Page 22 of Bump and Run

I pause as we approach the vehicle, genuinely wondering whether or not he’s messing with me. It’s an old, white mini-van.

“This is your car?”

Junior grins. “You’re definitely new around here if you’ve never heard of the Junior-mobile.”

I blink. “The Junior-mobile?”

“I didn’t name it,” he claims. “The team did.”

“And what’s so special about the Junior-mobile?”

He grabs the side door and slides it open. “Take a look.”

I step closer, instantly noticing the lack of seats inside. It’s been completely modified, leaving the front seats intact but everything else has been stripped out and replaced with an air mattress on the floor — along with a few thick pillows and a wrinkled comforter. The windows are tinted and I notice a string of soft, blue lights pinned to the ceiling to set the mood.

I roll my eyes. “I’m not getting in this thing!”

“Why not?” he laughs.

“Because I’m clean and I want to keep it that way. God knows what diseases are lingering all over the walls…”

“It’s perfectly safe and clean… just like me, by the way.”

“Doubtful.”

“Play your cards right and you’ll be the first classy lady to grace the backseat this semester.”

I feign a gasp. “The great Junior Morgan hasn’t gotten laid yet this semester?”

“I didn’t say that,” he grins. “I said you’d be the first one in the backseat.”

I cross my arms and lean against the open door. “So, how does this whole playerpersona work for you?”

“Player persona?”

“Yeah,” I continue. “You pick out a girl, drag her to the old Junior-mobile, score a touchdown or two, and then what? Sayonara, lady? Hope we don’t randomly bump into each other again?”

“You sound surprised, Ellie,” he notes. “I thought all of us were dirty, cheating, lying scoundrels.”

“Don’t you ever feel bad about it?”

“I’ve never been dishonest to a girl to get her in here,” he says. “I’ve never led anyone on, made a promise I didn’t keep, or done anything particularly shady to get laid. I make it clear from the beginning what I want and I’ve done the same with you.”

“Is that all this is?” I ask. “After tonight, you’re just hoping to scratch another notch into your floorboards?”

Junior chews on his bottom lip. “Honestly, yes.”

I scoff and push off the door, unable to hide my disgust. “Wow…”

“Ellie…”He takes a step forward. “Don’t even pretend like you’re not interested.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

He drifts in so close, I start to smell his cologne again. I ease back but quickly find myself leaning against the van, struggling inside between smacking him or accidentally stumbling inside.

“I’ll tell you what…” he says, “I’ll give you another shot to tell me to fuck off. Then you can leave and I’ll never bother you again. Cross my heart. But…” He places his hands on the van door, pinning me to it just like he pinned me to the lockers and a rush of heat strikes my core. “If there is any chance at all that you want me as much as I want you, then you’ll get in the van and we’ll continue our little date like normal. Don’t lie. I can tell.”

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