Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
But now, standing outside the classroom, I just want to look normal to the outside world, even though my breath is already coming fast. Oh god, just the thought of seeing Stone again turns me on, and I feel a small smile dancing around my lips as my eyes sparkle. Putting an extra sway into my walk, I sashay into the classroom, my books clutched to my chest. My gaze immediately darts to the teacher’s desk at the back of the room.
But there’s no sign of the big man. Instead, an appreciative whistle greets me.
“Lookin’ good, Evie, lookin’ good,” drawls Chip McCreighton, Spencer Prep’s starting quarterback. Any other girl would have giggled with happiness, ecstatic that the Big Man on Campus is paying her attention, overcome that an alpha male is throwing her compliments. But I feel nothing. Chip is overbuilt, like a gorilla from the jungle, and I’m sure he has been using steroids to get that big. Plus, he’s hopelessly juvenile next to Mr. Phillips. His acne stands out, violently red on his neck, and the blue letter jacket looks immature and boyish.
“Um, hey,” I reply, setting down my books on a desk in the back and frowning. Where is Mr. Phillips? He’s always in the classroom or in his office when I get here; he has another class right before ours. Has he slipped out to use the restroom? Is he catching a break outside somewhere?
But Janice, our TA, waltzes to the front of the room.
“Hey, Chip. Hey, everyone,” she greets sultrily, perching on a stool next to the projector. “I’m in charge today. Mr. Phillips had an emergency and asked me to run through the powerpoint with you.”
I frown. An emergency? Why hadn’t he told me? Oh wait. Maybe he doesn’t have my phone number, so he couldn’t call or text. But still, I’m disappointed and worried. I care about what happens to him, and his not being here is unexpected, and a huge letdown after a weekend of waiting.
So I drag myself through class, barely able to pay attention. I’d been looking forward to seeing Stone and smiling at him, our little secret in the air between us even more charged because of all of the unsuspecting students milling around. And now, to be going through a powerpoint slide by slide, with Janice literally reading the words verbatim, is a huge letdown. My body deflates and I feel lifeless, the energy seeping out of me with every passing minute.
Finally, the bell rings and I get up, gathering my stuff. I’m just about to swing my bookbag over my shoulder when a shadow looms over me.
“Hey, Evie,” growls a deep voice. It’s Chip again, towering over the desk, twice as wide as he should be. The dude works out way too much; he looks more like a bodybuilder than an agile, powerful athlete. But to each his own, so I smile politely.
“Hey, Chip,” I reply neutrally. I don’t think we’ve ever spoken before; in fact, I hadn’t even realized he knew my name until fifty minutes ago. But hey, there are always surprises in life. Besides, I’m distracted thinking about Stone and where he is.
“I was wondering if you wanted to grab a burger after school today?” Chip growls, his eyes eating me up. His gaze doesn’t make me feel like I do when Mr. Phillips eyes me. When Stone stares at me, I immediately heat, feeling wanted, aroused, and so turned on that I’m ready to rip my clothes off at his word. But when Chip does it, it’s just okay. Not terrible, but more like stepping into a pool of cool water when you were already cold. Just okay.
I’m already shaking my head, ready to say no, when I catch a glimpse of Mindy gesturing at me from the corner of my eye. She’s waving frantically while nodding her head up and down, her eyes almost bugging out, mouthing the words “yes, yes.” I frown again. I don’t want to spend time with Chip; he’s nothing compared to Mr. Phillips. I’m already in love, and I’m not going to ‘cheat’ on my lover.
But Mindy’s words ring in my head again: People will see Stone Phillips as a predator preying on a naïve, young girl.
You told him you were in love with him? Oh my god, you’ll come off as so vulnerable.
So, against my better judgment, I nod reluctantly. If this makes people less likely to suspect anything’s going on between me and Mr. Phillips, then I’ll do it. Even if it means suffering through a tortuous fake date.
“Okay, sure,” I say, plastering a smile on my face. It’s literally painful to twist my lips upward when there’s no sign of a matching twinkle in my eyes. But the lug head jock is no good at reading body language. Instead, Chip just laughs, so self-assured, confident that he’s already won me over.