Page 20 of Hard Hitter

Don’t touch your cheek. Don’t touch your cheek.My inner voice failed to stop the automatic response of raising my hand to cover the spot where he’d kissed me. Noah’s eyes crinkled with amusement as he followed the movement before turning to join Mac and Alex at the DJ booth.

There was a reason I didn’t do relationships after I crashed and burned in high school. Too much sacrifice for not enough gain. I liked sex and affection and fun, but two out of three I could get from friends with no commitment or emotions necessary.

No chance the guy will decide some time down the road that my hot mess self was too much trouble. If I couldn’t handle my shit, why would anyone else? Why would Noah?

I let my hand drop and shivered in my coat before stepping outside. It wasn’t cold enough for the chill to penetrate the thick material, but I wanted the armor of an extra layer.

My spinning thoughts felt dangerously close to fear, and new me struggled to accept that truth about myself. It was so much easier to find another party or convince the men’s lacrosse team to go skinny dipping as a way to push the fear deep down. Don’t try, don’t fail—my motto for the last few years felt hollow compared to the temptation of Noah.

I scheduled a car to take me back to the apartment, ridiculously glad I’d have some time on my own before I had to face Eva and Riley.Why are you looking through the sale rack when you could have the stunner in the window?Eva’s question circled in my mind, and I thought of the blue dress I’d bought specifically to rock Noah’s world.

After today’s conversation, I was a little ashamed of the petty urge to make him regret saying no.

Noah wanted me—he wantedonlyme—but he was right. We were looking for different things. At least, I thought I was. The pouty part of me insisted I was being stupid for stubbornly sticking to my no relationship rule. I knew D would never abandon Noah for getting involved with me, but what ifIscared him off?

The full me experience wasn’t for the weak of heart. Old me threw myself into situations without thinking about the consequences. New me wanted to change that pattern, starting now apparently.

That didn’t mean I wouldn’t eventually screw everything sideways. Something told me Noah was up for the challenge, but was I?

My car pulled up, and I climbed in without a solid answer.

7

Mac probably didn’t know, but I could hear every time he brought a girl into the apartment. My room was the one closest to the front door, and Mac couldn’t be quiet if his life depended on it.

I didn’t mind. Hell, good for him, but tonight, I wished he’d gone elsewhere. Like every night since Chloe had moved here, I couldn’t sleep. My dick didn’t need the reminder we were on our own for the foreseeable future.

A giggle came from the hallway, vaguely familiar, but I wasn’t interested in playing name that hookup.

The last time I’d invited a girl home, I’d woken up to find her filming me while I slept. I’d been naked, face-down on the bed, with the sheets barely covering my ass. She claimed she wanted something to remember me by, but she didn’t stop me when I erased the footage and quickly kicked her ass out.

My skin itched just thinking about it. Monica something. She’d reminded me of Chloe, and maybe my imagination had filled in some of the better traits. We’d gone out a few times before I brought her back here, but getting to know her hadn’t stopped her from destroying my privacy without my consent.

It might as well have been a hookup considering my interest was based solely on her resemblance to the girl I couldn’t have. I scrubbed a hand down my face. Not a nice move, now that I thought about it, but I’d putsomeeffort into separating the real woman from the dream. Then again, if she’d been a hookup, I might not have been so pissed at the breach of trust.

Maybe Chloe was on to something there.

With a groan, I rolled over and shoved my pillow into a more comfortable position. I’d admitted the truth to Chloe yesterday over pizza, and strangely, I didn’t regret it. She’d helped distance me from Craig’s call, and she’d let me touch her.

A fact my dick hadn’t forgotten.

I’d pushed against my self-imposed boundaries by kissing her cheek and spent the rest of the day wishing I could give my mouth free rein. A thud came from the hallway, or possibly Mac’s room, and I shoved my face into my pillow. Nothing good would come from this train of thought. I knew from experience.

Imagining any part of me on Chloe left me desperate and aching. I needed to focus on something else or I’d never get to sleep. Or… I could reach out to her and see what happened. She’d shown up last time I’d texted her, but would she do it again?

I rolled over to stare at the shadows on the ceiling. Only one way to find out. With banked excitement, I unlocked my phone and sent her a text.

Distract me.The message immediately flagged as read, and I waited to see what she’d do. With Chloe, I was never sure.

The fire in my dorm wasn’t entirely an accident.

Mission accomplished. I was suddenly wide awake with a smile on my face.Ah, so we were right to be concerned about your pyromaniac habits?

No. Ass. Do you want the story or not?

I did, but I wanted to hear it from her lips with her laying in the bed next to me.Sorry. Please continue.

First one’s free… next one will cost you.

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