Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“I hate working out.”
“You hate—okay, me too.” I actually love working out, but if my girl says it sucks, it sucks.
“I don’t believe you, and I have my doubts about the whole never kissed anyone before either.” Some of the sparkle has faded from her eyes.
“That good, was it?” I know I could swear it was the truth, but some things are hard to accept with just words. “There’s more where that comes from. No worries.” I grip her hand tighter, tugging her forward. I’m going to have to stick by her side because it’s obvious when we’re apart she has second—and third—thoughts about whether I’m a player. I’m not sure why I give off that air. Other girls have assumed that I bed anything that shakes their ass in my direction, as if I have no control or I’m some untrained dog that gets rabid at even a whiff of a tit. I haven’t touched a woman since I stepped foot on this campus—save for Autumn. So, I have no clue where this idea comes from. I’ll never be my father.
“I didn’t say I was worried,” she replies. “I don’t even know if I have time for this—whatever this is.”
“Kitten, I’m the easiest person to be around in the whole world. You don’t have to make time for me. I’ll be wherever you are.”
“I need to study, and I have work. I’m not here to hook up with random guys.”
The thought of her hooking up with random guys makes me want to puke. “Yeah, I’m not going to be happy if that happens either. I’ll have to beat that man’s ass, and then someone will report me to the honor’s counsel and then my mom will show up and pay off the school. After that, she’ll give me a sad look and say how I disappointed her, which I don’t want to do, so for my own family harmony, please don’t be chasing after other men.”
Her mouth falls open, and she appears to be at a momentary loss for words. “Good, I see you agree with me. Glad we’re on the same page.” I check the time. “Looks like it’s dinner time. Let’s go eat. I don’t have a campus meal plan, so we’ll go to the hot pot restaurant down the street.”
“I can’t,” she says, but her stomach rumbles.
“Your body disagrees.”
“I have to study.”
“Good thing that this restaurant allows you to bring your books inside. I heard some campus eateries have a book ban.”
“Really? Which ones?”
I stop and pinch her cheek. “Kitten, you are adorable. I was being sarcastic. Even gunners like you have to eat. I’ll order and cook your meat and veggies while you pour over your assignments. After we stuff ourselves full of broth, noodles, and dumplings, we’ll get an order of donut holes to go and head back to my room where I’ll watch The Office on mute and you study. When you’re done studying, I’ll give you a massage. We’ll make out a little and then go to bed.”
“You think you have it all worked out, don’t you? But put yourself in my shoes. I’m a scholarship student. I can barely afford the used books. Let’s say you are being totally sincere, and you are taken with me—which I don’t fully understand—I can’t allow myself to be swept up by you. There’s no guarantee in this life, and you can’t make a promise to me right now, a week after we met. If things were different, maybe I could take a chance with you, but I have too much at stake.” Regret pours out of her, and the sadness in her eyes drives home the realness of her words. She’s not saying this to put me off but because she believes she can’t take a risk on me.
“So, hot pot?”
A small laugh of disbelief spills out of her. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“Autumn, I heard every word, but you still need to eat.” I’m going to have to prove myself to her, in actions and deeds, since words don’t move her. “Let’s go. I’m starving.”
CHAPTER 10
AUTUMN
“You don’t always have to walk me back to my dorm,” I tell Noble. He’s got his arm thrown over my shoulder. He’s always touching me in some way, but it never goes far. A few brushes of his hand here or there.
In fact, he hasn’t kissed me since our one and only kiss over a week ago. It’s irritating me, which I know is irrational considering I’m the one that made it a point to tell him I don’t like to be touched. The only one I should be upset with is myself.
“Yes, I do. It’s night out.”
“When has that made a difference?” I laugh. It could be the middle of the day and he’d insist on walking me back to my dorm. “Besides this place is lit up.” They keep the campus well lit. There is always security walking around too.