Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
He follows me with a frown. “I said I’d drive you.”
“I think it would be best if I found my own way home.”
“What? Why?” he asks in outrage.
“We sort of just covered the why. Let’s talk tomorrow and—”
“No.”
I just blink. “Excuse me?”
“No.”
“Yeah, I heard that. I was just wondering if you could expand on the response a little.”
“No to whatever you’re talking about. I’m driving you home after we talk this through. Now.” He stares down his nose at me and holy shit. It’s like he’s handing down the law. The man couldn’t be more of a pompous asshole if he were standing in a palace and wearing a crown.
“We’re pretty much done talking about it. But why is you driving me home such a big deal, Ali?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
“Okay. I, um, I’m tired,” I say. “Good night.”
When I reach for my jacket, however, he grabs hold of it too. And he doesn’t let go. We’re having wrestling competitions over clothing now. Which is a totally normal thing that friends do.
“Leaving during a disagreement is juvenile, Lilah.”
“Or, and hear me out here, it’s a chance for both of us to calm down and rethink things.”
“What we’re going to do,” he says, ignoring me completely, “is go back to the living room, sit down, and work this out like two calm, rational adults. Whatever it is you’re upset about.”
“That would be a no from me. And now would be a great time for you to stop telling me what to do.”
“Then why don’t you try listening?”
“Fuck you, Alistair.”
His brows descend and his gaze goes nuclear. But it’s the way he gets all up in my face that is truly special. “Don’t you dare call me by my full name.”
“I thought you preferred it. I thought me calling you Ali annoyed you. Keep the jacket. Maybe you can return it and get your money back.”
“What’s wrong with us being just friends?” he asks, emphasizing the F word by tossing the offending item of clothing into the corner. “Tell me.”
“Nothing. Not a single thing. If you behaved like just a friend.”
“You’re misreading things. I was only looking out for you. This isn’t to do with that bullshit prediction about us being soulmates, is it?”
“No,” I say, loud and clear. “This is me simply reacting to your behavior.”
“Nothing about you is simple.”
“Straight back at you, buddy.”
I grasp the door handle, but he’s there, pushing against the front door and holding it closed. While kneeing someone in the groin isn’t on the wish list, it would be a daring, new, and interesting experience. I am not ruling it out. Because, boy, is he asking for it right now.
“If this is what you learned at your dancing and deportment classes, something went very wrong somewhere along the way,” I say.
“With all due respect, you’re being fucking unreasonable. You know that, right?”
My laughter is wholly without humor. “I’m the one being unreasonable? Are you serious? You’re not letting me leave, you asshole!”
“Because if you leave when you’re still angry, you might not want to see me again!”
And I have nothing. Nada. Not a damn thing. I stand there and stare at him while he proves my point. Whatever is going on between us is more than just friendship. I have no idea how or when, but feelings have been caught by both sides. It might only be lust. Something we can learn to ignore. But he’s lying when he says it doesn’t exist, and now he knows it too. The evidence is right there on his somewhat startled face.
He hangs his head and stares at the hardwood floor. His shoulders rise and fall and the sides of his chest expand with his breathing. “Say something.”
“I honestly don’t know what to say.”
“Yes, you do.” He stands tall and moves toward me. He takes a step forward and I take a step back. We keep moving like this until I am backed into the closest corner. With a hand to the wall on either side of me, I am caged, and he is right the hell there. Both of us breathing heavier than normal. My heart is beating so hard it’s about to break right out of my chest. Being this pissed off and turned on at the same time is a lot. “Go on.”
“I don’t want to keep arguing with you,” I say. “I also feel like I’ve won, so it’s probably best to quit while I’m ahead.”
“You’ve won, huh?”
I just shrug.
His gaze drops to my mouth and stays there. Is he going to kiss me? I have no idea how we went from arguing to this, but I am not complaining. I lick my lips and his dark gaze tracks the movement. Fuck. This is actually going to happen. But then he takes a step back and my heart sinks to my toes. I am not surprised. Though I am disappointed.