I didn’t like it, but I didn’t push it either. Some battles aren’t worth fighting.
As we approach the table, side-stepping the other students, I take my regular seat next to Renee, and Aaron and Jake sit down quietly across from her. Renee looked up from the book, glanced at me, then swiveled her gaze toward Aaron, then Jake. I think all of us are left speechless at this. I know I am. It was the first time Renee Lyon had willingly faced us without trying to hide behind those cherry locks.
“Hello,” she said, her eyes landing back on me. “How are you today?”
“Um, good.”
“That’s great.” When she smiled, the dimple in her cheek popped against her sultry-looking skin. She turned away from me once more and looked at Aaron. “And you?”
“Great,” he said, clearing his throat. “Thanks.”
“And what about you?” Renee’s head swiveled in Jake’s direction, but he was already looking at her. I couldn't read his expression; he had a good poker face. But I could feel it. He was hiding something.
“Never better,” he said, holding her eyes. I think both Aaron and I were shocked when, after a few moments of tense silence, Jake broke their stare-down first. Renee was still smiling, as though pleased with herself, but when I focused on what was behind her eyes, I could see the same insecurity she held back in high school. It was like she was trying too hard. It was not her.
Maybe now it is. People change.
Youchanged.
Renee turned away from us and focused her attention on our professor as he started to go on and on about the homework I completely forgot to do. It was hard to focus, mainly because Renee’s breasts looked amazing in that shirt and because she smelled so fucking good. It was something new this time, a sultry scent I couldn't quite place, but that put me on edge. My dick pulsated hard under the table, growing as the class droned on. I could barely stand it, being so close to her. I wasn’t sure I’d survive the rest of the class, let alone the rest of the semester, being so close to her.
Finally, after a painstaking fifty minutes, time was up, and the lab ended. Aaron and Jake gathered their things and waited for me, but I hung back because Renee did, carefully putting her things away in the backpack. I nodded at Aaron and Jake to go ahead without me. Both of them hesitated, but only for a moment, then Aaron walked away, and after a few tense seconds, Jake’s jaw tightened, and he followed.
Renee and I were two of a mere handful of people left, and she pretended not to notice me hovering by the door as she finally zipped her backpack and secured it over her shoulder, heading for the exit.
“You forgot your boyfriends,” she said, passing me without slowing. Her tone was snotty, but I caught that same hint of an insecure tremble in her voice. “Aren’t you three always together?”
“Basically.” I followed her because I didn’t know what else to do for the first time in my life. Renee’s demeanor was in the process of changing, even if it was difficult for her, and honestly, I didn’t know how to approach this new girl. She was suddenly confident; dare I say ...cocky.
It was hot. I liked it.
“Is there something I can help you with, Matthew?” Renee said as she walked. My eyes were on her ass as she moved, hips swaying back and forth to a beat only she could hear. I wanted to wrap my hands around her waist and never let her go.
“I think you know what I was doing,” I told her. Renee didn’t stop. She didn’t even slow down. I didn’t mind. If she was playing hard to get, she was playing it with the master.
“You’re following me,” Renee said over her shoulder. “Or are you stalking me?”
“I guess it depends on what turns you on,” I said with a smirk. Renee finally slows until she comes to a complete stop in the middle of the empty hallway, turning to face me. I was pleased to see that her cheeks were tinted red, and those green eyes glowed like emerald fire. She was chewing on her lip, and I wanted to take her, right then and there, in the middle of the floor in a public place.
I wanted to make her mine.
“What makes you think I am interested in you after what happened with Jake and Aaron?” She tilted her head like a curious animal, and my heart skipped a beat. Once again, she sounded so confident, so sure of herself, but two could play that game.
“Because you haven’t been with me yet,” I said softly, taking a step in her direction. When she didn’t automatically move back, I took another step until we were less than a foot apart. Her eyes dropped for a moment, but just briefly before she re-challenged me, raising her chin in the air.
“And you’re special in what way?” she murmured, so soft that I could barely hear her.
“Baby, I’m special in ways you’ve never dreamed of.” My hand reached in her direction, and Renee didn’t shy away. I leaned in closer until I could smell the Spearmint gum she was chewing and caught the subtle scent of coconut in her hair.
“You were it, you know,” Renee said suddenly, and a tight edge tinted her voice. “You were the guy every girl wanted in high school, including me. Do you remember that, Matt? Do you remember pretending to be interested in me just so you could make fun of me?” She let out a shuddering sigh that vibrated her whole body as though she was trying to shake off those bad memories. “The party, remember that? Do you remember that party?”
“Yes.”
“Good. That’s good, Matt, because I do, too.”
As my hand was about to meet the soft skin of her neck, footsteps clattered around the corner, and a group of students thundered past us, laughing and joking and effectively shattering the mood. Renee took a step back, and so did I, reeling. She opened her mouth to say something, but another person came around the corner at that moment. This one, however, stopped right by her, his eyes on me.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he said to Renee, eyes still scoping me out. “I thought we were going to meet in the library?”
