Page 70 of Bonding with the Beta

How fancy?Ugh. I hate surprises for this exact reason.

Evie flops back onto my bed with a devious smile. “So…how did this date come about then?”

I close my eyes and breathe through my nose. “We made a bet, and he says he won,” I start. “But really, I’m sure that I actually won. Anyway, we decided we’d get whatever we wanted from the other person. He wanted a real date.”

“Wow,” she chimes. “This guy really likes you, huh?”

I chew on the inside of my lip. “Not sure why,” I mumble under my breath.

Evie stands up and places her hands on my shoulders, even though I’m at least six inches taller than her right now in these gold heels. “Kayleigh, do not let your silly insecurities win. Not now. Not tonight. Not when you look so fucking hot that he’s gonna wanna rip that dress off you before you even get into his car.”

I laugh at this. “We’re abstaining, remember?”

“Oh, please,” she cries out. “Like you two are going to go on a date and not hook up after. He won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”

The thought does something weird to my stomach.

“I like him as a friend,” I blurt.

Evie steps back and folds her arms over her chest. “Uh-huh.”

“I do,” I admit. “I like spending time with him.”

“Yeah, well, this is a romantic leap.”

“Not sure I wanted to make a leap this big,” I whisper.

Evie grabs my bag and hands it to me. “The ball is in your court. He seems like a nice enough guy to respect what you want. I hope so anyway because I’ll be ready to chop his balls off if not.”

I smile, her words calming my erratic nerves. “Thanks, Evie.”

My phone buzzes a few seconds later, and nerves rise in my throat when I see Kayden’s name flash across the screen.

Kayden:

I’m trying to be chivalrous and come up, but the door is locked. I’m waiting downstairs by the door.

Can’t wait to see you, blondie.

A wave of panic blasts through me, and Evie spots it straight away. “Right, you need to calm down, Kayleigh. Alright? You look stunning. You’re going to have an amazing night. You’re not going to think of anything else. Go and have fun. You deserve it.”

I nod and swallow back the lump developing in my throat. “He’s here.”

“Have the best time,” she says and grins. “Don’t overthink this.”

My cheeks hurt from my forced smile. “Thank you, and thank you for the dress. I owe you.”

“You owe me for nothing.” She waves a hand.

I exit my dorm on shaky legs and somehow make it downstairs whilst giving myself a pep talk. Before opening the door, I check my heels to ensure they’re tied properly.

As I push open the door, I immediately spot Kayden leaning against the wall in a white button-up shirt rolled up to his sleeves, and a dark pair of check trousers that sculpt his leg muscles without clinging to them.

My mouth aches from the dryness of looking at him.

For a moment, my heart skips a beat.Or six.

21

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