Chapter 3

PIPER

“Who’s in here,” someone asks, taking cautious steps down the stairs. I freeze. I know that voice. I’ve been studying it long enough.

Ethan.

Of all the people that could show up here. Now. To witness how pathetic I really am, it had to be him. Locked in the basement at a party, because I didn’t want to talk to Paisley. She totally embarrassed me and didn’t see a problem with the things she said. Even if I wasn’t crushing hard on this guy—even if she has no idea about it— basically telling a guy that I’m an innocent virgin would be humiliating to anyone. Why would she do that?

“I’ve been trapped for a while,” I finally say.

“Yeah,” he replies. “Adam said the door sticks.”

“Do you have a phone,” I ask. “I left mine in my dorm.”

He shuffles, then swears under his breath. “Uh. No. Jordan used it to find his phone in the car. It’s probably in the center console.”

I let out a long doomed breath. “Seemed like I was pounding on that door and screaming for the longest.”

“Yeah…party,” he says with understanding. “No one is going to hear us no matter how loud we get.”

Heat blooms on my skin. The words are simple enough. Logical. But I’m locked in a basement with a guy I’ve had dreams about. And the prospect of no one hearing what might go on down here peaks my interests. And my nipples. I’m suddenly more appreciative of the dark and unknown space.

Then he lets out a low laugh, making me fold my arms across my chest like maybe he can see what’s happened anyway.

“What’s so funny?”

“Not sure you’d get it,” he replies.

“Try me.”

“I was just appreciating the p**n aspect of all of this,” he says.

I giggle.

“What,” he asks.

“I was just thinking something similar.”

“Oh,” he says, with amusement in his voice. “Watch a lot of p**n, do you?”

“I don’t have to watch to appreciate the cliché. But I won’t deny having seen at least one movie.”

“My kind of woman,” he teases. “Where have you been hiding?”

I can feel my skin heat some more. “Hiding?”

“I doubt I’ve already met you,” he explains.

Right. He has no idea who I am. I’m not sure if I’m more relieved or angry at that. I knew it was him the second he spoke. On the other hand, not knowing means we get to keep talking. I like that.

“I’m sure we’ve met before,” I say coyly. What the hell is that husky thing my voice is doing?

I can hear him moving closer. “I think I’d remember.”

“You sure about that?” I slap a hand over my mouth, having almost said his name. Then quickly decide to change the subject before he can press for any details. “What are you doing leaving the party anyway?”

“Beer. You?”

“I needed a minute. I was looking for a bathroom. The lines are long in the other ones. I was hoping there might be one down here. Didn’t expect the door to stick or not to find a light switch.”

“There isn’t one down here,” he says. “A bathroom…Wait. You needed a moment at a party? You don’t get out much. Do you?”

Oh. No. I’m suddenly paranoid that he’s going to figure me out, because what other loser can say she doesn’t get out much?

“It was hot up there,” I add quickly with a laugh. “I wanted to splash a little cold water on my face. Besides, no one would notice I’m gone. Unlike you.”

“Yeah,” he mumbles. “That’s kind of annoying sometimes.”

“Better than being invisible,” I counter.

“Not sure I agree,” he says. “But I’ll take your word for it.”

He doesn’t sound brusque and curt. It sounds…normal.

I relax a little more. “Anyway, I thought about going outside. I decided against it because I didn’t want to get locked out.”

We’re both quiet a second, before we begin to laugh. This version of Ethan is easy to talk to. My nerves completely evaporate.

“Good thing it worked out for you,” he laughs. “Locked in a dark room, with a stranger who might take advantage of you.”

His voice is like velvet. So damn smooth with a hint of ruggedness about it. A shiver grazes my skin. And my nipples pucker tighter in my bra.

“I don’t know,” I sing-song, stepping lazily towards him. “Roles are changing. Maybe I’d take advantage of you.”

I can’t believe it. We’re talking. Going back and forth the way people would during a normal conversation. Actually, it’s the way I imagine someone would sound if they were flirting. Is Ethan flirting with me? Am I flirting back?

Why shouldn’t I? I’ve had a thing for him for so long. When will I ever get another opportunity like this?

“I like the way you think,” he says, moving closer. “What’d you have in mind?”

What the hell am I supposed to say now? As far as flirting goes, I don’t excel at that like I do academics, puzzles, and solo karaoke. Then again, practice has been limited the last year and a half. The first guy I ever tried to flirt with ended up running for the hills when my uncontrollable babbling scared him off. It was fine. I had no idea what I was doing anyway and no one to talk to for advice. The next guy did most of the talking, which was good. Whenever I opened my mouth, it felt like I said all the wrong things. He was nice. And we even kissed a few times. But there was no real spark between us. The last guy was the end of last year. I never got the chance to harvest my flirting skills with him because he never listened to a word I said. He didn’t care what came out of my mouth only what went in, constantly begging me for blowjobs while he worked on his coding because he said it helped him think. In the end, he tossed me aside for Becca Minkowski before we ever actually had a real conversation.

I wasn’t exactly disappointed. None of them were Ethan anyway. Ever since I laid eyes on him, he’s been an effective goalie for my love life. And somehow he’s stopped me from going after what I really want. From writing notes. Flashing smiles. Making eye contact.Yeah, those gorgeous dark eyes do something crazy to me. They flash with heat and passion every time he looks my way. Even if that passion is fueled by something I can't figure out, it’s always seemed to melt my insides to a puddle of goo.

But right now, I can’t see those eyes to end up a stuttering, bumbling fool who can’t seem to form words. It’s the most relaxed I’ve ever been around Ethan, since I usually tense up and forget how to be myself. Hell, I came to college to be better than myself. To take a few chances and finally do some growing up. To be seen as a woman. An equal. Not some sweet and innocent girl. I want to be brave. I want to be brazen.

What I want is…

I get close enough that I can feel his body heat. Hands to the side of his neck, to guide me, I lean up on my toes, going in for a kiss.

And…

“Woah,” he says, stopping me.

I’m mortified. Not brazen. Stupid. Not brave. I read all the signs wrong and now I’m paying for it with the type of embarrassment that’ll sting for years to come.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble, taking a step back, and deciding to get the hell out of here. I don’t care that the door is stuck. I’ll break the damn thing down if I have to.

I stumble slightly, trying to go around Ethan in the dark. Between him, and what feels like a sofa, I get wedged in and nearly trip to my death trying to hurry away. I don’t get far. Ethan’s hand darts out, landing on the bare skin of my stomach, stopping my retreat.