Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
His grin is a full-on smile now. “Hey, just make sure there’s a lot of people around when you go in for the kill, okay? Street cred and all.”
I hum, raising a brow. “I’ll make sure it’s cold out.”
His mouth drops open in horror, and I laugh, bumping my shoulder into his arm for the sake of doing it, and head into the coffee shop without him.
He can order his own damn protein muffin.
I’ve been in line for about five minutes when my name is called out by the barista, and I look over to see who shares a name with me, only to find Brady smiling my way as he walks by. He picks up a drink that looks suspiciously like my order with one hand, and he brings a giant chocolate muffin to his mouth with his other.
Eyes on mine, he bites into it obnoxiously, and I scoff, tearing out of the line and snatching my drink from his grasp. He laughs around his mouthful, kissing my temple and making me cringe when warm chocolate is left behind.
“You little shithead!” I laugh, pushing him away. “And you could have told me you ordered for me already…before I came in and waited in line for no reason.”
“Meh, that takes the fun out of it.”
“Well, you’re forgiven, and thank you. I’ll Apple Pay the money over later.”
“I’ll just send it right back.”
True.
I’ll make sure to tie us up next time there’s a chance.
“Ready for the first quiz today?” he asks.
“Ready as I can be.” I nod, smiling over at him. “Thanks again for studying with me last week.”
“Always. Now come on. We’ve got A’s to earn.”
“I like asses to kick better.”
Brady chuckles and into the building we go, ready to make the first quiz of the year our bitch.
“God, that woman is such a bitch.” I shove the door open, stomping out into the sun and tipping my head back. Maybe I suddenly turned into a vampire, and it will turn me to ash so I never have to go back into that damn class again.
My brow furrows.
My luck, I’ll become a vampire and fucking glitter in the sun.
Brady chuckles, and when I hear him move past me, I open my eyes and fall in step beside him. “Your phone went off during the quiz,” he says.
“It happens.” I shrug.
“Three times.”
“Not my fault. I didn’t text myself.”
He glances my way, brow raised. “After you told her you turned it off.”
I growl, crossing my arms. “Whose side are you even on?”
He only laughs harder, checking the time on his screen. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the child development center on my way out.”
“I can’t believe you’re already done with classes for the day.”
“That’s what happens when you can function like a real human and take early classes.”
“Sounds like a drag.”
He shakes his head, lips tipped up. “So who was texting you anyway?”
My eyes snap his way, and I pinch my mouth to the side, facing forward once more. I walk several feet before I realize he stopped, and I’m too chicken to turn all the way around, so I peek over my shoulder instead.
“Cameron,” he drawls.
I smile, wide and fake. The man can’t stand lies, even tiny ones that don’t affect him, and I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about him that refuses to allow me to even try.
It’s how the boys always knew what party to burst into when we were growing up—neither me nor Ari could lie to the man. And well, even if we tried, he’d see right through us midattempt, and we’d fold like origami.
“Is that asshole seriously still bothering you?” He starts walking again and I loop my arm in his, dragging him along the path.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. You told him to leave you alone. We fucking told him to leave you alone when he decided not to do what you asked.” Brady shakes his head, glaring at nothing ahead.
“Brady.” I give him a little jiggle. “Stop thinking of ways you’re going to deal with this.”
He grins. “But there’re just so many good ones to choose from.”
I laugh at that but pull him to a stop a few feet from the student entrance. “For reals. Freshman season, things were fucked with the Chase drama. Sophomore season, Mason was a walking zombie when Payton wasn’t around. It’s our junior year, your third season on the university football field. I don’t want you guys to have any bullshit to stress over where I’m concerned.”
“Baby girl, don’t make me tackle you right here.” He glares.
I chuckle. “All I’m saying is you don’t have to go all alpha for me. None of you boys do. I can handle a groveling flirt with my eyes closed.”
Brady cocks his head, eyes narrowing in that gauging way of his, and I realize what I said. “Wait. Are you… Do you like that he’s still trying?”