Page 131 of Zero Chance

And by worm, I’m pretty sure she meant snake.I was a total snake.

When she stalked off this time, I didn’t immediately pursue her.I blinked, dumbfounded, because—shit?—

“You’re right,” I said, shaken to realize.“Holy shit.You’re absolutely right.”

Hearing the revelation in my voice, Waverly slowed to a stop and turned back.“What?”she asked, furrowing her brow in question.

“Youdidn’tdo anything to cause this,” I agreed.“I’mthe one who whipped up all this shit in my head and freaked myself out.Hell, I don’t even know if you’re even interested in me in return.Maybe you actually wanted to go out with that guy who was hitting on you.”

Her brow furrowed immediately.“I didn’t.”

I exhaled in relief, only to take a hesitant step toward her.“So then, do you have any interest in being withme?Like, really being with me?”

Her eyes flared, her lips flattened, and her throat worked before she shook her head, breathing unsteadily.“I—I—But I thought I reminded you of your mother.”

“Exactly,” I murmured, lifting my hand to touch her hair.“You remind me of my mother, who was the most important person in my world.I never loved anyone the way I loved her.Do you get what I’m saying yet?I’ve never met anyone who I thought had thepotentialto turn me into some kind of monogamous, relationship-loving…boyfrienduntil you.Which was exactly why I kept the lid on Pandora’s Box firmly closed and made very special care not to explore what anything might be like with you.”

Shuddering out a breath, she whispered, “Oh.”

I smiled slowly.“Yeah.Oh.”

She gulped once more before adding, “And—and then I opened the box and I tricked you into taking a look inside.”

“Yes, you did.”I nodded, glad she finally understood.“You’re turning me into a worm,” I repeated, hoping she knew this time it wasn’t an accusation, and it wasn’t even a bad thing.It just…was.“And I know fuck-all about the worm life.So I’m just sinking and floundering and panicking like a jackass over here.”Trembling out a shaky laugh, I admitted, “I don’t know how to do this.”

Her brow furrowed as if my admission was puzzling.“And you thinkIdo?”

“Well, why the hell aren’t you losing your shit too?”I demanded, motioning to her calm, level-headed demeanor in annoyance.

She rolled her eyes.“Because I never thought you’d ever have any interest in actually—” From there, she broke off, having difficulty saying the words aloud.Shaking her head in disbelief, she finished with, “datingme.”

“Well, I do,” I countered, scowling at her and circling the air with my hand.“So could you please commence to panicking with me now, so I’m not the only idiot over here freaking out?”

She blinked then blurted out an incredulous laugh.

I huffed out a frown.“It’s not funny.”

“Yeah, it kind of is,” she countered, still snorting out her amusement as she covered her mouth with both hands.“I mean, the very idea of Keene Dugger going exclusive is just—it’s not even real.”Lifting her hands from her face, she glanced around the quad at life happening around us.“None of this is real right now.You’re not real.This isn’t real.They’renot real.”

When she motioned toward two dudes walking by, I reached out and flicked one on the side of the arm.

“Dude!”The guy drew his shoulder away and glared at me.“What the hell?”

Turning back to Waverly, I said, “They’re real.”

Her eyes flared with shock.“I can’t believe you just did that.”

I only grinned.“Of course, you can.I’m Keene.I do the crazy shit.Now…” With a grin, I stepped toward her, invading her space.“Do you want to be with the crazy-shit guy or not?”

Her lips parted, and she tried to draw back from the enormity of the moment—she even took a physical step in reverse—but I caught her arm.“Nope.If I have the balls to admit it, you have the ovaries to do the same.Because you’ve already established just how weak my balls are.I crumpled at the first nudge from your knee.Now woman up, and say it.Do.You.Want.Me?”

Her chest rose as she drew in air before she wheezed with a labored breath, “Yes.”

I shuddered for air right along with her.

Loving how that one word sounded coming from her mouth, I demanded, “Howmuchof me do you want?”

“I don’t—” She shrugged.“I don’t know.As much as you want to give, I guess.”

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