1
Grayson and Paige glared daggers at each
other. Their heated argument was worse than ever and for the last
few weeks they seemed to be escalating. She felt like punching him
in the arm as hard as she could, but lately he’d been painfully
blocking her strikes with his forearm and he was inflicting more
injury than she could deliver. Slowly, she was getting over her old
habit of hitting him with a vicious temper.
“You act like this is all my fault,” he
blared loudly, because they were locked in her dorm room with no
one around. “How was I supposed to know someone from our old school
would see us here together, and tell everyone we were brother and
sister? It wasn’t me who told, and it wasn’t me who decided to see
other people to hide what we’re doing.”
She narrowed her eyes on him even more.
“Yeah, well you sure found Kimmy real fast, you asshole! You were
hanging all over her last night at that frat party.”
“She’s blonde! I hang out with her, and only
her, because you know I don’t like blondes! And I wasn’t all over
her. Leaning in to talk to someone over loud music isn’t doing
anything. I can’t say that about you! That fucker was kissing your
neck all fucking night— right in front of me !”
If Paige wasn’t so upset, she’d have to
suppress a smile. She’d been striving to get Grayson jealous for
weeks. She’d been hoping if she drove him nuts by seeing her with
other men he’d just ask her out already, and they could secretly
date with the security of knowing they’d never cheat. But they had
no such title. Yet he had no problem driving her all around town to
stop in abandoned parking lots or deserted roads late at night so
they could fuck in the bed of his truck. And lately she’d been
thinking that maybe she should have never suggested they pretend to
date other people to save their image. It hurt her to see other
girls flirt with him, and no matter how many times she tried to
think the guys hanging on her were Grayson, they simply weren’t.
But he wasn’t demanding to have her, and she didn’t know what that
meant.
“Don’t look so smug, Paige. This isn’t any
of my idea. You’re the one calling all the shots. I still don’t
have my picture. I don’t have you. What in the fuck are we even
doing because I’m running around in circles trying to figure you
out?”
“I don’t know, Grayson. You tell me! Don’t
pretend you’re not constantly telling me what to do any time we’re
naked, so what’s the difference if my clothes are on?”
“Are…are you saying I can have whatever I
want—whatever it is?” She tilted her head to the side, too annoyed
to answer that question. He knew damn well she was putting him on
the spot, and she never wanted to push him. She wanted him to
choose her willingly, but it was about time he made up his mind
about her. They couldn’t keep fighting as they were or they’d tear
each other apart, or worse, never speak again. “Swear I can have
whatever I want!”
“Yes, just tell me what we’re doing because
I don’t even know anymore. You’re the man. You’re the one who’s
supposed to tell me.”
“Fine!” he growled, but she swore she saw a
fleeting, triumphant smile. “Come over to my dorm tonight. Seven
o’clock. And don’t keep me waiting. You know I hate that.”
“What kind of fucking answer is that? That’s
not even an answer! Shit—this is so complicated. I think we screwed
this up, Gray. I don’t think we can fix this. I don’t know what to
do about us.”
“Let’s not fight then.” He seemed to flip
off his anger like a switch, because his entire body slackened and
he came to her, finally backing away from her dorm door to enter
her room. He quickly put his arms around her, which only confused
her more. He hugged her, and buried his nose in her hair. “You
smell so good. I’d have my way with you here, but I know you’d
never let me.”
“I would if the entire campus didn’t
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