Chapter 20
I rushed from one class to another the next day. My heart was in my throat—knowing that at any minute I could run into Jared—so I kept my eyes focused straight ahead. Literally.
All through French class it had been almost impossible to keep my mind off last night. His hands, his lips, his…
Nope. Not going there.
I had liked it. That much I was willing to admit. But why did he kiss me if not to prove that he could? And why the hell did I let him?!
I’d decided to treat it as a drunken move on his part, and an emotional breakdown on mine.
As I headed to lunch, I hurriedly stuffed my crap into my locker and jetted around the corner to the cafeteria, trying to keep my eyes from wandering.
“Oomph.” The air was knocked out of my lungs, and I stumbled to the ground.
What the…?
I winced with the ache in my ass from the collapse to the cold tile floor, and I tried to blink away the disturbance to my equilibrium. Something had knocked me off my feet.
Looking up, I sucked in a breath and felt a warm fluttering to my belly at the sight of Jared hovering over me.
Shit. I must’ve crashed right into him. And here I was, trying to avoid him like the plague. So much for best laid plans.
I couldn’t get over how just the presence of him undid me. I gawked stupidly, unable to tear my eyes away from how awesomely his t-shirt hung below his narrow waist or how sexy his rich, dark hair was styled today.
Seeing me flat on my bum, he should’ve given me a smug smile or scowl. I flushed with embarrassment, knowing how stupid I must’ve looked.
But I got nothing from him. Nothing bad, anyway.
He reached out to me, and I looked at him wide-eyed, wondering what the hell he was doing.
Was he…helping me up?
He held his smooth, long-fingered hand, palm up, to me, and my toes curled with the gesture.
Wow. Maybe the kiss wasn’t such a bad thing. Maybe he’d start behaving himself now.
And then he quirked an eyebrow at me, as if annoyed that he was waiting.
I scowled at his same old haughty attitude.
Oh, no. Don’t do me any favors, buddy!
Pushing myself roughly off the ground, I dusted off my pants and stalked past him, around the corner.
While my body definitely reacted positively to him, my brain practiced a zero tolerance policy…from now on.
***
Ben and I met up Friday night after the game. I wanted to keep our date, even though I had spent the better part of the last two days trying not to think of someone else. There was nothing between Jared and I. There was no reason to call off a date with a not-yet-boyfriend just because I kissed another guy, even if I did feel a little guilty about it.
Ben was easy. And I needed easy. I deserved it. I just needed to get my body under control.
Fucking hormones.
“So I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Ben seemed amused but timid as we finished our pizza.
“Let me see.” I put my index finger to my lips. “Yes, I do all of my own stunts, and no, I don’t normally eat that much,” I joked and took a sip of my Coke.
“No, not exactly.” He wagged his finger at me and took out his credit card for the waitress as she came by.
“I’m listening.”
“You mentioned this boy that your character was friends with in the monologue. They were close, and then he turned against her. You said he drove a Mustang?”
I nodded, wondering where he was going with this.
“Jared Trent drives a Boss 302. A Mustang Boss 302,” he pointed out.
Sweat broke out across my brow, but I nodded again. I knew what he was getting at, but there wouldn’t be any answers if that was what he was hoping for. It was bad enough that I’d kissed Jared, behind K.C.’s back, but Jared and I only had one kiss. And that’s all there would be. I wasn’t about to explain something I didn’t even understand to Ben.
“And?” He placed his elbows on the table and crossed his arms, leaning in.
“And what was your question?” I hoped being evasive would come off cute, and then he’d surrender his line of questioning.
Looking to the side and then back to me, he laughed under his breath. “I noticed him giving you his undivided attention during that monologue. Were you and Jared Trent friends?” His wide green eyes were interested.
“How do you mean?” Playing hard to get was turning out to be easy. I could do this all night.
He looked like he was trying to contain a smile, but he pressed further. “Was the monologue about him?”
I cocked my head at him. “I thought the monologues were supposed to be from a book or film?”
“What book or film did yours come from?” he shot back.
The continued play had my stomach shaking from pent-up laughter. This was getting fun.
“It’ll all be in my essay,” I whispered when the waitress brought Ben’s card and receipt back. “But…Jared is nothing to me, just so you know.”
His lips curled up at the corner, hopefully satisfied with what I gave him. Taking my hand, he led me out of the restaurant and to his car. Unfortunately, he was driving, so he opened the door for me to slide in.
“You’ve never been to the Loop, right?”
“Nope.” I fastened my seatbelt and pulled my black pinstripe skirt as far down my thighs as it would go. The three thin buckles over the right thigh caught the streetlight shining through the window.
“Well, you’ll love it. And they’ll love you.” His gaze slid to my chest before he quickly averted his eyes. I suddenly wished I had worn a t-shirt instead. My white tank was slightly less revealing, thankfully, under my short gray military jacket, but I still felt exposed. The need to cover myself irked me. I wanted to look nice for Ben tonight, didn’t I?
Or maybe it wasn’t Ben I was thinking about so much when I got dressed.
“They’ll love me? Why is that?” I asked.
“Because you look like candy.” He shook his head and started the engine.
K.C.’s words came back to haunt me. Well, I, for one, am pretty excited to see the look on his face when he sees you!
My hands clenched into fists, and I bit my bottom lip to stifle a smile.
Yep, I bit my bottom lip. Shit.