Page 24 of The Truth About Love

“So, I heard something interesting in homeroom this morning,” Freddy says, looking at me coyly over his half-eaten BLT.

“Yeah?” I ask, not really listening.

My gaze stays locked on the other side of the room where Summer-Raine sits with Marlowe.

“Lana Sanders saw you on the beach on Saturday night.” He pauses to wiggle his eyebrows. “All over some blonde, apparently. Didn’t say who it was, but it ain’t hard to work out considering you’ve been staring at a certain golden-haired goddess for the better part of half an hour.”

I roll my eyes, but don’t deny it.

“You kissed her, huh?”

Sighing, I prepare myself for a conversation I’d rather not have. But Fred is my best friend and we’ve always shared everything. It’s not as if I’ve ever had an issue with kissing and telling before, but Friday night with Summer-Raine was different.

It was ours.

And I kinda just wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible.

Guess I should be grateful that we made it all the way to Wednesday without it being brought up.

“Yeah, man.”

“And? Was it good? Did you use tongues? Slip a finger in? Holy shit, did you fuck?” With every question, Fred grows more animated, face lighting up like a damn Christmas tree.

“Fucking hell, Fred. You’re worse than the cheerleaders for gossiping.” I drag a hand down my face. “But no dude, chill. It’s not like that with her. I’m not looking to fuck her.”

“What? You can’t tell me you’re not attracted to her.”

I’ve never been more attracted to anyone in my life. Her tiny waist, plush lips, legs that go on for days despite her being kind of short, everything about her slays me. But it’s more than just her body that entrances me. It’s her heart and her soul and her secrets too.

“That’s not what I said. It’s just that I’m not looking to get my dick wet, or whatever.” I pick thoughtfully at the sandwich on my plate. “If that’s what I wanted, I know where to go, you know? But she’s not like that. She’s different.”

“Wow. You’re really gone on her, huh?”

Shrugging, I reach for the food in front of me and take a bite. “Too early days to say.”

“You’re an idiot.” He shakes his head, seeing straight through me. “But whatever. She coming to the game on Friday?”

The first game of the season is in just two days’ time and adrenaline pumps through my veins at the thought. Football in senior year is serious shit. College scouts will be making the rounds throughout the season and I’ve got my heart set on securing a full ride to the University of Florida. Being quarterback for the Florida Gators is a dream I’ve had since even before my dad left.

“Haven’t asked.” I shrug, my eyes seeking her out again.

Today, she wears a plain white tee tucked into ripped jeans with a thin cardigan covering her arms. Her hair is pulled off her neck in a messy bun and she doesn’t wear a speck of makeup, yet she is by far the most beautiful girl in the room.

“Why not?” Fred’s eyebrows pull together in confusion. “You don’t want your girl there?”

“She’s not my girl.”

But I wish she was.

“Course she is. I know it, you know it, she knows it. You just haven’t publicly claimed her yet and Friday’s game is the perfect place to do it. Then you can walk into the after party at my place fresh off the glory of the win with your girl on your arm.”

“Jesus, Fred.Claimed her?” I gape at him. “But seriously, it’s only been a couple weeks. I don’t wanna scare her off with too much too soon.”

She already thinks I’m intense. But damn, if the image of her in the stands wearing my number doesn’t have my heart beating double time and my mouth salivating like one of Pavlov’s dogs.

“Whatever. Just hurry up and wife her so we can go on double dates.”

Yeah, that’s a no.

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