Page 41 of How to Lose at Love

Hear himsigh.

Dallas Colter coughs four times; twice I suspect were on purpose to agitate me. Bumps his knee into mine no less than a dozen times, hogging a majority of the leg room.

Pushes those glasses up his nose with the tip of his forefinger, which isn’t as much annoying as it isdistracting.

He looks like a cross between Clark Kent and some Marvel superhero but in gray joggers and a hoodie.

When class ends, I avert my eyes from his sweatpants-clad ass, pretending to pack my backpack, hoping he’ll leave before I do.

No such luck.

Dallas dicks around longer than I do.

Doesn’t say a single word as I dodge my way out of our row, stepping around classmates, gunning for the exit.

I let out a relieved puff of air when the wind hits my face—

“Why are you walking so fast?” The voice is deep, but I don’t turn around. “Ryann.”

Oh my God, why is he still here?I refuse to turn around and acknowledge him.

“I swear I’m not following you.”

He’s most definitely following me.

My hands go up in mock defeat as I continue on my way, Dallas falling in line beside me, his long stride matching mine, step by step.

“Right. It’s a weird coincidence that you keep having to tell me that. You’re lucky I don’t have my taser or I’d zap you with it for shits and gigs.”

I can’t flip my hair because I’m wearing a damn winter hat.

I stomp off, determined to ignore him, which is impossible because…

“I have a proposal for you.”

He is like an irritating fly buzzing around my head.

I want to smack it and make it go away.

“A proposal? Sorry, I’m too young to get married.” I chuckle, laughing at my own joke, the cold air creating puffs out of my warm breath.

He rolls his eyes. “Har, har—you’re funny.”

“What?” I smirk. “I’m a catch.”

“Such a catch that Diego dumped you.”

I stop in the middle of the sidewalk, prepared to spar.

“Screw.You.”

“No, thanks.”

Letting out a frustrated grunt, I stomp down the sidewalk, fumbling for the app on my phone my parents said I could charge to their credit card so I won’t have to walk home after work when it gets cold.

I also need to get away from this megadouche.

“I’m kidding.” He’s still behind me, hustling to keep up. “Ryann, stop.”

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