Page 64 of A Not So Prince Charming

“That’s… actually a great idea.”

I’d spent the semester flirting, even agreeing to her silly competition just to spend time with her, but I hadn’t really shown her I was serious about her.

Not yet.

“And that’s why he’s the one with a girlfriend,” James said, another one of Audrey and Ella’s bags joining the ones we’d carried.

“Hey, we don’twantgirlfriends,” Adam mused as he entered last. “I don’t want to do all that crap. And neither do you, Erikson.” He elbowed our baseball-playing friend.

Forest’s sigh echoed through the room as we walked back into the hallway. “One day, Adam, you’re going to eat your words, and I cannot wait to be there to see you totally stumble when you actually have someone youlike.”

“Unlikely.”

It was my turn to laugh. Because I’d been the same sorry piece of shit at the beginning of this year, hadn’t I? Not wanting to get attached to anyone. Having one-night stands or drunken hookups at the frat house. And yet one night, one conversation with Ella had been enough for me to forget all of that.

She’d captured my attention. Captivated me. And all I wanted wasmore.More time with her. More moments alone.

“How much you wanna bet she’s not going to spend even one night in here?” Adam murmured to James. “Just look at him. He looks like he’s one second away from barging in and sweeping her off her feet like some caveman.”

“I can hear you, assholes.”

He might have been right, but I still wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of agreeing with him.

Rolling my eyes, I headed back to the living room.

Back to Ella.

My feet had practically moved on their own as Ella went to the bedroom. She was like a magnet, and there was only one purpose in my mind.To be near her.

“You’re here.” I hadn’t been able to stop the words from slipping out.

I leaned against the door frame, staring at the back of her head as I held myself back from reaching out to touch her. To confirm that she was real and not a figment of my imagination.

To stop myself from running my fingers through the hair I loved so much. Or burying my nose into her neck to inhale her scent that always calmed me.

“Cameron.” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with a myriad of emotions I didn’t know how to translate. “I didn’t know…”

“It’s not like we talked about our break, Ella.” I bumped the door with my hip, shutting it behind me as I entered the room.

“I didn’t mean to intrude on your trip.” Her voice was quiet.

Did she think I didn’t want her here?

“Intrude? Fuck that. I’m happy you’re here.”

“You are? But…”

“I told you I wanted more, Ella. In what world would that mean I didn’t want to see you?” I shoved my hands in my jeans pockets to stop myself from cupping her cheek.

“Mmm, well… good.” She stepped forward, her hands finding my chest, smoothing up towards my pecs.

“Good?” I repeated, breathless. What did that mean?

Was she saying yes?

Ella leaned up, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of my lips. “Mhm.” My hands wrapped around her hips as she repeated the motion to the other side.

“Hi,” she said as she pulled away. “I’m happy to see you, too.”

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