Total pages in book: 213
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 201920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1010(@200wpm)___ 808(@250wpm)___ 673(@300wpm)
But I want him.
The smile widens, and I kick up my foot to hit the brick wall behind me when the guys walk this way. Straight to the locker room I just happen to be standing in front of.
It gives me a sick sense of pleasure when Dean nearly trips as he catches sight of me.
He notices my smile too, which makes him narrow his eyes. I love this game. More than anything else, I love the way it makes me feel.
Even if it is temporary.
“Stay right there,” Dean tells me, not slowing his pace as he walks right past me to go through the doors. “Just need to grab something.”
He doesn’t even wait for me to nod. Doesn’t wait for any sign at all I heard him.
My jaw hangs open. Fucking dick.
I grin slightly as I realize he won that round. I can hear a bell ding in my head and see him getting a point on a scoreboard. “Touché,” I mutter as the rest of the guys file in. He knows I came for him.
Why do I love that he’s such an asshole?
I’m left pondering that very question and kicking the dirt when I hear another voice.
“Well, hello again. Did you enjoy the game?” Kevin Henderson asks me as the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. He stops only a foot in front of me, watching as some of the other guys walk past him. I have to remind myself we’re not alone. Not really. The field is right behind us. The study group that was on the bleachers is still there. Still within earshot.
My shoulders move involuntarily into a shrug as I try to act casual and keep it light, but flirtatious. It takes me a moment to look Kevin in the eyes and when I do, I make sure to flash him a dazzling smile.
“Looked like a practice to me,” I tell him while my heart thuds once, then twice. It’s not a game.
He manages a half smirk and moves his thumb to the corner of his mouth before replying, “I thought you said it’s always a game?”
The pounding of my heart gets louder and my blood turns to ice in my veins. I can picture how it would happen right now, how he’d pin me here against the brick wall, how it would scrape against my back. But it would have to be late. The skies would be black and my scream, when I finally did scream, would echo for miles.
“Didn’t you?” he asks me, his voice bringing me back to the present and I have to manage my composure, making sure I add a touch of shyness as I take the strand of hair in front of my face and tuck it behind my ear.
My eyelashes flutter as I tell him, “You have a good memory.”
“You dye your hair?” he asks and my stomach clenches. As if he knows who I used to be. “Why? Blondes have more fun, don’t they?” he says in jest before flashing me a smile and I struggle to respond. He’s just making random conversation. It doesn’t mean anything.
“Yo,” Kevin says as he rips his eyes off me and the sound of footsteps slowly coming to a stop greet me.
“Everything good?” I hear Dean ask, but I still don’t look in his direction. I can’t right now. Not after this little encounter.
It’s odd to feel as if I’ve betrayed him. As if I should feel guilty, and maybe that’s what this twisting in my gut is.
“Yeah, yeah,” Kevin says and tells me, “Catch you later,” before half jogging into the locker room.
“He giving you a hard time?” Dean asks me and when I hear Kevin’s sneakers skid across the cement pad in front of the doorway, I finally look up at Dean. Right into a possessive stare.
One that sees right through me.
His hard gaze makes me feel like my hand has been played. Like I can’t trust the words in my mouth.
“You want to tell me something?” he asks me and my bottom lip wobbles slightly. I want to tell him everything. I’m desperate to tell someone.
“Did you see him score?” Daniel’s voice interjects. When I look at him, Dean takes a step back, narrowing his eyes and focusing them on Daniel. “He said it was for you,” Daniel adds as he slips his arm around Dean’s shoulders and flashes me a charming smile, but I see right through it.
He’s a good liar. From what I’ve heard in the last few weeks from whispers on campus, it’s a family trait of his. Apparently all the Cross’ have a reputation. I don’t know what the hell Daniel Cross is doing here or with men like Kev and I don’t care. Consequences be damned, I’m going to get what I want.