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They weren’t right about me being a whore, but they pinned me straightaway as a sinking pit of sand, only capable of dragging him down.
The problem lies with the fact that I’m not strong enough to fully resist him, not when he’s so beautifully unguarded.
My hand slowly reaches out to rest on his back, and he sighs into the contact, slowly lifting his head. Gorgeous eyes focus intently into mine, longing etched into the tiny flecks of gold.
Licking my lips to begin speaking tears his gaze down, and he swallows.
I force the words out, “I…I need to be honest with you. We said it before, but then we acted…completely different. We have to stay friends this time—actually, only friends. No more…kissing friends.”
His eyes flick up to mine, darkening as his cheeks heat.
I push through despite the tingling in my belly. “You might not understand why I want it this way, but I’m confident you will eventually. If you can agree to that…we can try to be friends again.” My voice slightly wavers near the end, but I get it out, releasing a breath.
He waits a few seconds, staring at me. His expression gives nothing away.
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” he finally says, voice a little husky.
I nod. “Our friends are friends, and we never even officially dated so…it shouldn’t be hard for us to re-establish boundaries,” I say with more confidence.
His face is still a blank mask, refusing to reveal his thoughts.
“So…as friends, are we allowed to study…alone…for the test together?”
The test is next Monday, so I guess that’s why he’s asking. His body hasn’t moved an inch the entire conversation. I begin slowly packing away my stuff as the next class starts to filter in.
“Uh, sure, I don’t see why not. Friends can study together,” I respond, trying not to imagine him sitting on my bed and utterly failing. Shirtless study sessions could be a thing…among friends.
He stands up when I do, and we make our way through the opposing sea of people.
“What about…eating together in the cafeteria?” he asks as we emerge from the building.
I wore my skintight high-rise jeans with a fitted red V-neck, but it’s warmer than I anticipated. Texas fall mornings are deceptive.
I smile up at him, which is a bad idea because his mouth parts and he sucks in a little breath.
“If it’s something friends would do, yes, I’m okay with it,” I force out, trying to sound casual.
He only looks ahead, walking alongside me.
“When’s your lunch today?” he asks after a minute of silence.
“My class ends at eleven forty-five, and then I usually meet Kenna at the caf.” I resist tacking on that he’s never there at that time on Mondays.
He squints into the sun. “Okay. Well, I might see you then.”
He struts off without another word, and my heart sinks, only a little.
26
Adam
After canceling my noon appointment, I make my way to the cafeteria. Harley’s insistence on us being “friends” has filled me with a tiny sense of cautious optimism.
I can’t help myself. I meant what I wrote in class—being near her is better than being anywhere else.
Her ruby-red mouth was all I could think about in my last two classes, and the second she comes into view, it’s the first thing I see. My eyes drift over her, taking in her sensual shape and decorative skin. She’s unbelievably alluring in the red on black.
I have to pause and take a steadying breath before resuming my steps toward her, gripping my tray hard enough that it begins to make a creaking sound. She’s seated alone, but I see Kenna near the drink station.
