For a second, Bryce stares at Reed’s extended hand, but, quickly, heforces a smile and takes it. “No harm meant, man. It was just a misunderstanding.”
“Totally understand. Have a great night.”
“Thanks again for looking at my sister’s Instagram.”
“You bet,” Reed says. “I’m looking forward to it.” With that, Reed unlinks our arms so he can slide his strong arm around my shoulders, before confidently guiding me toward the front door.
As I walk with Reed, I feel swept away. Like I’m physically swooning. I inhale the scent of Reed’s cologne, as well as his confidence. I register the strength and hardness of his fit body. The urgency and command of his grip on me. All combined, I’m feeling physically intoxicated by Reed in this moment, in the best possible way.
“Have you slept with him?” Reed says, when we’re out of Bryce’s earshot.
“That’s none of your business.” Okay, I can’t help myself. “But, no, I haven’t. Get this. Bryce and I haven’t evenkissed.”
Reed chuckles. “Well, damn. He’s awfully wound up about a girl he’s never even kissed. Although, in the guy’s defense, I could say the same thing about myself.”
Butterflies release into my stomach. “Thank you. That’s a nice thing to say.”
“I’m a nice guy.”
I snort. “That remains to be seen.”
Reed chuckles. “I knew I liked you, Georgina. You don’t pull any punches.”
“Honestly, Reed, I still haven’t decided if I like you. You’re a bit of a mixed bag for me at the moment. But I’m most certainly attracted to you physically.”
Reed shrugs. “Works for me. Like me or loathe me. It’s all good. Just as long as you want to fuck me.” He winks. “In fact, in my experience, it’s often the ones who hate my guts the most who enjoy fucking me the most.”
I say nothing. Because I’ve got a hunch he’s right about that. I mean, look at me. I’m still peeved at the condescending way he spoke to me when he first walked up. More than a little wary about the way he treated that blonde girl. Not impressed by the way he looked at Marcus like he was dirt on the bottom of his shoe. And not certain if I wasimpressed or repelled by the way Reed took such obvious pleasure in cutting off Bryce’s golden balls, and then dangling Bryce’s sister’s Instagram page in front of Bryce’s face to keep him in line.
But even if the jury is still out on Reed’s likeability—whether I ultimately decide I like him or loathe him, as Reed said—he’s absolutely right: there’s no doubt in my mind I want to fuck him like my life depends on it. More so, in fact, than I’ve wanted to fuck anyone in the four years since I started having sex.
Reed draws me into his muscled frame even closer, and whispers, “What’d you do to that boy, Georgie? Tell me the truth, as a cautionary tale.”
“I did nothing, I swear. We met on campus. Talked and texted a few times. And that’s it. For some reason, he seems to think it was love at first sight for us.”
“No.”
“Or so he said.” I scoff. “Talk about a lady-boner-killer.”
Reed smiles. “You don’t believe in love at first sight, Cinderella?”
“No, Prince Charming, I don’t. I frankly think the entire idea is ludicrous. But Bryce believes in it. Unless he was only saying that to me because he thought it was what I wanted to hear. Which would then make him horrifically bad at reading a girl’s signals.”
“Naw, he was being straight with you,” Reed says. “Despite everything he’s got going for him on the playing field, that kid’s got zero game.”
“And yet, he was willing to throw his supposedly instant love for me under the bus, to get you to listen to his sister’s music. Love, zero. Ambition, one.”
“Like I said before: everyone’s got a price. You’ve just got to figure out what it is, and bribe them with it.”
“I don’t have a price.”
He smirks.
“I don’t.”
He pats my head. “Okay, Georgie girl. You’re the only person on Earth without a price.” He chuckles. “It’s times like this I’m reminded just how young you really are.” He opens the door for me. “The truth is, sweetheart, if you think you can’t be bought, that only means nobody’s been smart enough to figure out your price yet.”
13
