“Why, if it isn’t Garrett Mathews,” Anna purred.
The blonde spun around, and that was when her eyes met mine. I was pretty sure my heart had just dropped to the floor, and I was having a hard time breathing for a few seconds.
“Mathews? What in the heck is wrong with you?” Billy asked as he slapped me on the back.
As she slowly smiled, I shook my head and about dropped down to my knees. No girl had ever had such an effect on me.
None.
I had already had my fair share of girls. None of them had meant anything to me though, and the fact that they had all been easy turned me off.
“
Wow…check out the new girl,” Billy said.
I smiled back at her, and I was positive her reaction toward me was the same one I’d just had. She quickly looked down and then back up at me. She gently bit on her lower lip and turned back to face Margie, who whispered something into her ear. The blonde snapped her head up and gave me a funny look before glancing over at Billy.
“I think I just got a woody,” Billy said with a chuckle.
I quickly looked at him. Jerk.
“Come on, Mathews. Let’s go say hi.”
I drew in a deep breath and started to make my way toward everyone. When I saw Anna jump up, I gave Wayne a look, and he grabbed her and started talking to her. Just the fact that a guy had his hands on her caused her to forget about me. She just wanted to suck in all the attention. Everyone talked about how Anna had slept with half the school. She and I had hooked up earlier this year, and then she’d quickly moved on to my three best friends—Raymond, Billy, and Wayne. Now, she was back to me, trying for a repeat, but one of the biggest mistakes of my life had been screwing Anna King in her bedroom when her parents were in Fredericksburg.
Margie stood up and smiled at me. “Garrett, Billy…I’d like you to meet my cousin, Emma Birk. Emma, these are some good friends of mine, Garrett Mathews and Billy Bauer. We’ve known each other since…what? First grade?”
Billy let out a loud laugh. “Something like that.”
He reached out his hand, and Emma shook it as she smiled. When she glanced over at me, I momentarily forgot how to talk. Finally, I tilted my head and tipped my cowboy hat. I held out my hand, and she stood up.
“It’s a real pleasure to meet you, Miss Birk.” I gave her the smile that I knew drove the girls crazy.
She bit down on her dang lip. “The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Mathews.”
Oh dear God.
She had the voice of an angel. There went my stupid heart again, and now, I could hear ringing in my ears.
What in the hell is wrong with me?
I stood there, like an idiot, and just stared at her. She was beautiful with blonde hair and bluish-gray eyes that pierced my soul. I glanced down at her soft pink lips. I’d do anything to taste her lips and see if she was as sweet as she looked.
She couldn’t be more than five-three, but she had a figure on her that was to die for. The pink ribbons in her hair screamed her innocence. The moment she placed her hand in mine, I felt a jolt of electricity, and I was positive she’d felt it, too, because she sucked in a breath of air. I smiled, which was a mistake. She knew I’d seen her reaction, so she quickly pulled her hand away and sat back down. She turned her back toward me and acted like she was listening to something Wayne was telling Anna.
“What can I do you for, Garrett?” Mr. Horster asked.
“Root beer, please,” I said with a slight smile.
I looked at Margie, and she gave me a wink before sliding down a seat, leaving the seat next to Emma empty. I quickly sat down before Billy could. He shot me a dirty look, and I pretended I hadn’t noticed it. There was no way I would let Billy anywhere near my Emma.
My Emma?
“You look a little lost there, Garrett,” Margie whispered in my ear.
I snapped my head over at her and shot her my crooked smile. “I’m never lost, Margie. You should know that.”
She let out a small laugh as she gave me a look my mother would give. Margie was like a sister to me. She had wavy long brown hair and green eyes. She was pretty enough to get any guy she wanted but classy enough to keep her legs closed. She did have a thing for Billy though. I was pretty sure if they had the chance to be alone, they would end up together. They both liked each other, but neither would ever admit it. They always put me in the middle of their messed-up friendship, and I was getting tired of it.