Page 37 of Wild

I struggle to breathe at the visual he’s painted. I want to rip out the imaginary girl’s eyes with my fingers.

I know what he’s trying to do to me, and it’s working.

Damn him.

“Y-Yes,” I stutter, the words barely a whisper. “I-I’d be okay.”

Lie. Such a fucking lie.

His lips tilt into a crooked grin. He knows I’m lying and he’s gotten exactly what he wanted.

He steps away from me, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Okay. Goodnight, Mia.”

He turns, walking through the alley and disappearing onto the street.

The whole way home, all I can think about is him making good on his threat. If he does … I’ll be more than happy to punch the arrogant smile off his face for proving me right—but my gut says he won’t do it. No, he merely wanted to see how I’d react, and I gave him exactly what he expected.

* * *

The weekend passes uneventful,unless you count the fact that I ran into Hollis at the gym since I have a membership to one near my campus, which I don’t because it totally didn’t affect me at all.

I also might be lying to myself.

I wish I could kick myself for letting him crawl his way under my skin to the point of falling asleep thinking about his sinful lips. The guy is too attractive for his own good and he knows it.

I walk across campus with determined strides, heading to my second class of the day. Thoughts of Hollis need to be shoved from my mind so I can focus on school. But no matter what I do I can’t shake him. He’s either in my thoughts or appearing in front of me. It’s really quite frustrating.

Entering the building I head for the classroom and take a seat in the back.

As the lecture begins, I do my best to listen and pay attention, even taking notes, but my mind is elsewhere—with someone else.

This whole avoiding Hollis thing is quickly blowing up in my face, because if I’m not mistaken the heat between us has reached scorching levels in the past few weeks of me avoiding him. It’s like by not letting some steam out of the pot we’ve reached a boiling point there’s no coming back from.

I might’ve completely fucked everything up by trying to protect us.

It’d be my luck all of this would blow up in my face.

I chew on the end of my pen, trying desperately to pay attention.

When class finally ends, I can’t recall a single word the professor said the entire lecture and my notes barely make any sense. Frustration runs rampant in my veins.

I’m thankful when lunch comes, Kira and I slipping away to a local café.

Kira stares across the table at me pointedly.

“You might’ve gotten away with ignoring me about the whole Hollis thing on Saturday, but not today missy,” she warns, referring to running into the gym. Since she was with me she knows about the whole debacle.

I frown. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“Why don’t we start with you explaining the whole lingering stare thing and the heat simmering between you two. I swear I saw sparks flying. Hop on that dick girl and getlaidalready. It’ll loosen you up.”

“Not with him,” I mutter.

“Why? Because last I checked he was super into you, I mean there’s no missing it even if you’re blind, and he’s hot too which is a bonus. Also—thanks to those tight ass shorts Rush was wearing when I spotted him … I’m totally reexamining my decision to avoid him.” She holds out her hands showing me a measurement and mouths,“Huge.”

“It’s not that simple, Kira,” I whine in frustration. “He’s … he’s a musician, one who’s already had moderate success and I’m certain after their full-length album release, and with my dad’s backing, it’s going to explode. That kind of attention and scrutiny … a relationship can’t make it with that.”

She stares at me blankly. “Um … what about your parents? Maddox and Emma? Ezra and Sadie? Mathias and Remy? I think you have plenty of proof itcanwork—besides, I didn’t say anything about a relationship. I think a little harmless fun would be good for you.”

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