Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 85453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Completely missing the man he barged out of his way to get to me, he glides his hand across the sweaty men I mentioned earlier.
Men… such a weird word for stinky beasts who go through women like wet towelettes at a chicken wing stand.
“If you want any of them, I can hook you up.” His nose screws up as his eyes drift to a blond in the middle of the group. “Except Ben. He’s not into blondes.” I’m about to tell him I’m more a mousy brown than blonde, but he keeps talking, “And Matt is a little rough. Some girls are down with it, but you don’t seem the type.”
I stand straighter for the second time when he snaps his eyes to mine before he drags them down my body in a long, heart-stopping gawk.
Since I am a good foot and a half shorter than him, his perusal doesn’t take long. However, it piques my interest. His shrug isn’t a firm affirmation of his assumption. It appears more a maybe, like he thinks I might be into rough sex. But once again, he continues speaking, foiling my ability to tell him I have no clue about any sexual preferences that don’t include Gabriel Sutton. “Jeffrey could be a stayer. He’s smart, comes from old money, and from what I overheard the cheerleaders saying, he won’t keep you up past your bedtime.”
His chuckles hide my shocked huff. “You’re disgusting.”
I consider booking a set of my own head examinations when he mutters, “And completely off the mark, aren’t I?”
Since he appears more interested in my reply than badgering me more, I answer him with a quick head bob.
He looks on the verge of being sick while saying, “So that only leaves one man standing. Gabriel Sutton.”
I swear, my sway is the equivalent of a faint summer breeze ruffling through a heavy set of steel doors, but Milo hones straight onto it. “Out of all the men at South Harmon, why Gabriel Sutton?” There’s no missing his gag this time around.
“He’s…” I take a moment to ponder Gabriel’s many talents.
Milo uses the delay to his advantage. “A complete douche canoe who’s only interested in taken girls.”
“What? No. He isn’t like that. He’s sweet, attentive, and—”
“Has no clue you have a raging lady boner for him.” He ignores my repulsed expression. “Because you’re too attainable to him. Men like to be challenged. We’re natural competitors. If we weren’t, we’d returned the kissy faces of the girls who arrive at every game, training session, and pep rally without fail.” His last words are more a chuckle than a statement, but I still hear them. “The girls who hide out in the PA room just to hear you sing.”
Almost every one of his perfectly white teeth is exposed when he grins instead of grimacing about my punch to his stomach. “Gabriel has a nice voice that should be cherished.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t.” He waits a beat before adding, “But either way, he’ll never be interested in you without my help.”
I should end our conversation now. I should walk away before I find out just how vicious bullies are, but for some stupid reason, I wait with bated breath for Milo to continue.
Thankfully, he doesn’t leave me hanging for long. “Tutor me—”
“I’m not part of the mentorship program.”
He continues talking as if I never interrupted him, “Then I’ll help you gain Gabe’s attention.” He grinds his name out through clenched teeth.
Although I’m facing my own lot of splatters, I manage to blurt out through the carnage, “How could you help me get his attention?”
My spit snags halfway down my throat when he says matter-of-factly. “We will pretend to date.” I don’t get time to recover from my near-death experience. “All men want what they can’t have. If you’re with me, he can’t have you, which will only make him want you more.” I remember that I’m speaking with the king of all jocks when he says, “Not to mention the fact being a part of my inner circle automatically upgrades your cred.”
“My cred is perfectly fine, thank you very much.” I don’t know what a cred is, but I’m reasonably sure I have it. I planned my first year of college down to the wire. I have all the lingo down pat—except cred. “So I don’t need your help.”
I sound more confident than I feel. Most likely because Milo doesn’t attempt to refute my claim. He lets me leave with only the slightest increase in my pulse, and that has more to do with his devilish smile than worry I won’t see my plan through.
I’m left no choice but to show Milo how stubborn I can be when my dramatic exit has me smacking nose-first into the very man we were just discussing.
“Gabriel… I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”