Page 105 of Faking It With the Small-Town Bad Boy

My body goes cold. “That doesn’t mean I want him back. I wouldn’t

even consider it after last night, after our talk the other day. I want

you, Percy. More than I probably should in this situation. We’re

supposed to be pretending to care for one another, but I care about

you, Percy. I don’t care about Ryan.”

He smiles softly, caressing my cheek. “Then can’t I just kick him off

the porch?”

I snicker slightly, turning to see Ryan pouting over the close

proximity of Percy and myself. I wave at him once, just to watch him

roll his eyes, and we both find some mild amusement at the ease of

annoyance that radiates through him.

“Come on, I don’t want him, Percy. He’s immature and annoying.

Besides, he is about to watch us kiss before you head to band

practice, and that is going to be the icing on the cake.”

His smile multiplies. “Oh, you’re so evil. I love it.”

He meets my lips with his, and I taste his tongue against my teeth for

a moment while his hands stroke my hair back. We both smell like

the garage. I would kill to have a shower with Percy right now, but

my goal is to get clean and get Ryan off my porch. Percy unlocks the

door and steps outside, giving Ryan a look that screams volumes.

I wave Ryan inside, find the plate that Percy made me for dinner last

night, and throw it out at once. The coffee maker works fast while the

van outside squeals its tires and travels away for the bar. I’m just

happy that Percy is comfortable leaving, given what his last girlfriend

did with Ryan Jones when they were alone.

Then again, in reality, I’m not dating Percy Elrod. I care for him

tremendously, and he may not see it now, but he’s everything to me.

He’s my support, my friend, and someone who grounds me

consistently. I need that, and I don’t need Ryan stroking his eyes up

my bare thighs while I make myself a cup of coffee.

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