Page 14 of Hate To Love You

Oh no. Oh my god. Damian’s sweater is unzipped just enough to show off part of my bright purple bra through my still damp white shirt.

I hurriedly zip it back up all the way as my cheeks burn with embarrassment. Shit. Ryker Steele just saw my bra.

Looking up to see the look on his face, I find his gaze on mine, probably enjoying my embarrassment. Is it too late to go home and hide under my covers?

“You’re a little wet,” Ryker states in a patronizing tone, but there’s also a hint of something I can’t identify. “I like the purple. Brings out your eyes.”

Shaking my head, I clear my throat and look to the ground.

“Shut up,” I mutter. “Moving on…we need to choose a novel. Do you have any ideas?” I don’t expect much from him, since he doesn’t seem to care about-

“Wuthering Heights?” Okay…well that’s a surprise. That’s one of my favorite novels.

“You’ve read Wuthering Heights?”

I don’t mean to sound so surprised, but the look on his face tells me he might be slightly offended by my question.

“I have. I am able to read, you know. I’m not an idiot.”

“I never said you were,” I argue. I may have thought it, and said it to myself, but I never said it to his face. “Okay, Wuthering Heights it is.” Now Ryker’s the one who sounds surprised.

“Wow, did we just agree on something?” I shake my head as a small grin crosses my lips.

“Don’t get used to it.”

Chapter 10

Guinevere

After we decided on the novel we are going to base our project on, Ryker and I begrudgingly made plans to start working on the project tomorrow since it’s Saturday and neither of us have class. I know he was surprised when I agreed to the novel he suggested.

Honestly, I don’t mind Wuthering Heights, but I also didn’t want to stand there with him any longer, so agreeing with him was the best choice. On my walk home, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way his gaze heated when he noticed my bra peeking through my shirt. I was so embarrassed, but he looked like he enjoyed the view.

I don't know why the thought of him enjoying what he sees sends butterflies flapping all around my stomach, but it does. Probably because I haven’t had sex since well… since the summer when my ex and I called it quits.

Dawson was sweet and he really did care about me. We’d been friends since we were little, our parents were best friends. After Damian and I attempted to have a romantic relationship and it didn’t work out, Dawson made it clear that he did feel a romantic attraction to me.

Damian convinced me to give Dawson a chance, so I did. He was perfect. Attentive, handsome, compassionate, and so many other things. He took my virginity. We were eighteen and we’d both just started college. He went to a different school, but we’d take turns visiting each other and our schools aren’t that far away from one another.

It was his turn to visit, and we hung out in my dorm pretty much the whole weekend. Except when we decided to go on a picnic at this gorgeous overlook of the city.

We brought a blanket and food, and it was just like a movie. Our kissing turned into grinding, and the grinding turned into us being naked, and the nakedness, well that led to the loss of my virginity, I was in love. Dawson made me feel loved. He made me feel wanted and cherished and I was fully convinced I was going to marry him one day.

We dated for about three years, and one day, when it was his turn to visit, he texted me an hour before he was meant to arrive.

“I’m not coming. I’m sorry,” the text read.“What do you mean you’re not coming?” I’d texted back.

“I think we should break up. This isn’t working.”

That was the last text I’d gotten from him, and I didn’t bother responding. He broke up with me after three years over a text message and didn’t even give me a reason. I mean, who does that?

I was heartbroken and I couldn’t believe someone who’d treated me like a princess, someone who was so perfect for me would do such a thing. Damian and Lainey held me while I cried, and after a few months of crying and asking myself why I wasn’t good enough, I decided to try and move on.

Ryker would probably ruin me. Physically and mentally, and I cannot take that. I am not even going to give that man the time of day, no matter what he makes me feel.

He is an Elite, he’s a man whore, he’s a jerk. I’m better than that, I know better than that, and I will not let another man ever make me feel like I’m not good enough.

When I arrive home, Lainey is lying on the couch with a book held in the air above her face.

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