Page 28 of Running Winter

"Hey, you started it. I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when you called me a whore,” I pointed out, still smarting from her comment about Chase.

"Oh, come on, you can’t blame me. Kendra, Nicole, Lily, Emmie—" Rayna was astoundingly accurate at reeling off names of the girls I'd slept with within the past year, to the point of where I wondered why she knew so much.

"Been paying attention, nerd?" I teased as she rolled her eyes. She tugged her hair down, examining the hair tie with sudden interest.

"No, whore. You wish."

"I do, actually," I winked as she flushed beneath my stare. "I'll be honest. I thought you and Chase were getting it on."

"We’ve already had this conversation." Rayna yawned as her stomach growled loudly.

I know we have, but I want it again.

"I've got a banana and some juice. Here," I tugged them out of my bag, holding them out to Rayna as she eyed them suspiciously.

God, her fucking eyes.

Maybe I just needed to get laid. This was geeky Rayna, for fucks sake.

"Thanks," Rayna said quietly, leaning over to take them from me. I held them back slightly, and she moved closer to me. She looked furious for a moment, but then I lifted my hand, unhooking her glasses from her ears. She went to move, but I shook my head, peering closely at her.

"Your eyes really are that grey," I said with surprise, and I failed to mention the way they made me feel when she smiled softly. Her nose had a slight sprinkling of freckles, and I couldn't help but stare at her full bee-stung lips.

How the fuck had I missed this girl?

"Yours really are that green. Pond green.” Rayna laughed, taking her glasses out of my hand and pushing them back up the bridge of her nose.

"You're pretty hot, actually," I smirked as she pretended to fan herself.

"Great, shall we fuck by the lake?"

I loved that. Sharp wit and a sense of humor—here was nothing more attractive.

"Thanks, but I'd prefer to tie you to my bed."

Rayna looked away then, and I wasn’t entirely sure if the banter was continuing or if I meant it.

"You wish, Deacon. This Nerd does not get with the Jock." Rayna grinned, turning back to the mountains.

How did I tell her that I'd scored the highest in our entire class and been accepted to every college I'd applied to?

I wasn't just a jock.

I was a nerd too.

INDECISIVE CHASE

C H A S E

Heather’s fingers were lost in my hair, her body pressed against mine.

She was in complete control; her lips brushed against my neck as I tried not to drag her home with me there and then—all previous intentions discarded.

We were in our own world, and she kept smiling up at me with this look in her eyes that told me she wanted me to take her home.

Fuck.

"So, what are we doing after this?" Heather whispered, wrapping her hands around my neck as I tried not to smirk.

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