Total pages in book: 238
Estimated words: 231781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1159(@200wpm)___ 927(@250wpm)___ 773(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1159(@200wpm)___ 927(@250wpm)___ 773(@300wpm)
I mean, he was a jock.
I felt him shake with a laugh next to me.
He typed, letters flashing on his screen. “I take you home, or I take you in my lap right here. Decide.”
I ground my teeth together.
Everyone would see that. If my brother heard about it, I’d…
Jesus.
Damon leaned up from behind us, squeezing Will’s shoulders and talking in his ear. Will laughed at whatever he said, no one the wiser.
My phone beeped again. “Almost there,” he warned.
I shook my head. “People will see,” I typed out.
“Then make sure they don’t.”
He pulled the hoodie off us and slipped it over his head, covering his white, sleeveless T-shirt and his tan, toned, beautiful arms that always made my mouth hang open like an imbecile.
We entered Thunder Bay, heading back to our campus where everyone would pick up their cars and head to parties, but I’d be walking and heading straight home, as always.
I stared out the window, seeing the village breeze past, the twinkle lights of the park, and my neighborhood before we got up into the cliffs where Will and the wealthy resided. Part of me wanted it. Part of me loved how good his attention felt, because he was cocky and confident and good-looking and smooth. He was popular, looked great in everything he wore, and I liked his smile.
He was untouchable, and he wanted to touch me.
Tonight, anyway.
My eyes dropped to my lap. Even if I wanted to, though, my brother would never tolerate it.
The phone vibrated in my hand once, and then again and again, but I just bobbed my head to the music like I didn’t notice. The school came into view, and liquid heat rushed my chest, but I ignored it. I was almost out of here, and he could spend the rest of the night taking whomever he wanted home, for all I cared.
We were nothing.
Another text came in, and I finally looked.
“When the bus stops, get in my fucking truck.”
I breathed out a bitter laugh. Aw, someone’s lost his temper.
“Why?” I asked.
And the next thing I know, the bus stopped, he yanked the earbuds out of my ears, and I sucked in a breath as he leaned into my face.
“Because you’re mine,” he growled in a whisper.
And all at once, the Horsemen rose from their seats, grabbed their bags, and charged down the aisle, leaving the bus first.
My heart hammered. What the—
Seriously.
Because you’re mine. I ignored the flutter in my chest as I grabbed my bag and fumbled for my dangling earbuds.
I mean, for Christ’s sake. What was his deal? Was I on some scavenger hunt he was doing or something? Nail the Nerd?
I rose with everyone else and stepped into the aisle, getting ready to leave the bus.
I’m not yours, Will Grayson.
And I’ll walk, thanks.
The bus emptied, engines out in the parking lot already firing up and headlights glowing in the night. I walked to the undercarriage to see if anyone needed help with their equipment, but it was empty already, the band and players quickly clearing out.
I turned to bolt and make my escape before he saw me, but Elle clasped my hand.
“We’re getting a ride home,” she said.
“Huh?”
“Will,” Elle explained, pulling me along. “He’s taking us home.”
“Um, no.” I yanked my hand away. “He’s not.”
“You don’t want me riding alone with him, do you?” She planted her hands on her hips. “A mature guy, used to getting what he wants?”
“Then you shouldn’t have agreed to it.”
Pivoting back around, I headed toward the gates to go home.
“But tomorrow I can say I rode in his truck,” she whined, jogging up to the side of me.
So? “No.”
He was only offering to give her a ride because it included me. It would only encourage him.
Elle fell back, and I kept walking.
“It’s nice to be nice, Emmy,” she called after me. “Please?”
I slowed, her pathetic whine making me feel guilty. I stopped and rolled my eyes, sighing. Him giving her a ride would make her year.
And who was I kidding? He wasn’t going to give up if I refused a ride tonight. The creepy-stalker-weirdo would follow me in that damn truck. Right up to my front door.
I turned around, seeing her already heading back into the parking lot, a morose slump to her shoulders.
“Wait,” I bit out.
She spun around, smiling ear to ear.
I joined her again, and we both walked over to Will’s truck, still parked.
“You’re sitting up front,” she told me. “My house is first.”
Huh—?
But she shoved me at the door of the huge, black Ford Raptor and pulled open the back door, climbing into the truck before I could utter an argument.
Seriously?
I yanked open the door and stepped up into the truck, ignoring Will’s eyes as I plopped my ass down and slammed the door.
But just then, the back door opened again, and I shot a glance over my shoulder, watching Elle quickly exit the truck again and close the door.