Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
“Yup,” my fake boyfriend cuts in, beating me to an answer and locking in this impromptu date, “let’s meet up at the diner.”
As soon as it’s agreed upon, Demi and Rowan take off through the parking lot. Now that I’ve been left alone with Brayden, a burst of unwanted nerves explodes in my belly like a firework.
I stare after the couple with longing before muttering, “Is there a reason we can’t all drive over together?”
He points to a shiny, black F-150 a few rows over. “My truck is right there. We’ll just take that. It’ll be easier.”
For whom?
Whom, exactly, will this be easier for?
Not me.
I glance over my shoulder and realize with a sinking heart that my roommate and her boyfriend have already disappeared through the swirling darkness. I’ve been left to my own devices with Brayden. It’s precisely where I didn’t want to find myself. “We should all stick together.”
With his arm wrapped around my body, he propels me toward the truck. “What’s the matter? Are you afraid to be alone with me?”
I stiffen. “What? Of course not.” One hundred percent. I am scared to death to be with him. He rouses feelings inside me that I’m not entirely comfortable with.
“Good, because I like spending time with you.”
What?
I don’t think I could be more shocked if he slammed me upside the head with a two-by-four.
Stunned by the admission, I slant a look in his direction. “You do?”
He unleashes a smile. It’s one that has the potential to send panties dropping all over campus. “Yeah. You’re smart and have a great sense of humor. You might find this difficult to believe, but I enjoy your wicked tongue. Not to mention, you’re one hell of a soccer player. Even though this was my first game, I was pleasantly surprised to discover how fast paced and exciting it was.” There’s a pause before he tacks on, “You were pretty amazing out there.”
For the second time in a matter of minutes, something warm fights to break free beneath my chest cavity. Only this time, I find it impossible to completely stomp out the unwelcome sensation.
“Thanks.” My head spins with all these unsolicited compliments.
“Just stating facts,” he says with an easy lift of his shoulder. “Rowan mentioned that Demi will probably try out for one of the professional soccer teams after graduation.” He clicks the key fob before pulling open the passenger side door. “Is that something you’re considering, too?” There’s a beat of silence before he tacks on, “You didn’t mention it the other day.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m not good enough to play at that level.”
Once I slide inside, his gaze stays pinned to mine as he loiters near the door. “You could have fooled me. It was difficult to take my eyes off you.”
The heat he kindled to life is becoming more of a flame, radiating dangerously to other parts of my body. “I appreciate what you’re saying, but you just admitted that you’ve never watched a game. You don’t know anything about soccer,” I mutter.
“True,” he says easily in agreement. “But I watched you dominate and shut down their offense.”
My mouth dries. When I fail to respond, he seals me inside his truck before walking around the front to the driver’s side and settling beside me. A moment later, the engine roars to life and he’s pulling out of the parking lot and into traffic. I shift, attempting to put as much distance between us as possible. Brayden is tall and muscular, easily taking up his side of the seat. I’m absurdly aware of him on every level. The more time we spend together, the more attuned I become to his presence. It’s a strange sensation. It used to be so much easier to ignore and push to the outer recesses of my mind. That no longer feels possible. I find my thoughts turning to him even when we’re not together. My stance is starting to soften when it comes to Brayden. Not only is that dangerous, it’s unwise.
“There’s such a serious expression on your face,” he says, interrupting the whirl of my thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”
I blink away the disturbing realization and reluctantly glance at him. There’s no way I can reveal the truth. Do you have any idea what he would do with that?
Even the thought is enough to scare the hell out of me.
“I’m, ah, just going over the game in my head. The mistakes I made. What I need to work on and correct.” It doesn’t escape me that the lie I’m forcing from my lips is exactly what I should be focused on. Instead, Brayden dominates all of my head space.
And that’s a problem.
I need to do something about it before it spins any further out of control. This feels like a barely-contained fire. If I make one wrong move, I’ll get burned alive.