Page 72 of Kiss to Shatter

Michael hums, his full lips pursing as he pretends to think about it. “How about something else?”

“And what do you want?”

“You know what I want.”

I did. Michael offered to walk us back home with Mason that night after Moore’s and asked me if I’d go out with him. I said no.

I shake my head. “Michael…”

“C’mon, Jade. It’s just one date. What can it hurt?”

“I don’t date.”

“Okay, sodinner. You do eat those, don’t you?”

“I eat dinner, yes.”

“See? We can go and have dinner.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“It’s just that easy,” he counters right back. “I like you, and I’m pretty sure you like me. We go out, grab dinner, and have fun. It doesn’t have to be more complicated than that.”

“You’re a roommate and teammate of my best friend’s boyfriend. It’s more complicated than that. I’m not joking when I say I don’t date.”

“Ever?”

“Not since high school, at least. And I don’t want to date. I like you; I really do, but I can’t mess this up for Grace.”

“Is that it, or is there somebody else?”

It was a mistake.

“No,” I shake my head. “There is nobody else. Nobody that matters anyway.”

Michael watches me for a moment before nodding.

“Okay, then go on a date with me.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he lifts his hand and presses his finger against my lips to quiet me. “Just one date. One chance. I promise not to make it weird afterward if it doesn’t work out. What do you say, Jade?”

He flashes me that grin of his. Completely open and sweet. In another world, I could totally see myself falling for that grin.

In another world…

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

PRESCOTT

“Shit!” I mutter, but it’s already too late. The linebacker’s arms are already around me, and before I can even attempt to do anything, he’s pulling me to the ground. All the air is kicked out of my lungs from the impact, making it hard to breathe.

The whistle blows, but I can barely hear it from the ringing in my ears.

“G-get your ass off me,” I wheeze, pushing Stevens away from me.

“Sorry, dude.”

He jumps to his feet, but the best I can do is roll to my back and look up at the sky as I try to breathe.

---