Page 71 of Pick Me

Ease Thea into the idea of dating you. Don’t hump her leg like a dog.

Matty’s words played in my head as I shut the door. I could act cool. I didn’thaveto run into the room and kiss her.

Her hair was up in a bun, and I was quickly losing my resolve. Sure, it was easy for Matty to say those things. Britt had been in love with him since the day she met him. I was working with a girl who preferred to insult me than kiss me.

She didn’t look up from her book, too engrossed in it to care about what I was doing. I turned my cap around, hoping it would have the same effect on her as this morning. I saw it in her eyes. Internally, she was fighting it, and I would not make it easy for her to ignore me. Not anymore.

When I walked farther into the room, she finally looked up, her gaze sweeping over me, and I felt proud of myself. With a tight white T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and a backward baseball cap, I was a walking thirst trap. At least that was what Liam was wearing in all those posts Thea referred to last night. I was still ticked off she’d described him like that.

“Jackson. H-hey.” Wispy. Hopeful. Horny. She sounded all those things, and I tried my best not to seem smug about it.

“How’s it going?” I asked, walking past her with confidence. I felt her gaze on me the entire time. When I snuck a look at her, a teeny-tiny amount of pre-cum seeped into my boxers because, fuck, she was so fucking hot.

She made a few stuttering noises, the words getting caught in her throat. I’d rather she choke on my dick, but I could see how that would be considered a little forward, so I didn’t pounce.

Let her come to you.

Never in my life did I think Matty would become my internal Yoda, but here I was.

“It’s good.” Glad she finally settled on an answer. “How are you?”

I grazed my hand across the marble countertop, remembering how close I was to eating her out last night. Even this morning, I thought there was potential. If I just did it, then maybe I’d be able to loosen her up enough that she’d talk to me. It would also stave my appetite. A win-win.

“I’m good too. Just finished training.” Leaning against the counter, I bit my bottom lip. Yeah, okay, I wasn’t being subtle, and the move would’ve earned me a slap upside the head from anyone watching. Luckily for me, no one was.

“That’s good,” she squeaked out, and I wanted to laugh at how many times we’d been able to say the word “good” in this conversation. We were just good. I could guarantee a fantastic time if she’d let me.

“What did you do today?” This was the most civilized discussion I’d ever had with her, and for that, I was proud. Especially when you considered the only question I had for her was “Can I eat your pussy now?”

“I, uh, had lunch.”

“With Britt?”

“No. I had lunch by myself.”

“Why?” She was wearing a thick Covey U sweatshirt, but hiding her delectable body would do nothing to deter me.

“You could have called me. I’m still starving.” She ignored my painfully obvious innuendo.

“I’m good.”

“Couldn’t you have messaged some of your friends?”

She groaned. “Are you really trying to make me feel bad right now?”

“What did I say?” I raised my hands.

“You know I don’t have any friends here, and having it pointed out makes me feel pathetic.”

“You have friends.”

She gave me a sorry glare. “I have Aster and Britt. Two people who I love, but I’m not sure they would bother with me if I wasn’t Tanner’s sister.” She didn’t give me time to refute that. “The sorority doesn’t speak to me since they think I’m the main reason their house is being rebuilt, and Grace is their new leader.”

Fuck. I really did mess up with Grace, didn’t I?

“Tanner’s teammates only speak to me because they have to.”

“Not true. I’d rather talk to you than your brother any day.”

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