Page 21 of Wicked Surrender

Kristin:I didn’t realize that you’d officially decided to break up with him yet.

Laura:I did. This morning.

Like when I realized I hadn’t thought about Ethan at all for a couple of days. Whereas I had thought about Jason all week.

She sent a shrugging emoji.

Kristin:Whatever. It’s not like you guys are serious or going anywhere as a couple even if you didn’t want to dump him. Appreciating eye candy isn’t a crime…

I glanced up, hating that she’d interpret what I said as appreciating Jason. Just then, he appeared, entering the library.

Late, and still wearing that cocky smirk, he looked like trouble heading my way. Hewastrouble coming straight for me.

With that swagger. That confidence. That devilish almost-sneer.

He just had to show up looking every bit the bad boy, the menace I should disdain.

Dammit. Why does he have to be so hot?

On the heel of that thought, I almost cringed.

What’s wrong with me that I think he is?

Jason wasn’t supposed to be my type. But that wasn’t saying much. Ethan wasn’t my type either, yet I’d put up with him for too long.

“Don’t dress up on my account,” he taunted as he came up close and dropped into the chair across from me.

I frowned, glancing down at my outfit. Jeans and a sweatshirt weren’t that dull. After I caught him staring at my chest last time, I wanted to layer up to avoid feeling that weird warmth at his attention.

“I’m not here to dress up for you,” I replied.

Having survived one hour with him three days ago, I was well on my way to building up a resistance. It wasn’t like he’d hit me or anything. Words wouldn’t kill me. Besides, I knew this wouldn’t go on forever. He’d get sick of me and of having to come here. The break from partying and drinking and whoring around had to be exhausting.

Just tough it out.

Then he’ll quit.

And I could go back to my life, unscathed.

Under the intensity of his stare, I felt scathed and raw. Exposed.

How does he do it?

How does he make me feel so vulnerable with just one angry look?

“No, you’re just here to act like a know-it-all. To annoy me.”

“You can leave,” I suggested.

Even though I was kind of talking back, which felt so foreign, I kept my tone firm and neutral. I was too shy to be more combative.

“Not a fucking chance, Second-Best.”

God, I hate that name.

Sticking with my goal to try to go over his last math assignment, which was actually a pain in the ass lesson to grasp, I ignored how he wanted to get under my skin.

If he wanted to establish dominance between us by bullying me, fine.

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