Page 14 of Ride or Die
“Uh, yeah. Sure.” He rubs the back of his neck nervously.
I nod and head down to the kitchen, grateful for some breathing room. I can’t believe what just happened. Colton Hawthorne sat on my bed and called me brilliant AND beautiful. And I freaked the fuck out, storming off like some immature crazy little girl.
The question is, how am I going to handle this?
CHAPTER
EIGHT
ON MY TURF
LAYLA
Thank god Simone and her conquest have moved up to her bedroom so I can experience this little freak-out on my own.
I pace back and forth in the kitchen, trying to figure out how to head back into my room. My heart is thudding in my chest and I feel tingly all over. Excitement overwhelms me in a way it never has before, making me giddy, but also wanting to throw up.
Why can’t I just be a normal person who isn’t all awkward when dealing with other people?
I've had a crush on him for so long, and now he’s in my room saying these things. I never expected this to happen. It’s a lot for someone like me to process. I’ve never even been kissed or on a date. I am totally out of my element.
Do his actions and words mean something? Or is he just being nice because he feels bad for me? Or is he just using me? Am I a conquest? Or a prank?
“Ughh!” I groan out loud, taking another deep breath and resting my hands on top of my head. I can’t be down here forever. He will think I’m nuts.
I grab the drinks and wait another moment before I finally muster up the courage to head back to my room and face whatever is happening between us. When I reach my bedroom door, I take one more deep breath before I turn the knob and push it open, finding Colton looking at my bookshelf. He whips around when he hears me enter, pushing his ruffled black hair out of his face as our eyes connect.
“You okay?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. I just nod and hand him his cola, and he turns back to the bookshelf. “I didn’t mean to overstep back there. It’s just, well...you are beautiful and brilliant. It’s about time you start hearing it.” His compliment is genuine, making my skin flush yet again.
If he can’t read my nervous reactions to him by now, he doesn’t have as much game as I thought.
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
He clears his throat. “I’m impressed. All these academic awards…I never did the extracurriculars or clubs.” He opens his drink and takes a sip, sifting through the collection of spelling bee ribbons and debate trophies, among other things.
“What can I say? I had a lot of time on my hands to study and do the competitions. It’s what helped me get my scholarship and grants. As accomplished as my awards make me, it would have been nice to have friends. Have some sort of social circle. But everyone here is so...so hard. All of us with shields up. I wasn’t good at breaking in because I’m shy and smart, and no one wants to talk to someone who can point out everything they’ve said wrong in a sentence,” I admit.
He watches me for a moment, and I shrug. “I guess I’m just thankful I chose to do the right thing by working hard to earn my scholarship instead of succumbing to the way of life here. No offense.”
“None taken. It’s impressive what you’ve done. I’ve always admired that about you. I have to do what I have to do. I’m notashamed of it.” He turns back to the shelf and chuckles softly, pulling out a book.The Resort. One of my romance novels. My face immediately heats as he faces me with a huge grin.
“What’s this?” he teases. I move to grab it from him, but he pulls it away.
“I…nothing. It’s just a book.” I stand on my tiptoes and grab for it again, but when he lifts it out of reach, I lose my balance. Before I realize what’s happening, an arm snakes around my waist and my chest is pressed against Colton’s. My cheeks burn hotter, and my heart beats wildly. Can he feel it?
The thought embarrasses me further and I push out of his grasp, landing back on my feet. I close my eyes briefly, opening them to see him still grinning at me. My god.
“Alright, fine. It’s a romance novel,” I finally admit, giving up on the fight.” I may not date but I can indulge in the idea of love and romance.” I huff, crossing my arms, feeling the shame still heating my face.
He bites his cheek and nods. “Okay, at least you stand by it. We all have our things, even if it is literary porn.” Curiosity gets the better of me.
“And what’s your thing?” I blurt out. A sultry smirk crosses his lips as he turns towards me, his eyes staring into mine. His simple reaction says everything and nothing all at once.
“Maybe one day you’ll find out.” He winks, and I swallow hard as I try to keep myself from fainting. He places the book back on the shelf, then walks over and sits on my bed, pulling out his phone.
“I’ll buy us dinner. I feel like I learn more when I’m around you. Are you okay if we keep going?” His eyes flick up, waiting for an answer.
I shrug, moving to my desk chair. “If you’re buying dinner then, yeah, I’m into studying more. I would just continue without you anyway. May as well keep the company.” He smilesbrightly and sits back, leaning against the headboard, and starts scrolling on his phone.
