Page 36 of Wanted You More

A few dayslater, during the winter pep rally at school, I’m sitting on the bleachers waiting for Marybelle when an arm comes around me from behind. I shove it off and hear Nick’s signature laugh as he slides into the open spot beside me.

“That’s for Marybelle,” I tell him, elbowing him away when he scoots closer.

He smells like cigarettes when he leans in and says, “Well, I don’t see her anywhere. She’s probably flirting with the old dude again. I could barely stomach geometry yesterday when she’d bat her eyes at him and constantly try getting his attention to ask questions.”

The only thing I say to that is, “I think Mr. Canon is only thirty. That’s not super old.”

He scoffs in disgust. “Does that mean you’ve got the hots for him too? What is with the girls at this school?”

I roll my eyes as I watch the cheerleaders do their routine in the middle of the gym floor. “I don’t have the hots for my teacher,” I inform him dryly. In fact, I don’t see why people think he’s that cute. He’s a littletoofriendly with some of the female students. “I’m just pointing out that we’ll be that age someday too and I doubt we’ll like being called old then.”

He doesn’t seem to pay any attention to anything after my opinion on Canon. “If he doesn’t have your eye, who does?”

I can’t help but notice the way he manages to get closer. His knee barely touches my leg, but I still feel the heat radiating from it.

My eyes hyper-focus on the stain on his jeans that looks weeks old when I reply, “Nobody here. Sorry.”

Nicholas doesn’t get the hint. “I know you’re not seeing anyone right now. This doesn’t have to be a serious thing.”

Pulling my eyes away from the girls who are all rah-rah for our school, I give the boy beside me a sad look. “Don’t you have to be with someone who, I don’t know, actually likes you?”

He grins and wiggles his brows. “I hear sex is better with people you don’t like.” When he sees the look on my face, he groans dramatically. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. We both know you didn’t hook up with Monty because he was boyfriend material.”

Why is this any of his business? “Is this your way of saying that you are?”

His smile curls higher, but it doesn’t do anything for me. “I could be for you, baby. But I’d be up for anything.”

I’m sure he would. “I wouldn’t hold your breath, Nick. I’m not in the mood to entertain anyone right now.”

When the gymnasium floor starts getting set up for the tug-of-war contest, I do another sweep of the room for Marybelle. She loves this competition because it usually leaves one of the teams wet and nasty from the whipped cream pools they get pulled into. It’s especially up her alley when it’s the guys’ team who loses.

Me:The war is about to start

Me:And you need to save me from Nick

Belles:Is he trying to get u2 sleep with him again?

Me:What do you think?

Belles:Maybe u should. Then pretend ur in love with him after. Guys hate that. He’ll run the other way 4 sure

That makes me snort, causing the boy in question to nudge me again. “You talking about me, Austen?”

“Yes. Nothing good though.”

Me:Tempting if it gets him off my back

Belles:You have to get on your back for him b4 he gets off urs;)

Me:Ew. Just hurry up!!!

Belles:That’s what she said LOL

Sighing, I put my phone in my bag and glance at Nick. “One day you’re going to find somebody who’s decent to you.”

He shrugs. “Well, until then, I’ll settle for this beautiful thing we have.”

“It’s not happening, Nicholas.”

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