I Thought I Needed Saving..

Chapter 4: A wall to climb

I tap the table with one finger. "So what's your alternative? Sit here with your overpriced latte and your book, waiting for a 'genuine' connection to fall out of the sky?"

"Better than wasting my time on people who collect women like sneakers."

I choke on a laugh. "Sneakers?"

She nods. "Trendy, shiny, and replaceable."

Damn.

"That's cold," I say, shaking my head, though I can't help grinning. "You always this brutal, or am I just special?"

She shrugs, already opening her book again. "You're not that special."

Most guys would walk away at this point. She wants me to walk away. That's her defense.

But I don't walk away from challenges.

I didn't let it show. Instead, I flashed my most dangerous smile. "Tell you what. I'll prove you wrong. You think I'm all surface? That I can't hold a real connection? Challenge accepted."

For the first time since I'd met her, she looked… uncertain. Just a flicker, gone in a heartbeat, but I caught it.

And that was it. I was hooked.

"This," she says firmly, "is why I don't date guys like you."

"And what am I exactly?"

She studies me like she's dissecting a bug. "The type who treats people like trophies. Easy come, easy go. Here for a story to brag about later."

For a second, I almost laughed again, but something about the way she says it digs under my skin. Like she sees me.

And I don't let people see me.

"Story to brag about?" I say, leaning forward now. "Baby girl, I don't need stories. I've got reality."

"Exactly." She smirks. "And it's even more pathetic."

I sit back, pretending her words don't sting. Pathetic. That's new.

And it stings.

I flash her that same grin, the one that's never failed. "I see how it is. Tell you what, I bet next time we bump into each other, I'll make you change your mind about me."

She stood, gathering her things. "Good luck with that, Cole."

Hearing my name from her lips-- God, it did something to me.

"You're really not gonna tell me your name, huh? Oh, c'mon princess, " the words escaped my lips before I even processed them.

"I thought patience was your middle name" she said, and I just grinned with no counter back on my mind, non whatsoever.

"Maya" the name rolled off her tongue as she opened the café door.

I sat there long after she left, grinning like an i***t.

I had completely forgotten about Serena.

But not for long.

I had just fetched Jax from his campus apartment, heading over to Vincent’s place. I told him about my situation with Serena and my encounter with Maya. Like the asshole that he is, he was laughing his ass off when I told him about Serena.

"Man, I never thought I'd say this but I really hope I shoot blanks. I don't care if you and Theo make a joke about this later on, but that pregnancy test better come out negative," I said, the reality of the situation really dwelling on me. But that only sent Jax flying, laughing so much I could almost feel his ribs hurt. He's lucky he's my friend, otherwise I would have punched his front teeth down his f*cking throat.

His annoying laughter finally died down, but it was soon replaced by a smirk-- looking like the devil himself.

"So, about Maya…" he starts, but I roll my eyes, stepping on the gas.

"Relax. I just thought I'd say hi."

"Uh-huh." He leans against the window, chuckling. "You thought you'd say hi. Don't lie, Cole. You're smitten."

I snort. "Please. I don't do smitten. That's Theo’s department. I do… intrigued. She's different. Not many girls cut me off mid-sentence like that. Curious? Maybe. Interested? Sure. But smitten? Nah. I don't do smitten."

"Mmhm," Jax said, giving me that smug look that made me want to shove him out the car. "Tell me, what's it feel like, Cole? Having your whole playboy routine short-circuited by one girl with a sharp tongue and a coffee cup? Need me to hold your hand through this?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "You're an idiot."

"Maybe," he said, chuckling, "but I'm not the one who just discovered what butterflies feel like."

Butterflies? Jesus. I floored the gas again, a little harder than necessary this time, if only to shut him up.

Nightclub. Different scene, same game.

Lights flash, bass rattles the floor, bodies packed shoulder-to-shoulder. This is my kingdom. Sweat, smoke, alcohol, and the guarantee that I won't go home alone.

And guess who I see?

Maya. Again.

Across the crowd, standing with a group of friends, still untouched. Same straight posture, same aura of don't even try me.

And yet… she's here.

In my territory.

Jax notices me freeze, following my gaze. "No way. That's cafe girl?"

"Yep."

"Bro, she's with a pack. Untouchable."

I smirk. "Watch me."

I weave through the bodies like I've been doing this my whole life, which I basically have. Hands reach out, girls pressing against me, but I'm locked on her. The closer I get, the more the noise fades, until it's just her turning her head, catching sight of me.

Her eyes roll.

I stop in front of her, that grin already locked in. "Twice in one day? Fate's working overtime."

"Or maybe it's double the bad luck?" she shoots back.

Her friends giggle, whispering. I know that look--they want to be with me, around me, on top of me. But she's the only one not caving.

"Baby girl, bad luck doesn't look this good," I say smoothly, leaning closer so she can hear me over the bass.

She smirks, sipping her drink. "Still rehearsing?"

"Still resisting?" I counter.

I swear, under the flashing lights, I could see it-- the tiniest spark in her eyes. Like she's curious despite herself.

And that's all I need.

Because curiosity? That's the first step to breaking down walls.

And Maya-- is definitely a wall I intend to climb.