Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Madeline!” he calls after me, and then I hear his long strides, and within a second, he’s next to me. “Stop,” he orders, grabbing my arm gently, keeping in step with me. “Please,” he says, causing me to stop.
“My dad was a mechanic.”
“Fuck me.” He runs a hand down his face; when it falls away, he generally appears regretful. “I was running my mouth because I was pissed about the Joey kid.”
“Kid?” I say in a bark of surprised laughter. “Are you jealous?” I thought he was being his normal asshole self, trying to get under my skin.
“I don’t know what I am, Madeline.”
“Well, thank you for reminding me you’re a giant asshole and I can get over my stupid crush now!” I shout the last part before I try to storm off again. He pulls me back into him, this time with a touch more force. It doesn’t hurt, but it does bring my body flush to him. His warm, earthy scent fills my lungs. It’s manly but not in an overpowering way. It’s perfect. Just like his smile and his handsome face.
“You have a crush?” I open my mouth to scold him again, but his expression has softened, and I see a peek into another side of him. It’s more open and, dare I say, vulnerable? “Shit, sorry.” When his face starts to morph into panic, I melt. How can I be such a sucker?
“You ever said sorry before?”
Luke relaxes marginally. “I can’t recall offhand.”
“All right, then try again.”
“Yes, I was jealous, and it pissed me off.”
“Anger is an emotion.”
“You’re telling me to calm down?”
A small laugh leaves me. “Suppose I am. Why don’t you calm down and then come talk when you’re not still pissed at me.”
“Pissed at you?” His brows rise. Well, crap. I’m pissed at him because I get jealous when I hear about him with other girls. I need to refine my projection.
“You’re not?”
“You’re a brat, but I’m not pissed at you,” he admits.
“Is this your apology? Calling me a brat? Cause I gotta be honest, it kinda sucks and needs some work.”
“You’ve called me shit a million times worse.”
“Oh, it gets worse. Imagine what I say when you’re not around.” I’m teasing. I’ll say it to his face too. “But,” I start again before he can, “the rules are different for you and me.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep.”
“Do I get to make up rules too then?”
“You don’t have that privilege; now unhand me, you brute. People are watching.” I’m not pissing off the other students. In fact, they appear shocked at our interaction.
“Let them; I don’t give a fuck.” Luke doesn’t take his eyes off me to even glance at who might be around. I’m his sole focus.
“I do.”
“Didn’t take you as the type of girl who cares what others think.” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“I do care. It’s just that care is selective.”
“And you think those selective people would judge you?”
“Well, I don’t want the boys around here to think I’m a puck bunny.” Luke has a reputation, and his sudden attention toward me is going to garner a lot of unwanted attention from the wrong people.
“They won’t,” he says with a strong finality.
“And Georgia.”
“She’ll care?” I’m still pressed flush against him, and the more I settle into him, the more I start to become aware of my rising arousal. Luke’s is already fully there, going off the hardness pressed into my stomach.
“Can we step back?” I try to wiggle away, and a small groan leaves him, making me freeze. A flush rushes to my face, and my cheeks start to warm. Great; of all the times to blush, this isn’t one of them. Not that it is controllable. But still.
Luke sucks in and releases an audible breath. “Answer the question and I’ll let go.”
“My best friend doesn’t like you. Therefore, I don’t like you.” I shrug my shoulders. It’s as simple as that. Mess with my best friend and you’re basically my enemy for life.
“You have a crush on me.”
“I’ve got a crush on Loki, but I’m not pursuing that either.”
“Loki? Interesting.”
“Now, are you going to release your hold on me?”
“No.” It tightens a fraction. What is happening here?
“Did you forget your meds today?” He’s giving me whiplash, but I suppose I’m not much better. We’re both all over the place when it comes to interacting with one another.
“I’m really starting to believe I might need some.” His face is so serious I burst into laughter because I don’t know if he’s joking or not. “Glad you think it’s funny,” he grumbles in an almost pouty way.
“But jokes aside—”
“Haven’t been joking,” he mutters, but I ignore him and keep going.
“I’m deadass serious about Georgia. She’s been my friend for years, and I know how all of you have treated her.”
“What did I do?”