Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
“Chaser.” She pecks my cheek as she walks by, whispering, “You can thank me later.”
Her words are lost on me, but I chuckle as I watch her go, facing forward again just as Ari slips past.
She smiles her hello, but her eyes go forward instantly, and she squeals as she runs off, likely straight into Noah’s arms, but I don’t look. Couldn’t if I wanted to because in that same moment, Paige comes into view. She pauses to say something to her dorm RA. My gaze slides over her from head to toe.
Her dress is a deep blue—the same shade of blue as my jacket and slacks. She’s not wearing it by chance. She chose it, chose to match me tonight—the thought has something that feels a lot like satisfaction zipping down my spine.
The dress is far too tight, wrapped around her like a spandex blanket yet somehow lying as elegant as silk. It might be silk.
Her back is fully exposed, her hair ends teasing low on her spine and curled in those kinds of waves you see in old Hollywood photos on the wall at the Hard Rock. There’s a tiny strip of material that comes up along her shoulder blades, the only thing keeping the dress from slipping right off.
It would be so easy to peel it from her skin. It would fall in one swoop, puddling around her tiny feet in those sparky black heels…
I’m a little taken aback by how vivid the image is, by how real I want it to be.
I’m not supposed to want her this way.
She spins then, and something knocks against my ribs once. Twice.
Man, she is… Wow.
If she’s wearing makeup, it’s done so faintly, you can’t even tell, other than this little sparkle of something that draws my attention straight to her eyes. She looks up, her eyes meeting mine, her smile slow and shy, and when she blinks, it’s like her lashes sweep in slow motion.
Her eyes—they’re so blue tonight. Clear and sharp and trained on me.
I think I’d like to keep them there.
“Hi.”
Her smile tugs deeper, though she fights it. “Hi.”
I don’t want her to fight it. I want to see how far those laugh lines can reach.
How far the blush that’s slowly appearing goes.
She blushes so easily.
For me or for everyone?
A hand clamps on my shoulder, and I jolt, head yanking to my right.
Brady is grinning like a damn fool. “Love you, bro, and as much as I’d like to stand back and let you stare till you got your fill, there’re people waiting to get past you, but they’re too nice to say it.”
What…
I blink, looking around, and realize I stepped forward without knowing it, my body now half in the doorway, completely blocking her from stepping all the way out, leaving no room for anyone else to go in or out.
Well, that’s fucking embarrassing.
I clear my throat, looking away as I move to the side.
Slowly, Paige passes, but in my peripheral vision, I notice how her eyes hold on me until they can’t. “Oh my god, Noah!” she shouts. “Hi!”
I try not to look, but my attention slides their way as she steps up, giving her friend a hug.
Her friend that she had feelings for once upon a time.
Irritated with myself, I pull my eyes away, glancing out over the parking lot.
I don’t know what the hell is going on with me right now, but I need to get my shit together.
Paige isn’t mine, and even if I liked the idea that just maybe she could be, I’m not in a place to share myself with someone else. Fuck, man, does she think this is a date?
Do I want it to be?
She’s wearing the same color as me.
I look over, and a frown forms.
She’s wearing the same color as him, too, so maybe it means nothing. She invited us all here, and it’s not like she gave me a hug tonight. Not that I wanted one or anything.
Mason elbows me, but I just give him a nod, pretending there’s nothing going on in my mind and wishing it were true.
I’m a contradiction to my own damn self and I’m so tired of it.
I’m tired of being tired of everything.
“Wait, I thought Ari said you were meeting us there?” Paige asks Noah.
“I was going to, but I had a little extra time today after all, so I wanted to use it wisely.” He grins down at Ari before looking back to Paige. “Fly out with you guys, and then I’ll fly out from here in the morning.”
She nods, but me, Mase, and Brady all wear matching scowls of confusion.
“Fly?”
He looks to me, then slowly back to Paige.
My eyes find her too, and she bites her lower lip, wincing slightly. “So…right.” She turns to face us all. “There’s something I should tell you guys.”