Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“For tech, though, right?”
He nods. “Yeah. He works with coders and teaches them how to become video game developers.”
“That’s amazing,” I mutter. “Now, I see where you get it from.”
“He wants me to make a choice,” Jamie confesses. “Between hockey and his company.” He peeks over at his friends who are talking amongst themselves at the kitchen table. “But I haven’t decided.”
“They don’t know,” I say in a hushed tone. “Do they?”
“Only Preston does,” he admits. Jamie bites the inside of his cheek, torn between both sides of his life. “It’s complicated.”
“Sounds like it.” I lift a heavy tray filled with French toast and hand it to Jamie. “You ready to eat?”
He pats his stomach and then takes the tray with a smile. “I can always eat.”
After we finish, Jamie orders his friends to clean up the mess and then runs upstairs to grab our bags. I meet him at the front door, holding it open with my back for him to pass through.
He extends his hand to me, shifting the weight of our backpacks over his right shoulder. “Can I walk you to class?”
My heart melts from the boyish look on his handsome face. “I’ll allow it,” I joke, slipping my fingers between his.
He laughs, squeezing my hand as we walk down the street. “Thanks for making breakfast for everyone.”
“No problem.” I shrug. “I was up early and needed something to do until class starts.”
“I’m afraid they’ll get used to it and expect you to cook for them every time they see you. None of them can take care of themselves. Well, Preston can…”
“If I’m cooking for you and there’s enough food for everyone, I don’t mind.”
“You really don’t have to do that for me,” he says, his tone serious. “I appreciate it, Shan, but I don’t want you to feel taken advantage of.”
“I never do things I don’t want to do.”
“Okay.” He sighs. “I expect nothing from you. I don’t want to ruin what we have.”
I glance over at him and smile. “Me either. I like you, Jamie. I always thought of you as a friend.”
He cocks his head in my direction, one eyebrow raised. “And now?”
“Definitely more than a friend. There’s no going back now.”
Jamie winks.
We walk the rest of the way to Penn Hall in silence, dodging students crowding the walkways as we pass.
“Am I going to see you this weekend?” I ask when we stop in front of my building.
He looks confused at first until it dawns on him. “The dance thing. Yeah, I’ll be there. Is it okay if I bring some of my teammates? I invited a few of them already.”
“Invite whoever you want. We need as many votes as we can get to win.”
Jamie hooks his arm around my back and gives me a one-arm hug, kissing my forehead. “I have a lot going on today and tomorrow with school and hockey, but I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to watch you dance.” A smirk turns up the right side of his mouth. “Especially after getting a preview of your moves last night.”
“Typical man,” I quip. “Always thinking with the wrong head.”
He snickers, releasing me from his grasp. “I had fun last night. We should do it again.”
“Yeah, we should.”
“I’ll text you later. Okay?”
I nod. “More than okay.”
Jamie’s smile mirrors mine, and as I watch him walk away, my heart slams into my chest. So many feelings hit me at once. Going from friends to lovers almost overnight is kind of overwhelming. And the problem with having sex with your friend? You have a lot more to lose if it doesn’t work out.
Chapter Nine
Shannon
I meet Jamie in the parking lot at The Sixth Floor. He’s out front with Preston, Tucker, Drake, and Trent waiting for Bex Bryant and Taylor Bradshaw. I’ve heard of the girls in passing but have yet to meet them. Bex lost a bet to Preston earlier. Her dare was to dance in the competition.
A few of my sorority sisters ate some bad Chinese food and have been in the bathroom all day, so Bex and Taylor are doing us a huge favor. Abby was having a stroke earlier over our sisters missing the contest. She had everyone in our chapter house panicked. When I told Jamie through text, he offered me a solution.
“Shannon.” Jamie taps me on the shoulder to catch my attention and then points at two unusually tall girls who are approaching us. One with long blonde hair stands next to Preston, the other of equal height with brown hair at her side. “This is Bex.” Jamie points to the blonde. “And her friend, Taylor. They’re the girls I told you about.”
“Oh, hey.” I close the distance between us, greeting them with a friendly smile. “You two are such lifesavers.”
“I don’t know how to dance,” Bex admits.
“Yes, you do.” Taylor smacks her arm. “Bex is being modest.”