Page 6 of Built to Fall
My brain automatically memorizes him in the same way it does everything else, and I’m not mad about it.
Like the girls said, he’sexactly my type.Right down the line.
Now I’m kicking myself for not taking them more seriously. I should have believed Meredith when she said he would be my exact fantasy on legs. And I should have retreated into my bedroom at the mention of him coming over.
Because I shouldn’t even bothertemptingmyself with everything I said I’d avoid.
Now, I’m stuck standing here, glass ready to slip from my hand, as I greet this perfectly handsome stranger.
CHAPTER TWO
GRANT
Fuck. My. Life.
All I ever agreed to was going over to Meredith’s apartment with Braxton to help him hang a picture on the girls’ wall.
I tried to deny the offer too, to make it seem like I had something going on.
The only reason I’m standing in this girl-owned clusterfuck of an apartment right now is because Braxton pulled the“Dude, you’ve been hooking up with my little sister for years. Do you really need me to start being a dick about it now?”card.
“She’s not yourlittlesister!” I had called back, but it was a lost cause, considering I was already slipping on my shoes.
“Two whole minutes, Vandy!” was his reply.
Now I’m here, in a much too girly apartment, prepared to get bossed around by Meredith and Eden, her redhead roommate, until I see an unfamiliar face.
“Lina, this is Grant,” Eden introduces.
Like I said, Fuck. My. Life.
Leaning against the wall of the living room opening, I’m not expecting much when the girl in the kitchen turns to face me.
But it takes everything in me not to make an audible sound when I catch a glimpse of her. It forces me upright, so I’m no longer leaning on the wall.
She’s tall for a girl, maybe 5’7”, considering she comes to my shoulders. Even without the long legs, she looks like a doll, with those huge doe eyes. Full lips, high cheekbones, and a heart-shaped face.
This might be the most devastatingly gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen, and that’s the honest truth.
It shouldn’t mean anything to me, though. I’m sure her friends have already given her the rundown of who I am and what I’m like. If she’s smart, she’s already made up her mind about me.
“Hi,” she says plainly, clearing her throat as she heads toward the fridge and uses the water dispenser to fill her glass.
“Hey,” I reply, forcing myself to drag my eyes off her as I join Braxton in the living room.
“That’sthe painting?” Braxton asks, looking at the giant canvas leaning up against the couch.
“Yeah! Isn’t it cool?” Eden replies cheerfully. “I found it on an online art gallery.”
Braxton glances between Meredith, Eden, and the painting. “Yeah. I’m just thanking God you girls didn’t try to hang this yourselves.”
By the look of the painting, I know what he’s getting at. “If that thing were to fall, it could kill one of you.” Especially since I’m assuming their plan is to put it above the couch.
“Exactly what I said,” Meredith mutters, narrowing her eyes on Eden. She’s snarky, for sure, but she and Braxton even each other out in that way.
“Alright, we’ll let you boys get to it!” Eden claps, grabbing Lina’s hand and dragging her into the nearest bedroom.
Meredith gives Braxton an apologetic look before following her friends and shutting the door behind them.
