Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
I leave her standing on the stairs and jog to catch up with Red. “Babe, you left me hanging back there. I know you’re new to this, but since we’re a couple now, we have to stick together.”
“I’m just a girl, Van. I don’t know how to fight.” She bats her eyelashes at me.
I’m momentarily silenced because I’ve never been this close to Red, and I’m just now realizing her green eyes aren’t actually just green but like a whole kaleidoscope of colors with some gold and flecks of dark blue and about a thousand shades of green. They sparkle like they’re lit up from the inside. I run my tongue along my lower lip and think about what it would be like to be inside of her, having her light me up.
“Um, Van, you need to stop that.” Her hands come up to my chest.
I inhale and take a step closer. “Why?”
“Because we’re standing in the middle of school and the bell is about to ring and—”
A shrill sound echoes through the hall. Red’s shoulders collapse in relief. “Thank God. Literally saved by the bell.” She backs away and then turns and actually sprints toward her first class.
I let my backpack drop in front of me and count backwards until my hard-on subsides. My quarterback, Roman Park, stops by my side. “You okay, Van?”
I nod. “Yeah, just thinking about how I should’ve run a little harder in practice today.” And maybe then I wouldn’t be popping woodies in school.
“Hope you’re not thinking about girls. We’re on a no-nut November.”
“It’s October.”
“Pretend it’s November.”
The hell I will.
Chapter
Five
FLEUR
Loyal. The word bounces around in my head through my whole first class. I suppose Van would be the loyal type. It goes right along with his personality. I just didn’t think annoying would be a part of it too. Adorably annoying.
No, it’s not adorable, it's only annoying. I have to remember that. Van isn’t for me, and anyone with half a brain cell would know that he and I together is laughable. Because while he’s loyal, I’m… my mind blanks for a moment. I don’t think sneaky and loyal go together at all. We are opposites in so many senses.
Van is willing to give up all women to protect Sadie. I don’t know why it stung when he reminded me that our relationship was only for show and to protect another girl. Even if that girl is Sadie. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Sadie, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling a tiny bit jealous. I know it’s ridiculous, but I can’t help it. I’m starting to understand why Dunc doesn’t care for Van. It has to be off-putting that another man would do anything for the woman you’re in love with, and yes, Dunc is definitely in love. It’s the only way to explain his stupid out-of-character behavior.
I mean, I get it. Sadie is the type I could see All-American Van ending up with. They fit. She is adorable, the girl next door, and for sure loyal. I don’t think a person has ever been loyal to me in my life. Everyone, even my mom, is often after something. Everything is an exchange. The world has taught me that. That also applies to Van. He needs something from me. I should be used to it, but for some reason, it stings a little extra with him.
I dip out a few minutes early, having a feeling that if I don’t, Van will find me. Mr. Tananger doesn’t say anything when I enter the media room and make my way over to my desk. I get a bit of a free pass around the school being president of the newspaper. The teachers often think I’m off to go do something related to it when I leave a class early or arrive late. I use that to my advantage whenever I can.
I grab my glasses out of my bag before I pull up my emails and start to go over some of the articles a few other students have sent me for the next update for the blog. The bell rings, but I ignore it until I hear a familiar giggle. I glance up to see Dunc, Van, and Sadie walking into the media room.
Sadie gives me a bright smile, making her way over toward me. I immediately feel guilty for my earlier thoughts.
“Red, you didn’t wait for me?” Van dips around Sadie, getting in front of her to get to my desk first.
“Red?” Sadie asks. Dunc places her bag on the ground next to the desk Sadie has been using. I’m used to Dunc walking her here, but I didn’t think Van knew where the media room was.
“He’s super original.” I blow one of my annoying curls out of my face.
“Someone else call you Red?” He folds his arms over his chest. I hate when he does that. It takes everything I have in me not to stare at his biceps.