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I prefer the term free

I feel my lips pucker into a thin line and I think carefully about my response.

"You don't repulse me. I'm just not that kind of girl."

Jake pulls his sweatshirt off his head, exposing his sexy dark hair and leans forward over the table on his elbows. His hair is short, but messy and my fingers twitch nervously at the urge to run my hands through it.

"And what kind of girl are you?"

He asks me in a voice so rough it vibrates all my sensitive parts.

I shrug my shoulders.

"The kind that flirts with a guy who has a girlfriend..."

Surprisingly, the shock doesn't show on her face. Instead, he smiles a wide grin that exposes his perfect white teeth and I can feel myself frowning. He leans against the booth and the arms of his hoodie tighten as he folds his thick, strong forearms over each other.

"Girlfriend?"

"The pretty brunette with the big fake tits."

He glances down at my chest before looking up into my face, smiling unapologetically. My frown deepens because he doesn't seem to care that I've seen him do it.

"I don't have a girlfriend."

His words deflate a balloon in my chest that I didn't even know existed and I look out the window to the parking lot.

"I have girls I sleep with, but that's about it."

I drag my gaze back to Jake's face, my brows drawn together.

"So you're single?"

He shrugs.

"I prefer the term free."

Free. I like that. As of last night, I'm free too, and my God it's refreshing. I pop a French fry in my mouth and look awkwardly around the steakhouse. I feel so out of place with this big, sexy man talking to me.

"Now that we've cleared up the girlfriend thing."

Her leg rests on mine and she pops the toothpick back into her mouth. He subtly runs it across his wet lower lip a couple of times, his tongue barely visible behind his supple lips.

"What do we do now?"

His tone implies many things, but I have no idea what he really means. I look at him as he sits across from me with his broad shoulders and a fragment of his chest tattoo sticking out from under his jacket. His eyes flicker away from mine and fix intently on my lips. The playful glow that was on them moments ago is gone, and they seem to be burning, smoldering darkly at me from across the table. I open my mouth ready to comply with whatever he wants to do, until Olivia clears her throat, bringing me back to my senses. Even if he's 'free', I'm still not the kind of girl who has se*o with someone she barely knows.... or at least I don't think I am. Jake moistens his lips in frustration before turning his attention to Olivia. I watch her chest rise and fall rapidly under his gaze. At least I'm not the only one affected by her presence.

"San."

He says, turning his eyes back to me.

"We have to go."

She is agitated. I can tell by the way she rubs her fingers at her sides and purses her pink lips. I wonder what those boys said to her.

"I'm sorry."

I tell her for the second time today.

"I have to go."

I reach out and grab my book before sliding it back into my bag. I look down at my plate. I could only take one bite of my burger and I'm still hungry. I shuffle out of the booth, keeping my eyes on the table. When I turn away from the booth, I still feel his eyes on me, analyzing me.

"I'll see you around."

He calls after me.

I look over my shoulder and give him a slight smile. Her words thrill me because it almost sounds like a guarantee. Olivia has a firm grip on my forearm as she drags me out of the rotisserie. Before we get outside, she pulls away from the group of guys and they burst out laughing. When we're out and out of earshot, I ask her what happened.

"They're disgusting."

She says simply.

I don't press the unlock button on my keys and she stands at the passenger door waiting impatiently for me to open it.

"Why are they disgusting?"

"They thought I was a prostitute and wanted to pay for blowjobs in the bathroom."

The way her eyebrows come together, forming a small wrinkle on the bridge of her nose makes me burst out laughing. I lean my back against the car, leaning my full weight on her as my stomach starts to burn.

"It's not funny."

Olivia whimpers.

Tears come out of the corner of her eye.

"I'm not laughing because of what they said."

I manage to say between deep breaths.

"I'm laughing because you look so upset."

"I am upset."

The wind blows a soft blonde curl across her face and she hits it.

"Can you unlock the damn car so we can get out of here?"

When I press the button, she wastes no time diving into the car. I inhale a couple of times before opening the door and getting behind the wheel.

"Damn it."

Olivia curses, dropping her face into her hands.

"What?"

I ask, as my chest hiccups with a leftover giggle.

"I left my purse inside."

"Well, I'm not going back to get it. No way."

Olivia turns in her seat so that most of her body is facing me. Her big green eyes have a pleading gleam as she presses her palms together.

"Please! Please don't make me go back there. I'm embarrassed enough as it is."

"Do I look like I'm anxious to go back there?"

"Well, you should be. Your guy was a total stud and was so into you."

No, he liked the fact that I had vgn*, not me as a person. I squeeze the steering wheel.

"He's not my guy."

That's all I manage to say.

"Just do it for me and we don't have to go dancing tonight. We..."

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