“You look beautiful,” he whispers.
I blush and look down at my heels. “You can’t say things to me like that tonight.”
“If you gave me your number, I could text them to you.”
I look at him from under my lashes. “Not going to happen.”
He shrugs and crosses the distance between us. I can’t help the shiver that travels down my spine when he leans and whispers, “I’ll get it eventually, Avery. And then I’ll text you all the things you won’t let me say out loud.”
Leaving me speechless, he heads out into the hallway. I stand there for a few minutes, trying to get my body to cool down. He makes it so hard to resist him because my body absolutely betrays me, especially when he’s close to me. It’s difficult not to give him what he wants, not to break down my barriers and be the person he sees me as.
I take a deep breath, grasp the keys off of the table, and lock up the apartment. As soon as I’m out to Dustin’s car, I find Dustin starting the engine with Ivy in the front seat and Reid sitting in the back. It probably would have made more sense for Reid to sit up front with Dustin, but I can’t help but feel that Ivy did this on purpose. I plan to kick her ass later. Or, at the very least, give her the silent treatment until the morning.
I hop into the back seat next to Reid, who flashes me a bright smile. “No funny business,” I whisper to him.
He holds his hands up in surrender, and Dustin, unaware of our brief exchange because he’s deep in conversation with Ivy, pulls out of the parking lot, and we head off campus.
For the first ten minutes, I stare out the window, trying to forget the devilishly handsome guy sitting next to me. I put minimal effort into the conversation the three of them are having and, instead, watch as the fall leaves swoosh into the air upon our passing.
I startle when something touches my thigh, however. Glancing down, I see Reid’s hand, his knuckles brushing back and forth on my bare thigh. I raise my gaze to his, but he’s pretending not to pay attention to me. I’m not stupid though, I know he’s completely aware that his fingers are touching meand that he’s completely aware that Dustin can’t see it in the rearview mirror.
Frowning, I grab his hand and try to set it aside, but he wraps his hand around my fingers and holds on tight. My frown deepens every time I try to pull my hand away, but eventually, I sigh, giving in. My body slackens against the seat, and he takes that as a cue to fold his fingers between mine.
My heart flutters as I stare at our joined hands. I should stop this. It’ll give him the wrong impression. Hell, it’s giving me the wrong impression. But his hand is warm and calloused and fits perfectly around mine, and…I like it. I shouldn’t, but I do.
Ivy turns around in her seat and asks, “How did studying go?” She then looks at our joined hands and winks at me, a gleeful look in her eyes.
“Fine,” I bite out. This is her fault. She could have at least warned me. Hell, she could have sat back here with me. Now I’m holding the hand of a man I’m extremely attracted to, one who is trying to…date me? Screw me? I don’t even know anymore.
“Is this it?” Dustin asks, pointing to a brick building. I look around. I hadn’t even realized we were downtown yet.
Ivy turns back around and looks where he points. “Yes! There, right there, there’s a parking spot.” She claps her hands together when he slides the car into it and puts it into Park.
I let go of Reid’s hand quickly and exit the car. The wind swirls around me, and I breathe it in deep, trying to calm my nerves, and then I head inside with the others.
The restaurant looks expensive with muted cream tones and black tablecloths, but when we sit down, order our drinks, and look at the menu, I see that it isn’t half bad. Easily affordable and, by the smells surrounding us, yummy too.
While we wait for our food, Ivy keeps the conversation flowing. She’s sitting next to me, thank God, because I don’tknow if I could take another minute sitting next to Reid. My body is already shot from the car ride.
That doesn’t stop Reid from stealing glances in my direction. We keep catching each other’s gaze, and every time, it makes me blush. There’s something in his eyes that lets me know that he may be talking with my brother, but he’s certainly paying attention to everything I’m doing.
I lean toward Ivy and whisper, “You could have warned me.”
“Then you wouldn’t have come.”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t have,” I hiss. “But you think you’re cupid now, don’t you?”
She pats my thigh. “Don’t be mad. This is good for you.”
I close my eyes and rub my temples, and when I open them, it’s to find concern etched on Reid’s face. “Are you feeling okay?” he asks.
Abruptly, I stand up. I need to get out of here, get away from his stare for just a few minutes. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m just—I’m going to go use the bathroom.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Ivy asks, taking the napkin off of her lap and setting it on the table.
I touch her shoulder as I get ready to pass her and head to the bathroom. “I’ll be fine.”
I all but rush to the bathroom, and once I’m inside, I shut the door and lean against it. Taking several deep breaths, I work like hell to calm my heart. It’s easier in here, surrounded by toilet paper and soap, to have a little perspective.
