Read Online When You're Ready by Britni Danielle - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Britni Danielle
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with the intimate gesture. Instead, I covered his hand with mine.
We drove along the streets in comfortable silence. After talking so much throughout the afternoon about our lives—well, my life —the quiet trip home didn’t seem weird or awkward. To my surprise, I was completely at ease with Scout and didn’t feel compelled to fill the silence with meaningless chatter.
The afternoon had been amazing and made up for my shitty encounter with Professor St. James. Strolling through the Getty holding Scout’s hand felt so good and I was sad it had to come to an end.
It would be easy to fall for Scout. I could already picture us spending the weekend curled up on my couch watching movies, or having a picnic in Griffith Park, or making him breakfast, or letting him touch me in places I’d only dreamt about.
I was obsessed with rom-coms and I wanted so badly to fall head over heels into my forever, but I knew all-consuming, long-lasting love stories only happened in movies. That wasn’t real life.
In real life people died and left you alone, or ran off after they were through loving you. And no matter how sexy or wonderful or great Scout was to be around, sooner or later he would get tired of having me around and move onto the next woman who’d be more than willing to take my place. As much as I liked Scout, I wasn’t about to sit back and let that happen to me.
I looked out the window and sighed as Scout pulled up in front of my building. He was the most amazing guy I’d ever met, but we would just have to be friends. I couldn’t risk anything more. I’d seen what love had done to my mother; it ruined her life. I reminded myself that I couldn’t love a man the way she loved my father—no matter what.
Scout put the car in park and I knew I had to get out of there before he touched something other than my knee.
“Thanks for the ride, Scout.” I leaned over and quickly kissed him on the cheek, feeling the stubble on his face tickle my skin. “And thanks for everything.” Before he could say anything I bolted out of the door and swiftly walked up the stairs to my apartment. When I got inside I had two text messages on my phone.
Scout: Thanks for an AMAZING day!
Scout: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, beautiful.
A warm smile began deep in my chest and spread throughout my body. Even though I’d left him less than a minute before, I already missed being with Scout. I hit reply and hastily typed before I even had time to change my mind.
Nola: Me too :)
Nola: Drive safely, k?
Scout: I’ll even go the speed limit if it means I get to see you again.
Nola: Have a good night, Scout.
Scout: You too, baby. Sweet dreams.
I moved around my apartment picking up the clothes, books, and dishes that were scattered around my living room trying to shake Scout from my mind. But every few minutes I’d look at my phone, reread his messages, and get lost in thoughts of him again.
For the first time in a while, I didn’t grumble about cleaning up my place, I smiled, remembering how gorgeous Scout looked when I first saw him standing in front of the elevator waiting for me and how my stomach flooded with butterflies when he first touched my hand.
Shit . Keeping Scout at arm’s length was going to be more difficult than I thought.
8 Nola
Professor St. James’ office felt like an overstuffed box with stacks of books, DVDs, and gigantic posters of Ms. Magazine covers lining the walls. I sat in a hard wooden chair across from what had to be the scariest woman on Earth as she held up a finger instructing me to wait while she talked on the phone.
I showed up at Professor St. James’ door promptly at five p.m., not a moment before or after, to try to convince her to let me rewrite my paper for a higher grade. I hated having to rely on anyone or ask for favors, but I was prepared to beg Professor St. James for another chance if I had to.
I watched her fiery red hair flutter about her shoulders as she laughed—
We drove along the streets in comfortable silence. After talking so much throughout the afternoon about our lives—well, my life —the quiet trip home didn’t seem weird or awkward. To my surprise, I was completely at ease with Scout and didn’t feel compelled to fill the silence with meaningless chatter.
The afternoon had been amazing and made up for my shitty encounter with Professor St. James. Strolling through the Getty holding Scout’s hand felt so good and I was sad it had to come to an end.
It would be easy to fall for Scout. I could already picture us spending the weekend curled up on my couch watching movies, or having a picnic in Griffith Park, or making him breakfast, or letting him touch me in places I’d only dreamt about.
I was obsessed with rom-coms and I wanted so badly to fall head over heels into my forever, but I knew all-consuming, long-lasting love stories only happened in movies. That wasn’t real life.
In real life people died and left you alone, or ran off after they were through loving you. And no matter how sexy or wonderful or great Scout was to be around, sooner or later he would get tired of having me around and move onto the next woman who’d be more than willing to take my place. As much as I liked Scout, I wasn’t about to sit back and let that happen to me.
I looked out the window and sighed as Scout pulled up in front of my building. He was the most amazing guy I’d ever met, but we would just have to be friends. I couldn’t risk anything more. I’d seen what love had done to my mother; it ruined her life. I reminded myself that I couldn’t love a man the way she loved my father—no matter what.
Scout put the car in park and I knew I had to get out of there before he touched something other than my knee.
“Thanks for the ride, Scout.” I leaned over and quickly kissed him on the cheek, feeling the stubble on his face tickle my skin. “And thanks for everything.” Before he could say anything I bolted out of the door and swiftly walked up the stairs to my apartment. When I got inside I had two text messages on my phone.
Scout: Thanks for an AMAZING day!
Scout: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, beautiful.
A warm smile began deep in my chest and spread throughout my body. Even though I’d left him less than a minute before, I already missed being with Scout. I hit reply and hastily typed before I even had time to change my mind.
Nola: Me too :)
Nola: Drive safely, k?
Scout: I’ll even go the speed limit if it means I get to see you again.
Nola: Have a good night, Scout.
Scout: You too, baby. Sweet dreams.
I moved around my apartment picking up the clothes, books, and dishes that were scattered around my living room trying to shake Scout from my mind. But every few minutes I’d look at my phone, reread his messages, and get lost in thoughts of him again.
For the first time in a while, I didn’t grumble about cleaning up my place, I smiled, remembering how gorgeous Scout looked when I first saw him standing in front of the elevator waiting for me and how my stomach flooded with butterflies when he first touched my hand.
Shit . Keeping Scout at arm’s length was going to be more difficult than I thought.
8 Nola
Professor St. James’ office felt like an overstuffed box with stacks of books, DVDs, and gigantic posters of Ms. Magazine covers lining the walls. I sat in a hard wooden chair across from what had to be the scariest woman on Earth as she held up a finger instructing me to wait while she talked on the phone.
I showed up at Professor St. James’ door promptly at five p.m., not a moment before or after, to try to convince her to let me rewrite my paper for a higher grade. I hated having to rely on anyone or ask for favors, but I was prepared to beg Professor St. James for another chance if I had to.
I watched her fiery red hair flutter about her shoulders as she laughed—
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