Read Online Effortless With You by Lizzy Charles - Free Book Online Page A

grab my lunch bag. “So,” Justin chuckles and looks back at me with a smug look on his face. “I learned a lot about you yesterday.”
    “Really?”
    “Oh yes.”
     “Like what?” I want to ignore him but I can’t. I need to know.
    “Well, you have more to say than you let people know. Also, you are not my number-one fan. And you throw a good punch.” He points to his eye. I step close to him, he smells like mountains. I breathe through my mouth. A light crescent bruise rests under his red, broken-vesseled eye. I hadn’t noticed it before because it is easier to find comebacks when I don’t make prolonged eye contact.
    “Sorry.” I apologize before I can think. “You probably deserved it though.” I don’t want him to add the knight-in-shining-armor complex to his ego.
    “Yeah, I’m sure.” I can’t tell if he is being sarcastic or not. Does he actually feel like he deserved it? Because he did.
    He lets his bright green eyes linger on mine. I look away. I'm not falling for that charm. We stand in silence for a moment. He pulls out his phone, returns a text, and checks the time. “Well, I’ve got to get back to the house. Alex hasn’t shut up about you. He thinks this is his fault. He’s dying to find out if you are okay.”
    “He told me to eat and drink from the hose. Not his fault.”
    “Right, that’s what I told him. You’re the one who decided to run a mile and refuse to eat. Smart choices, Zwindler.”
    “Just leave, okay? I already have to deal with you tomorrow.”
    He jumps in the driver’s seat and rolls down the window. “We’ll see if you can handle it.” He winks the eye I punched. I wish I had punched harder. “Lucy,” Justin throws my lunch bag out the window toward me. It lands just short of my feet. “Bring food. Don’t be a liability.” The truck sputters away.

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT

     
     
    Zach smiles when he sees me get out of the car. With his arms wrapped around me, we sway in the parking lot while he talks with Matt, the junior lacrosse captain, about upcoming practices. I love it. Things are simple with Zach. He doesn’t need to say hello or ask how I am. He knows I need him the moment he looks at me. It’s nice to know I'm dating a guy who automatically opens his arms when I need it.
    “Come on, lovebirds.” Marissa tugs on Zach’s arm. “Let’s eat.” Zach un-wraps his arms and takes my hand.
    “Sounds good,” Matt adds quietly. He walks out in front of us, confident in walking alone. Marissa positions herself next to Matt to chat, leaning in toward him and casually bumping him with her arm. She laughs and tosses her hair over her shoulder. Matt smiles back, becoming more and more interested in whatever she is talking about.
    I sigh. I like Matt. He’s in my math class and never asks stupid questions and takes perfectly formatted notes. His kind smile becomes a loose, goofy grin around Marissa. I wish she would have chosen another guy to flirt with. Matt isn’t the type of guy that deserves to be treated like a toy.
    It takes my eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting in Old Minnie after we walk through the door. Deep mahogany booths are the only seating option and in the corner stands a large, carved bar. Off of the dining area are pool tables and old arcade games. Top-40 music covers the constant hum of conversation. It’s the perfect neighborhood bar and grill. Marissa’s choice, of course.
    We all slide into our booth. I grab Zach’s attention, before his teammates can.
    “Zach,” I touch his arm. He puts his hand over mine. “How was practice today?”
    “Awesome, the guys killed the drills. We’re gonna be unstoppable this year. Right?” Zach high-fives Chaz across the table. I re-touch his arm, bringing him back to me.
    “How was your day?” he asks.
    “Honestly? Kind of crappy. You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through.”
    “I bet. Your mom’s a crazy mess. I’m sure you’ve had a hell of a