Page 12 of Only for Love

“People are looking at us.”

His hand squeezes. “Good.”

“Kelly Reynolds is drooling over you.”

He laughs. “And every dude here’s doing the same for you.”

What?I bite my lip but lean into him. “Liar.”

Gray whips me around, arms around my waist, backing me to the dance floor where everyone who isn’t staring is dancing. The music is fast, the beat strong. But we’re almost slow dancing, and the motion leaves me desperate and anxious, wanting more of him than I’ve had.

I corral all of my nerves and bravery into one giant question. “So is this some kind of boyfriend-girlfriend thing?”

He slows even though we are already moving at a swaying crawl. My throat tightens. This can’t be good. Panic scares away the bravery, and my foolishness is debilitating.

With narrow eyes, he inches closer. “Is that what you want?”

Is he kidding me? I blink, afraid to give my answer. “I…”

I’m unsure how it’s even possible, but his arms hold me closer. His breath touches my ear. “You could do so much better than me.”

Laughing uncomfortably, I don’t understand any of this. He wants me, or he doesn’t. The hand holding and hugging isn’t a move for a fuck buddy. It’s all so genuine it hurts.

“Why say that, Gray?”

“Hm?”

“You’re playingyoudown tome? I mean, it’syou. Everyone in this gym would die to be me this second.”

He chuckles. “I don’t play me down.”

“You do.” It’s like we see-saw who’s confident and who’s in disbelief. “You have everything.”

“What I have is…” A lost, pained expression passes across his face. “We need to talk.”

“Hey, you two—” Mr. Snyder, my junior year history teacher and one of Gray’s coaches, taps my shoulder. “Give it some breathing room.”

A hot blush crawls onto my cheeks. “Oh, yeah. Sorry”

Gray doesn’t let go. “Just dancing, Coach.”

Mr. Snyder’s brows furrow, and he scowls at Gray. “Of course, Grayson. Some space please, Miss Kingsley.”

What the heck is that attitude coming from his coach?

“She’s fine. Right, Emma?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Not going to tell you again.” Mr. Snyder’s watching me, acting as if he’s protecting me.

“But—”

“That’s okay. We’re out of here. C’mon.” Grayson snags my hand, and I feel a hundred eyeballs follow us toward the gym door.

We’ve only been here a few minutes, but with his wanting to talk and my wanting to do anything but talk, I follow without question.

Mr. Snyder’s steps are hot on our trail. “Once you leave, you can’t re-enter.”

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