Page 10 of Hate to Love You

“Then don’t make me do it,” I cut in. She doesn’t need me there. She has Luke. He’ll stick by her side.

“But I need you,” she says.

“Need is an awfully strong word.”

“You’re my best friend and I need you there with me. You know what those girls are like.”

She doesn’t have to specify which girls she’s talking about. The puck bunnies at this school don’t take well to other females honing in on their action.

Zara gives me her best trembly lip and blinky-eyed look. Her technique is perfectly honed from countless years of manipulation. My shoulders slump. I’m moments away from caving. How am I supposed to say no to that face? God, but I hate when she brings out the big guns.

“That’s not fair,” I tell her.

She grins and asks, “Who said life was fair?”

“Now you sound like my mother.”

“I always thought Karen was a smart woman. Anyway, I need my posse by my side when I walk through that door,” she adds after another bite of salad.

“I’m pretty sure people aren’t saying that anymore. I believe the new term is ‘squad.’”

“Fine,” she agrees easily. “I need my squad next to me when I walk in there. Say you’ll come.” She presses her palms together as if in prayer. “Pretty please?”

I don’t want to give in.

I really don’t want to.

“Okay,” I finally relent. “Just don’t give me the trembly lip anymore. I can’t take it.”

“You’ve always been a sucker for that look.”

I pluck the fry from Brody’s fingers and throw it at her. “You’re a manipulative brat, and I hate you.”

She laughs, batting away the potato. “Oh, come on. You love me.”

True. But I’m not going to tell her that.

“Hey,” Brody complains. “I was eating that!”

Picking up another fry, I pelt it at him. I’m tempted to throw the entire plate.

Chapter Four

Brody

I stand so Natalie can slide out of the booth. Luke and Zara swap some spit before they get up. My eyes zero in on Natalie. Because I know it’ll piss her off, I give her a cheeky grin. “Hey, thanks for buying lunch today, Davies. I’ll pick up the tab next time.”

A deep, growly noise vibrates in her throat. It’s kind of sexy. “If I have anything to say about it, there won’t be a next time.”

My grin intensifies. She’s way too easy to rile up. I barely have to do anything, and she loses her shit. I have no idea why her response is so gratifying, but it is. I can’t think of another girl I enjoy annoying as much as her.

Luke and I drop back down into the booth. As I do, I keep my gaze firmly glued to Natalie’s round backside. It really is a work of art. I could watch that girl’s ass sway back and forth all day long and not grow tired of it.

Luke, who has already polished off his burger, grabs a fry from Natalie’s unfinished plate and pops it in his mouth. His eyes flicker to where the girls are, and he asks, “What’s up with you two? You guys bicker like an old married couple.”

I shrug. Natalie Davies is probably the only female on campus who can’t stand the sight of me. I don’t want to sound like a conceited prick, but usually I have the opposite effect on women.

“You sleep with her?”

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