Page 38 of The Love of My Next Life
His immediate concern for me makes me feel even more like a jerk. I shake my head and force a smile.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I say quickly, “but my dad wants to meet you.”
Instead of arguing or running in the opposite direction, Eric smiles.
“I’d love to meet your dad,” he says, and my lips break into a grin.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“What would you say to,” I suggest tentatively, “coming over for dinner?”
“That sounds great.”
His voice is so genuine.Heis so genuine. My crush grows as fast as my guilt.
“Weird question,” he interjects as we walk in the direction of my first class. Eric has started walking with me in the halls whenever he can, and I’m still not used to the stares.
“Shoot,” I tell him.
“Does your dad drink? You know, if I were to bring him something...”
I fold my lips to keep from smiling, then side-eye him curiously.
“Not often, but when he does, it’s bourbon.”
Eric nods. “Any particular kind?”
My smile breaks, full teeth, and my eyes squint as we stop at the door of my class.
“Expensive,” I tell him playfully, and he grins back.
“Have a good day, Lennon,” he says. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
He walks backward, keeping his eyes on me, pinning me to the spot with his gorgeous smile, until he turns the corner and disappears.
“That was disgusting,” a deep voice taunts in my ear, and my shoulders shoot up.
I whip around and hit Macon with a glare.
“You’re disgusting,” I hiss. I move to walk into the classroom, but he grabs my wrist and pulls me into his chest.
“He doesn’t fucking touch you.” His voice is a growled command, and I spin around and shove him off me.
“Like Sam doesn’t touch you?”
His face shows a flicker of shock, and then he smirks slowly. I lean in close, so only he can hear me, and jab him in the chest with my finger.
“Youdon’t fucking touch me,” I say, and then I turn my back on him and go into class.
It takes me the first thirty minutes to calm my racing heart. I don’t take a single note. I don’t retain anything. And then we’re given a pop quiz and I’m almost certain I fail it.
Freaking Macon.
This is all his fault.
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