Sighing, Dustin turns off the TV. “Just when it was getting good, too.”
“You’re leaving?” I ask when my brother stands. I had expected him to ask for five more minutes.
Dustin bends down and gives me a hug. “Jacob wants to shoot some hoops before dark. Want to come? Ivy is meeting us there.”
Purposefully keeping my gaze off Reid, I shake my head. I don’t think my nerves can take another minute of being in Reid’s space. I feel raw around him, exposed, and while that shouldn’t be a bad thing, I can’t trust him. I don’t know if I ever will be able to.
“You two go ahead. I have homework to do.”
Dustin pecks me on the cheek and thankfully doesn’t fight me on it. Without another word, they both leave, and I blow out a big breath before saying goodbye to my mom and dad and heading back to my apartment.
CHAPTER 8
REID RATHE
It would bean 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 wanther. 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 surprisedyoueven 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.
