Page 13 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

She used to look at me with something other than hate. There had been admiration and … I don’t know, something else there. Something that made me want to push her down just so she wouldn’t look at me like that.

And now I want to tug her braid, drag her against me and steal all her attention. But she just keeps walking. So I get cleaned up and go to the gym. I beat the bag into submission and work on improving my footwork. My previous trainer had pointed out that it might have caused my downfall. Frank, my current trainer agrees. So, I spent the next two hours doing double leg-step jumps, feet crossovers and using a goddamn skipping rope. Back to the basics. Anything to start winning again.

“You should reactivate your Instagram account, Ash. Put yourself back out there,” Frank suggests as I cool down. “Sadly, it’s going to take more than your talent. The scouts need to know you’re back in the game. They need to see you working, training, rebuilding. The best medium is social media.”

Back in LA, I’d hired a social media manager who doubled-up as a photographer. I don’t have that kind of money right now, and I definitely can’t ask Frank to double-up as my trainer and photographer. He’s already training me at half-price.

Still, I promise him I would, and after toweling off, I head out and get back home in time for dinner. Instead of heading inside, I get out of my car and just cross my arms on the top.

I let out a harsh breath. I’m sore all over. I honestly feel like I’m going to fall over. As I move off, I stumble a little, then steady myself. From my peripheral vision, I see Sky watching me, but as soon as our eyes meet, she looks away.

Normally, I’d give her a flirty look to ruffle her feathers, but I’m just too tired. I stumble again and then actually fall over. With a groan, I embrace the asphalt as it opens my elbows. I close my eyes even as the heat radiates through me.

The setting sun through my eyelids makes everything red, but then it’s dark. Before I can open my eyes, my head gets lifted by soft fingers. I open my eyes like a baby doll as I’m pulled up, my gaze meeting Sky’s.

Her hair is back in a bun, and her eyes are filled with concern. She shakes her head when I try to move. “No, you just passed out. Relax for a second. Here.”

She pulls water out of a backpack or something and hands it to me. I just stare at her until she puts the bottle to my lips. She obviously isn’t happy to be doing this, I can tell by how she’s pursing her lips until they’re white.

“Drink, fucker.”

I part my lips and drink happily. After a long gulp, my hand wraps around hers, grazing her fingers. She comes to a dead freeze. Proof I can still get under her skin. I can still get her all bothered.

But she doesn’t lean in, doesn’t try to take advantage of the situation, and she just waits for me to drain the bottle before pulling away like it’s nothing. Like she didn’t just swoop in and try to save the day.

And that twists me up even more. I want to make her as crazy as she’s driving me. If she acted like everyone else around me, then it would be different. I wouldn’t want to prove I’m affecting her just as much, that something weird passed between us the night I saw her half naked. Well, mostly naked. You get the point. Bottom line, I haven’t stopped thinking about her since then. I’d love to know if I’m the only one.

I brush a loose lock of her hair back and sit up. She draws back and visibly relaxes. “Good, you’re fine. Fantastic.”

“Sky.” I catch her hand and pull her closer.

“I did my civic duty. That’s all,” she insists, falling back on her bottom. I hiss as I move, and she looks at my elbows. “You’re bleeding.”

“Not the first time. Won’t be the last.” Why do I feel like there’s a canyon between us now? Why do I want to fix that? “You haven’t even said my name since I’ve been back.”

She snorts.

“What … what have I missed out on?”

“You don’t care, so don’t ask.”

I mean, she’s not entirely wrong. I’ve perfected the art of not caring. I don’t care in general. People are simple. They want the normal things. Sex, money, fame, ways to get further in the world. And they’ll use whoever they can to get there. Because everyone is just like me. And I know that’s how I am.

She gets up and pulls up an olive backpack. She slings it over her shoulder.

“From sexy to sad in one day. There’s the real Sky,” comes Peter’s chuckle from our doorway.

Sky flashes another middle finger at Peter before going on her way. I pick myself up off the ground, closing my eyes as the pain settles in. Managing my pain is the focus, not her. Not Sky. She’s just an old friend. That’s all. I’ll get over it as soon as she starts following me around with that ‘play with me’ puppy dog eyes.

Licking across my bottom lip, I fight myself. I want to chase her, want to continue this conversation and know we’re fine. But she slips through my fingers, just like that.

And I have a feeling this is her goal for the whole summer. But the next day, I see her when I get home from work. She’s obviously frustrated. I can see it all across her face, the red stains stamped on her cheeks.

She catches me watching her, and I brace for another flip of her middle finger. Instead, she tucks her hair back, dips her head and goes on. Why do I feel another urge to chase her and find out what’s bothering her?

Peter rests his arm on my shoulder, startling me. “We’re going to dinner with them,” he says, staring at Sky’s departing form.

“We’re what?”

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