Page 9 of Of Flesh & Bone

Chapter 4

Eve

Iwalk out of the librarywith a new book in hand and try to be excited about it, but I can’t get rid of this nagging‘what if’in my head.What if I had gone to lunch with him?How bad could it really have been?It’s not like I'm scared of Ada or anyone else for that matter.Since when do I make decisions based on how others will perceive me?

Oh well, hindsight and all that.While trodding down the steps of the classically beautiful Davenport Library, I look out into the parking lot to find my Jeep and then I see...him.He’s...waiting, casually leaning up against the side of a villain-worthy black sports car.I'm in so much trouble.I have never encountered someone that I find so physically attractive in all of my eighteen almost nineteen years.Why does it have to be this guy who is obviously not good for me?

Slowing my steps, I continue walking in Frances' direction.As though he doesn’t have a care in the world, he slowly stands straight and walks gracefully toward me.

“What are you still doing here?”

“Waiting for you.”

My heart does a silly thing that I don’t want to analyze.

“So, you’re still hungry?”

He smiles andoh shit I am in for it.It’s not just that his full lips are stretched across straight white teeth.It’s the feeling that his smile elicits from me.I want to touch his mouth.I want to...do more than that.So.Much.More.Since when do I want to touch someone?

“Starved.”

I'm choosing to take his presence here as a sign.This man really needs to eat, and I need to be the one to feed him.

“I suppose I could meet you somewhere for a quick bite.”

“I’d prefer you just ride with me.I’d hate to get separated on the way over.You could get lost.Can’t have that.”

Looking at him with an intentionally skeptical expression, “I’m not getting in your car.Besides, I have GPS.Just tell me where we’re going, and I’ll meet you there.”

“No.I want to ride together.”

“I think I've conceded quite a lot here.I'm agreeing to have lunch with you even though I'm fairly certain that you do have a girlfriend who, by the way, already hates me, AND I’m not entirely convinced that you aren’t a beautiful dark wizard.”

If his smile was magnetic before, I don’t know what word would describe it now.I'm stunned into silence by the jaw-dropping allure of this smile, that is full of so much devious joy.

“You think I'm beautiful, Wildcat?”

What?Fuck me silly.I did say that.I said something about a beautiful dark wizard.Shiiiiiiiiiiit!Okay, just bite the bullet here.Do not appear phased.Never let them see their effect on you.

“You know what you look like.”

He cocks his head to the side as though he's trying to figure out if I'm a new discovery.

“C'mon.Get in.”

“I’m still not getting in your car.”

“Fine.I’ll ride with you.”He sounds decidedly annoyed.

“You’re just going to leave THAT car here?”

I’m fairly certain that thing costs more than most of my sponsorships combined.I can’t imagine that he wants to leave it here in the parking lot while he isn’t even on campus.

“If it gets you to lunch, I’ll leave it.”

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