Chapter 22

Hannah

I sat in the car for a minute trying to gather myself. Jesus, Nikolai was full of contradictions. I could already see a pattern of push and pull with him, and it was driving me insane. One minute he was cold as ice, his eyes frosty as he told me to abandon any ideas of having a relationship. The next minute, he was confiding in me and staring at me as if he wanted to tear my clothes off.
When Nikolai started the conversation by telling me what we were doing didn’t mean anything, it felt like a dagger in my chest. On some level, I understood that this was all a pretense, but after this afternoon, a tiny part of me was the slightest bit hopeful that maybe something was developing between us.
Even in the midst of feeling disappointed by his initial statement, I was shocked and delighted that we had such a revealing conversation, that he disclosed so much about his motives for fighting. From what I understood from gossip at school, he fought a lot. Why was he so angry?
Unfortunately, nothing we’d discussed made him less attractive.
Nikolai was standing with his arms crossed at the front of the car waiting for me to get out. I took a minute to gaze at him in his dark blue t-shirt and jeans. Such a simple outfit, but it did incredible things for his body. The shirt fit just right, showing his wide shoulders and flat stomach to their best advantage, while clinging to his well-developed biceps. As he turned briefly to greet someone, I was able to appreciate what the jeans did for his backside, as they lovingly cupped the tight muscular flesh.
Shit, this was not helping.
I dragged myself out of the car, but plastered a smile on my face, trying to prepare for whichever Nikolai I would be dealing with. I reached him and he put his hand on the small of my back as we made our way to Mark Cassidy’s front door. His warm hand was like a brand on my back, spreading heat throughout my whole body, and I realized this was going to be one long night.
“Hey, Nik,” I heard someone call to our left. Nikolai’s hand moved from my back to curl around my waist, gripping it slightly.
“Hey, Caston.” Nikolai responded in a manner I could only term as unfriendly. I saw Curt Caston walk up, looking like the bag of muscles he was. Curt was tall with hair buzzed so short it was hard to tell its color. He had beady blue eyes that were focused on me at the moment. He was wearing a very tight white t-shirt that outlined his over-sized muscular frame and tight jeans that didn’t leave much to the imagination.
Curt was a wrestler, but the rumor was his muscles were more due to steroids than any natural blessing of genetics. The steroids were also frequently blamed for his aggressive, shitty attitude and how he treated others. However, I went to elementary school with Curt, and I could attest he’d always been an asshole. Based on Nikolai’s greeting, I could only assume he agreed.
“Who is that with you?” Curt asked as he eyed me up and down, lingering on my breasts, of course.
Nikolai’s arm tightened, pulling me into his chest, attempting to discourage Curt’s leering scrutiny.
“Hannah.” His abrupt tone discouraged further conversation. Unfortunately, this was all lost on Curt.
Curt’s frowned. “Hannah? Hannah who? Does she go to our school? Is she new?”
I almost laughed out loud at that. I’d gone to school with this meathead for twelve years.
I felt Nikolai’s sigh practically part my hair. “No, she’s always gone to our school. It’s Hannah Prescott.”
Curt’s eyes bugged out. “Hannah Prescott? No fucking way! Hannah’s not hot,” he asserted, frowning and shaking his head. “This girl’s hot,” he said, gesturing in my direction in a hilariously accusing way.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Nikolai muttered under his breath. “It’s her, you fucking idiot.”
“Wow, Hannah, when the fuck did you get hot? Did I miss it?” Curt asked, unfazed by Nikolai’s insults.
Apparently, Nikolai had had just about enough of this conversation. Instead of answering any of Curt’s inane questions, keeping his arm tightly around my waist, he turned toward the house and walked us to the front door.