Free Worth It by Nicki DeStasi

chest.
    He must see the look on my face because he rushes to say, “Shit, that’s not what I meant. I mean, it is, but—”
    “It’s okay,” I say, cutting him off. “I should check to see if Shannon is home.” I open the door and jump down from his truck into the cool October weather before I change my mind and crawl onto his lap.
    Just before I push the door closed, I hear him mutter, “Fuck.”
     

     
    “Fuck.”
    I jump out of my truck, so I can catch up with her. The more I talk to her, the more I like her, and so I act like a dipshit. Awesome. But seriously? When she was talking about pleasure and then playing with her hair, I just wanted some road head. Not that I would ask for it, but that was where my head went, and it didn’t want to be anywhere else.
    “Anna, wait.”
    “Really, Jed, don’t worry about it. Thank you for the ride.” She tries to blow me off with a tight smile, and then she knocks on the door.
    Fuck. “Anna, I was trying to be funny, but I really wanted to ask if—”
    The door flies open, the lights flip on, and shouts of “Surprise!” and “Happy birthday!” interrupt me.
    My jaw drops. “Today is your birthday?”
    Her mouth drops open, and then she manages to say, “It was three days ago.”
    A brunette gives her a bear hug. I size up the other three guys who step up and give her hugs. When the third one puts his lips on her head, I want to punch him. Who the fuck is this jackass?
    “Who’s that?” the chick whispers loudly when she notices me.
    It’s funny because I can hear her.
    Anna turns her head to look at me, and then she looks back to the girl. “Oh, um, Shannon, this is Jed. Jed, this is Shannon.”
    Shannon smiles and says, “Hi, it’s nice to meet you. This is my husband, Chad.” She points to a rocker type of dude. “And this is Aaron and Jared.” Jared is the touchy ass-clown. “Do you want to come in? It’s cold out here.”
    I want to high-five the chick. “Sure,” I say and follow everyone inside.
    I take note of the wide-eyed what-the-fuck look Anna shoots Shannon.
    When we enter the small living room, the first thing I notice is that the cake reads, Happy Birthday, Savannah .
    “Your name is Savannah?” I assumed her name was just Anna.
    “How does her date not know her full name?” douche bag asks.
    I don’t like this asshole already.
    Anna blanches and snaps, “You know I hate my full name.”
    I guess so. Weird.
    She recovers and mutters, “And he’s not my date.”
    I want to wipe the smug smirk off of Jared’s face. Why am I so territorial over this chick? I’m not usually like this.
    “Oh. Then, how do you guys know each other?” Chad asks.
    “My car needs another day to be fixed, so he gave me a ride. He’s Donnie’s nephew.”
    “Do you need a ride home tonight?” Jared offers.
    “No,” I bite out. “I’m giving her a ride.”
    Anna’s brow furrows. “You don’t have to stick around and wait for me if you don’t want to. Jared can give me a ride home if you need to go.”
    Jesus Christ, woman, throw me a fucking bone here! “I really don’t mind. I kind of wanted to talk to you anyway.” I smile encouragingly, praying she won’t push this now in front of everyone.
    Instead, she smiles, and her cheeks twinge pink as she nods. I stare down at her. She’s so damn beautiful, but she looks vulnerable, too. That look makes me want to protect her.
    “All right,” Shannon interrupts, “time to blow out the candles!”
    Anna blinks out of the daze we were both in and rolls her eyes. “Guys, I’m not ten. I’m twenty-two.”
    Good. I’m learning more about her without having to pry it from her.
    “Cut the complaining, and just do it. Everyone blows out candles,” Shannon counters.
    “Fine, but no singing.”
    “Stop being a bah-humbug. Of course, we’re singing.” Shannon frowns at her.
    Anna rubs her face and groans. “Sorry. Bad day.” Her face is still covered.
    “What happened?” Shannon