilt a little, her nose complementing her face perfectly while brown freckles dust along her nose and cheeks. She tried to cover them with makeup, but they aren’t coverable. I want to see her without makeup.

I want to see her freckles.

Unaltered.

“Um, hello?” Her bottom lip is bigger than her top, I notice as she speaks, and I soon realize I am just staring at her.

Like a dumbass.

“Oh, my bad.” Quickly, I push my hand down into my pocket and pull out a couple of bills, dropping them into her open guitar case. I take notice of her black Converse that she wears with her jeans and black tee. Why she’s wearing jeans is beyond me since it’s hot, but they are tight, and I’m sure if she stood, she’d be hot in them.

I meet her gaze again and her lips are quirked up at the side as she laughs. “Oh, I’m not taking money.”

Wow, her laugh is almost as great as her voice.

Electrifying.

Shit, what the fuck is wrong with me?

Shaking my head, I smile. “Oh. Well, I pay for what I like.”

Her brows rise. “Is that some weird, hidden innuendo that you’re trying to buy me?”

“Wait, huh?”

Her face breaks into a full-out grin then, and shit, I am breathless.

Who the hell is this girl?

“Don’t hurt yourself trying to figure out what an innuendo is.” Her voice is playful as she winks at me in a very cute way.

Chuckling, my eyes narrow as I hold her gaze.

She is a smartass, apparently.

“I know what it is.”

“My apologies then, good sir,” she teases, her eyes twinkling.

Crossing my arms, I can’t tear my gaze from hers as she looks up at me expectantly. I know I should say something, but it is hard when I am drinking in her beauty. There is something about those eyes that have my stomach in knots, and I want to know why. I want to know who she is, but before I can even think of what to say, her mouth is moving.

“Usually, this is the part where you say some corny line about getting together later and I quickly decline, because… Yeah, I don’t have a good reason, except that I have no time for that. And then you walk away, dejected.”

My mouth curves as I slowly shake my head. “I don’t get dejected.”

“Aw, cute. Are you one of those persistent kind of guys? The one who knows he’s gonna win, no matter what?”

“I always win,” I say simply with all the confidence in the world. I even shoot her a winning grin, but she laughs.

“Well, big boy, chalk me up as a loss, because I don’t have time for lame lines that are invites to things I don’t want.” She moves her hands down the strings as if her words were lyrics.

Not missing a beat, I ask, “Who said anything about dating?”

“Oh, that’s right. You want to buy a night with me.”

She’s funny and I love the color her cheeks are turning. They are glowing almost like she just came hard. It’s hot.

Grinning, I shake my head. “I don’t pay for sex.”

“Whoa,” she says quickly, holding her hands up, her eyes wide and intoxicating. “Don’t make me use my pepper spray, you perv. I thought you wanted to buy me to have someone to watch Netflix with you.”

I can’t help it; I laugh and I laugh hard. She watches me, her eyes full of light as I bend over laughing. “You’re funny.”

“I try.”

She is quick and witty. I like that. “So, if you aren’t busy watching Netflix because some dude paid you—”

“Ugh,” she moans. Instantly, my cock comes to life in my jeans as she leans against the tree, acting as if she is bored, her palms up, arms hanging beside her. “Is this the lame pickup line?”

When Markus starts to laugh, I glare back at him and he shrugs. “She’s funny.”

“Shut up,” I mouth before turning back to her. “No, No Dating Diane.”

Her face lights up as she perks up. “Ha! That’s funny.”

“I try,” I say with a grin. “But anyway, the Bullies are throwing a party tonight if you want to come.”

“Oh, yeah. I’m coming already.”