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)
“Okay, I believe you.” His shoulders relax, and I realize that it bothered him that I believed those things.
“Good. Since we’re together, I can’t have you thinking I’m taking bets on fucking chicks. Like I said, I’m an asshole, but I’m not a cheater.”
“Have you ever had a girlfriend to cheat on?” I toss back. My curiosity gets the best of me.
“Nope.” He smirks. “You’re special, Buttercup.”
“Shut up.” I laugh, but I can’t deny the relief that his answer brings me.
“But seriously, we have to present as a couple after everything that happened tonight. In case Lana does run her mouth.” Shit, he has a point.
“All right, but I too have never had a boyfriend, so this is new-ish to me too.” I’m not sure about all the ins and outs of being exclusive with someone. Sure, I’ve seen it. I’m sure I can wing it.
“What about Nick?” He keeps bringing him up. It’s kind of adorable.
“That wasn’t a boyfriend. Just a couple of dates.”
“More than I’ve ever done!” he tosses back.
“You know that only makes it worse. You didn’t even go on dates, just random hookups.” My stomach sours at the thought.
“Hate to burst your bubble, Buttercup, but I’ve never hooked up with anyone.” I open and then close my mouth. He lets out a low chuckle. “Glad I can still surprise you.”
“Yeah,” I agree, my insides screaming with happiness.
“So we’re each other’s first.” Oh, shit. He put words to what I was thinking.
“It’s fake,” I remind him.
“Oh, I promise you won’t be faking with me.”
“Oh my God.” I can’t help but laugh.
The knock comes sharp and sudden, three raps that make me jump.
Luke’s jaw tightens. He doesn’t move from where he’s standing, blocking the space between me and the door.
“Luke.” Bennett’s voice is muffled through the wood, controlled but edged with a hint of something else I can’t decipher. “I need to talk to you.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
Luke looks at me, and I see the calculation in his eyes. How much does Bennett know? How much can he guess? What story are we supposed to be telling?
“Stay here,” Luke says quietly. “Don’t say anything.”
He crosses to the door, unlocks it, and opens it just wide enough to block the view of me with his body. “What?”
I can’t see Bennett, but I can hear him. “The officer left. He wants us to call if we remember anything about Coach Murphy being at the game last night.”
“Okay.”
“And Luke?” A pause. “She’s Paislee’s sister.” What does that mean?
Luke doesn’t flinch. “So?”
“So I did her sister a favor getting her into this school.” Bennett’s voice drops lower, almost a warning. “I didn’t do it so you could fuck around with her.”
“Noted.”
“Don’t be an asshole. This is serious.” Bennett’s tone shifts, something almost pleading underneath the authority. “I let a lot go, but on this…”
“Got it,” Luke clips back, cutting him off from saying more.
The door closes. Luke stands there for a moment, his back to me, his shoulders tight.
“What was that?”
Luke turns around. “He thinks I’m going to ruin his chances with your sister.” I knew it! Bennett is into my sister.
My phone buzzes against my leg, making me jump. I’m still on edge. Georgia’s name lights up the screen.
I answer before it can ring twice. “Hey.”
“Are you okay? Are the cops still there?” Her voice is pitched high, worried. “Did you guys get arrested?”
“We’re fine.” I pause, looking at him. He’s watching me, arms crossed, trying to look casual like he’s not hanging on every word. “I think we’re going to call it a night. I’ll be back to the dorm in a little.”
“You’re not staying there?”
“Georgia.” I lower my voice, turning slightly away. I can’t believe she said that! Why would she even think that? “We’ll talk when I get back.”
She huffs but relents. “Fine. But if you’re not here in thirty minutes, I’m calling the cops.” Ah, she’s still on edge too.
“Deal.” I hang up and look at Luke. He’s already grabbing his keys from the desk. “I’ll drive you.”
“You don’t have to.” It’s not a long walk from the dean’s home to the girls’ dorms.
“I do.” He meets my eyes, and I see he doesn’t want to let me out of his sight. “I’m your man. Remember?”
“Right.” I shake my head at him, but why does it sound good when he says he’s my man?
We don’t talk on the short drive. The radio plays low, some alternative song I don’t recognize. Luke pulls up to my dorm and kills the engine.
“Madeline.”
“Yeah?”
“Tomorrow. We figure this out. Together.” There is a warning there, but I’m freaking out about all this, and I’m more than okay with us doing this together. In fact, I don’t know if I could do it without him.
“Together,” I hear myself say.
He smiles, small and real. “Goodnight, Madeline.”
“Goodnight, Luke.”
I climb out and force myself not to look back. But I feel him watching me until I’m inside. I know it’s the last thing I should be doing with everything that’s happened, but I can’t help the smile that overtakes my face.