Page 26 of Bonding with the Beta

Kayleigh’s mouth opens, but she shuts it seconds later.

“I’ll go.” I throw my thumb over my shoulder. “I don’t want you thinking I’m planning on how to break in later.”

Her lip twitches. “I don’t.” She shakes her head. “I guess not a lot of people would drive over sixty miles to drop off a book for me.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not a lot of people, blondie.”

Kayleigh raises her shoulders and locks her eyes on mine. “I know. Do you want to come in? It’s a mess, as you know.”

“Is this a trap?” I raise a suspicious brow.

She laughs softly. “No. I promise I won’t throw you out the window.”

My lip twitches at her words. “Well, if you’re sure,” I say as I follow her back into her room.

You don’t have to be an asshole to everyone. He was doing you a favour. Be nice. He’s a good person.

Kayleigh frantically starts throwing things in different directions, sweeping clothes away with her feet and adjusting the duvet on her bed. I walk across the room to her desk and stare down at the books that litter the dark wood.

“Uh.” She brushes away small baby hairs that have fallen onto her face. “So, yeah. This is my room. Don’t judge me.”

I hum as I chew on the inside of my lip. “What am I not judging…the butterfly bed sheets or the half-eaten cheese toastie that looks like it’s carrying the plague?”

Kayleigh whips her head to her bedside table where the mouldy bread is lying. “Oh my God.” She presses her hand to her forehead. “I’m so disgusting.”

I laugh as she shoves the toastie into the bin and ties it up before placing it outside her door. “Don’t worry,” I reassure her. “This doesn’t even phase me.”

“Then you’re as disgusting as me,” she huffs.

My mouth stretches into a grin as she watches me under her lashes. “You’ve still been stressed, huh?”

Kayleigh’s cheeks begin to tint pink. “Like I told you before, I am always stressed. Too many essays, coursework, and lectures to attend.”

“Sounds like you need a day off,” I comment.

She snorts. “A day off? No such thing.”

“Not even for a few hours?”

“Nope.”

“Liar.”

“Fine.” She folds her arms over her chest. “What do you suggest?”

I take a confident step towards her, and to my surprise, she doesn’t back up. She tilts her neck to meet my height. “A date.”

Kayleigh’s eyes almost pop out of her skull. “Excuse me?”

Yeah, even I don’t know where that idea came from, but I’m rolling with it.

“A date, Kayleigh. It’s simple.”

Then she laughs, almost like she’s trying not to die by choking so hard.

“What’s so funny?”

“You and me…on a date?” she clarifies.

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