Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“An asshat with a stupid Rolex,” she says, her voice gathering strength. “And that Porsche he bought—trust me, he is totally compensating.”
I smile. This is the closest we’ve ever come to having a real conversation.
I stand. “We can sit here and cry or…” I nod toward the door. “Suck it up and get to work. Keri looks like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, and odds are she’s planning on making SpongeBob SquarePants the theme of this party.”
Margo’s brows hit the roof. “Indeed.”
Of course, I’m exaggerating, but if that’s what it takes to get her claws back out…
I look at my nails. “Hmmm. Sometimes those pledges need to see who’s boss. This might be one of those times.”
She straightens her shoulders. “They have no idea what kind of hissy fit I can throw.”
Amen, sister.
She stands and we walk out of the room together.
We aren’t exactly friends, but my gut says we definitely aren’t enemies either.
Penelope
The following week, I’m late for the library as usual and practically running as I juggle my backpack and a few extra books. I’ve just turned the corner around a big oak tree when I run into Ryker. We’ve seen each other in class this week, but either Connor has been talking to me or Ryker’s been surrounded by other players or jersey chasers. Sure, I could bust through the crowd and talk to him, but my heart knows the truth: we’re avoiding each other since his visit to my house.
We collide and several of my books fall to the ground.
Great. I inwardly groan at my penchant for always looking my worst—in other words, a shirt that says Mother of Dragons, orange skinny jeans with holes in them, and a pair of leopard flats. At least I have lipstick and mascara on and my hair is down and tame for once.
“Whoa!” he says as we stumble back, and he reaches out to steady me. “Slow down.”
“Sorry,” I murmur as I bend down to pick up the books.
He leans down to help, holding one of them up as he pops an eyebrow at me. “Dark Lover by JR Ward? Now that sounds like a literary gem.” He turns it over and skims the back.
“It is.”
He flips it over and studies the shirtless guy on the front. “I’ve got him beat, Red.”
I take it out of his hands. “This happens to be a fantastic series. You might even like it. Lots of blood and gore and fangs.” I smile.
“Really?” He stands as I do, helping me up as I open my backpack and cram the books inside. He shrugs nonchalantly and looks off in the distance. “I meant to ask you—how did the pool date go? Wasn’t it supposed to be this week?”
“It’s been delayed. We’re going out soon.” I managed to put Connor off for a while with the excuse that I had to work.
He sticks his hands in his pockets. “So you didn’t go out with him yet? Interesting.”
I shrug, playing it off. “Well, you never showed me how to play pool.”
“Oh,” he says, a thoughtful look on his face. “I can do that. How about tonight?”
Excitement curls at the thought of him leaning over me and showing me how to hit a cue ball.
But…
I point to myself. “Distraction, remember?”
He exhales, his gaze intense. “We haven’t hung out in a while. Or talked. If you can handle the proximity, I can.”
I mull it over. I don’t have to work, and Charisma already mentioned she has plans to go to a Tau party tonight.
“There’s a Tau party, but I’m not really in the mood to go,” he adds.
“Okay,” I say, coming to a decision without really thinking it through.
He smiles and we begin to walk. “Where are you headed?”
“Library. I do a study group there when needed.”
“Oh?”
I nod. “Usually for lower level geometry classes.”
“You’re some kind of genius, aren’t you?”
I grin. “Your GPA isn’t too shabby either.”
“How do you know?”
I roll my eyes. “I did my research, quarterback. Also, you’re in an upper level math class when your major is psychology, so you must like numbers. Am I right?”
A dimple pops out. “Maybe I took it because I knew it was likely you’d be in there.”
I laugh as we walk across the quad. “You’re such a liar.”
“Well, then I guess it was fate that we both ended up in it. I’m shocked we never had a class together before. I wonder if we would have been friends sooner.” He gets a contemplative expression on his face and halts.
I stop with him. “What?”
He shakes his head. “I just realized we might not have met if I hadn’t been part of the scandal last year.” His eyes find mine. “You wouldn’t have written your editorial, and Archer never would have bet me I couldn’t get you to go out with me. You never would have dumped water on me.” He laughs. “Crazy, right, that something good came out of it?”