on the REBOUND (On Hold)

Chapter 17

HAYWOOD'S POV

A pair of heavily tattooed arms grip me gently and firmly by the shoulders and I'm peeled off the track easily, like a dried scab from an old wound. The first thing that strikes me about Stan Kingsley is his scent - a mixture of cologne, musk and faint tobacco - distinct and tantalising. His soft brown eyes full of concern flicker momentarily to my knees and he crouches down to have a closer look.

"You got a pretty bad abrasion here, sugar cube." Stan Kingsley mutters, picking out the little red grains embedded in the flesh of my knees.

Oh, shit, Ma is not gonna be happy about this.

I quickly extend my leg to assess the damage

... and accidentally deliver a powerful kick straight into Stan Kingsley's chiseled jaw.

Oh shit, shit, shit that was a bloody hard kick. CODE RED. CODE RED. THIS PLAN HAS GONE TO THE DOGS!!!!

"Ouch, SUGAR!" He glares at me with reproachful eyes and cups his jaw.

I open my mouth to apologize but to my horror, something else tumbles out of my mouth.

"That's for calling me sugar."

Wow damn where did that sassiness come from?

Stan's eyes widen in shock and anger. I guess a man candy like him has never been violently assaulted and insulted by any girl before. Well, there's nothing left to do but look back defiantly.

"So what's your name my picky little duchess?"

Oh man. What was that fake name I planned on giving again?

"Tiana." I say the first name that comes to my mind.

"What a beautiful name. The same as the princess from Princess and the Frog?"

"You know your fairy tales."

"Well, do you know your prince when you see him, Princess?"

Without warning, he scoops me in his arms. Taken aback, I let him do his thing and lie quietly like a rag doll.

I hope he's not going to throw me in the air and knee me on my way down like how they do in WWE.

Thankfully he heads for the bleachers and lets me down on the first row with surprising care.

"That's a good princess. I'd like to see those sexy legs do something other than kicking." Stan's warm breath on my face and quick nibble on my ear send waves of goosebumps erupting down my skin. It feels wrong, yet incredibly good. Exhilarating, in fact, to have a hot guy whisper sweet nothings to me. No wonder so many girls fall for his honey trap.

With a finger, I beckon for him to come closer. "Wouldn't you like to find out?" I say in the most sultry voice I can muster. His face a mere inches from mine, I can almost make out the faint freckles speckled on his nose. His pupils are dilated - he likes what he sees. His Adam's apple is throbbing up and down his throat. This is a guy who I can kiss and wouldn't drop me... until about 4 weeks later. My fingers graze his smooth dry-fit jersey and I toy with the hem of his shirt, tugging playfully.

Hello, adventure, here I come.

And yet, it is Tyler's gentle face that surfaces to my mind at this very moment. His hazel eyes, his 10000 watt smile, his soft coffee-hued locks...

To the Tyler inside my head: