Chapter 8
REID RATHE
It would be an absolute miracle if I could get Jacob to stop talking about his fling from over the weekend.
He’s animated about it, nearly dropping his backpack every few seconds, and he’s been going on and on since lunch.
Even though I know he’s completely oblivious, it’s just salt to an open wound.
Why? Because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. Surprise, surprise. It’s not even about the sex at this point. I would take a single glance in my direction to hold me over for another day, just to do it all over again the following day so I can fucking breathe.
As we walk down the hall, I roughly mess with my hair as Jacob prattles on. Why am I so obsessed with this girl? Why can’t I get her out of my head?
Even when I look at other girls, knowing that my chances with Avery are probably slim, I just…
feel nothing. Sure, I recognize beauty, but Avery has it all, and I know this while barely knowing her.
I just know what Dustin has shared with me over the past two years, and I admit, I don’t remember much of those conversations.
We almost kissed. Almost. We were so close, and hell, she was going to let me.
I know she wants me as much as I want her.
I know we share something that neither of us can explain.
I just wish I didn’t remind her of her ex, and I don’t know if I can overcome that, but I sure am going to freaking try.
She’s worth it.
I know she’s worth it.
“Are you even listening?” Jacob asks as we head down the wide hallway.
I glance over at him and adjust the strap of my backpack. “Yes,” I lie.
“Bullshit,” he hisses. “What’s her name then?”
A frown takes over my face as I try to think of the name of this girl that he dropped early on in the conversation. I can’t think of it, so instead, I say, “I’m surprised you even know her name.”
He chuckles under his breath as we head to Spanish down this long hallway, squeezing ourselves in between the people in the crowd moving in the opposite direction. “She’s memorable, man.”
“Sure, sure. What’s so memorable? And don’t say her pussy, or I’ll backhand you.”
He holds up his hands, palms out. “That’s just one of many things.”
I shake my head. “You have no shame.”
His grin is wide. “None. I was born without it.”
“Clearly,” I mutter. “So are you going to have a relationship with this one?”
“What?” His scowl is instant, and I know exactly what his answer will be. “No. Why would you think that?”
“Because you won’t shut up about her.”
His scowl only deepens, and I laugh. “Admit it. You’re smitten.”
“Who the hell says smitten these days?” he mocks.
“Me, apparently,” I grumble under my breath.
I’m aware that he diverted my question, but I’ll let him deny it for now.
Who knows, maybe he’ll be sick of her by the end of the week.
If not, then I have plans to get on his nerves about settling down.
I know it’ll drive him nuts, and it will be totally worth it since he’s been driving me nuts on a regular basis.
When we reach the door, he groans. “Why did you force me to take this class?”
I huff. “Because it’s good for you. The country isn’t just made up of the English language anymore. If you want a good job straight out of college, it looks good on your resume that you’ll know more than your native tongue.”
Jacob stops, his hand hovering over the handle of the Spanish room’s door. I meet his eyes only to find the scowl back on his face. “You’re like a mother hen.”
I shove his shoulder. “Someone has to keep you in line, or you’d fuck your way to the top and graduate with ten STDs.”
His nose wrinkles as he yanks the door open. “That was a low blow.”
This level of Spanish is held in a lecture hall this year.
Something about not having enough space and giving its old space to a different department.
I’m not sure of the details, but I’m sure it pissed off someone that Spanish wasn’t important enough to have an actual classroom.
Either way, it doesn’t bother me. I prefer the lecture hall seats over the hard metal ones of Smithson University’s classrooms anyway.
Rows and rows of padded seating with small desks unfolded from the right arm of the chairs travel down until there’s an empty space for the lecture podium.
Behind that are some rolled-in whiteboards, all currently blank and ready for use.
The professor is nowhere in sight, but we’re a little early, so that’s no surprise.
“Dude,” Jacob says, drawing my attention with the point of his finger. “Ivy’s here.”
Without a word, he makes his way down the middle row, and I follow, my eyes finally landing on Ivy and…Avery.
I suck in a deep breath. She’s here. Shit, she’s here, and for the first time in days, a weight is lifted off my chest.
Today, she’s wearing a light gray university sweater with light blue skinny jeans. If she’s wearing makeup, I don’t see a trace of it. She bends down to get something out of her backpack by her feet, and her loose hair spills over her cheek, but she has yet to notice us.
A smile grows on my face, knowing that I couldn’t have planned this better.
I stop Jacob before he can scoot into the seats and make my way in first. Avery doesn’t look up from her now-open laptop until I plop down in the seat next to her. She jumps in her seat, and her hand flies to her heart.
“Spanish, huh?” I ask, my voice hushed as both Jacob and Ivy share a look with each other. I’m sure it looks odd that I insisted on sitting next to Avery. I really don’t care right now. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.
Nervously, she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. By doing that little gesture, the smell of her fruity shampoo reaches my nose, and I fight the urge to lean over and take a deeper breath.
“W-What are you doing here?” There’s a tremble in her voice that’s adorable.
I grin a little when she finally meets my gaze and holds it for longer than a second. “You’re not the only one minoring in a second language, you know.”
“Oh,” she whispers and then clears her throat. “Right.”
“Is that a problem?” I ask when she says nothing more and fires up her laptop. Her foot jiggles though, telling me she now has anxiety over me being here.
Frowning, she cuts me a glance. “No,” she whispers. “But…can’t you sit somewhere else?”
Humor dances in my tone when I say, “No. The other seats are taken.”
She surveys the room, the frown deepening. “There are literally fifty other chairs to choose from.”
I shrug and pull my laptop out of my bag, making it clear that I don’t plan on moving. She’s not getting rid of me that easily. “None next to you.”
Hissing through her teeth, she says, “What is your deal with me?”
Ivy and Jacob lean further forward in their seats, but it’s Ivy who asks, “Do you two know each other or something?”
Without looking away from each other, we both lie, “No.”
Ivy raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure because-”
“No,” we both say again as the professor strides into the room with his papers and packets and a large book balanced in his arms. He sets them down on a table to the right of the podium, and Avery finally breaks eye contact with me, facing forward and squaring her shoulders in determination.
I hide my smirk well, and as the professor starts to talk about himself, his accomplishments, and the expectations of this class, I open up a Word document and start typing a message.
Me
My deal? We almost kissed, and I can’t stop thinking about what would have happened if we did.
I turn my laptop slightly toward Avery, and when she pretends not to notice, I clear my throat.
Rolling her eyes, she glances at my screen.
A blush creeps into her cheeks before she’s completely finished reading, and right this moment, I would give anything to touch them.
But she goes back to listening to the professor—not the response I wanted, so I nudge her foot with my shoe.
When she flicks her gaze in my direction, I tip my head to the screen.
Sighing again, she opens a Word doc on her computer and types out a response.
I lean over to read it at the same time that Jacob starts to catch on. He leans over with me, but I shoulder him back.
Her
I haven’t thought about it at all.
I huff.
Liar.
Her
Am not.
Me
The corner of your mouth twitches when you lie. Did you know that?
She turns a frown at me but goes back to her keyboard.
Her
So what if I have thought about it? It means nothing. Who wouldn’t think about some tall guy invading their space and demanding a kiss?
My snort draws Ivy’s attention.
Me
You and I both know you wanted me to kiss you as much as I wanted to kiss you.
She shakes her head but doesn’t type out anything.
Me
Do you want me to kiss you now, Avery?
It takes her a moment, but she eventually gives in and looks sideways at my screen. In my ear, Jacob whispers with a laugh, “Dustin is so going to kill you. Oh shit, is she the girl from the other night?”
“Keep this to yourself,” I growl in warning, keeping my attention on Avery as she types out a response.
Her
I would blow my rape whistle if you tried.
I cannot help the smile that crosses my face. You wouldn’t dare.
Her
Try me.
Me
Do you even have a rape whistle?
Avery sits back in her seat with a snarl on her lips. That would be a no, then.
I chuckle quietly.
Me
Didn’t think so.
She doesn’t respond and, instead, crosses her arms over her chest as she pretends to listen to the professor. I look past her and at Ivy, who is glaring daggers in my direction. I wince, knowing she had to have read that conversation just as well as Jacob had.
It tells me one thing though: Avery didn’t tell her about us. I’m sure she knows something is up now, so I pull out my phone and send a quick text to her.
Me
Remember how you owe me for saving you from the drunk frat boy at the diner?