Page 19 of The Love Dare
The asshole cornered him in the kitchen while he was warming up a pizza. He wanted to know what was going on with Winnie, because, as he said,It sort of looks like you two have a thing going on. And if you do, that’s cool. But if you don’t, she’s hot. So…
God, the very thought still makes his blood boil. With jealousy. With fury. But also with fear, because if it’s that obvious to the guys, then it’s only a matter of time before Alex sees it too. He owes more to his best friend than going behind his back, and that’s what will happen if he doesn’t say something soon. He can’t count the number of times he almost made a move. Every time Winnie sat on his bed, he couldn’t think aboutanything except rolling her over and pinning her against the mattress. He still doesn’t know how he’s held himself back for so long, but one thing’s for sure. Eventually, his self-control is going to fail him. Eventually, he’s not going to be able to stop himself from closing the distance, stealing her mouth with his, and doing every unspeakable thing he’s fantasized about doing for as long as he can remember.
Hell, if he’s being honest, his self-control isn’t what’s been keeping him in check. It’s the fact that he doesn’t know what she wants.
He thinks he does…maybe.
But he’s not sure.
And he sure as fuck isn’t going to take another Shakespeare class to try to find out. He barely survived the first one.
It’s time to tell Alex the truth.
To tell Winnie the truth.
To turn his entire life upside down and pray the pieces fall where he needs them to.
Just knock on the door, you asshole.
He does.
Yetta answers with a bright smile and pulls him in for an immediate hug. “Tyler! I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t plan?—”
“Don’t be silly,” she cuts him off and ushers him inside. “Come in. Come in. You know you’re always welcome here. Everyone is in the kitchen. Uldwyna apparently has some big announcement for us. You know how she is.”
A big announcement?He frowns and follows Yetta silently to the kitchen. Yes, he knows how dramatic Winnie tends to be, but a pit cleaves his stomach. She was acting strange the entire flight home for Christmas break, barely saying two words to him, hiding behind her sketchbook, jumpy whenever Alex askeda question. But he’s sort of been the same way, and he’s kind of hoping they both were acting like that for the same reason.
Now he’s not so sure.
Because he would rather die than gather Alexandru and Yetta in the kitchen to announce the unholy thoughts he’s been having about their daughter. So either Winnie’s lost her mind, or he’s been misreading everything this entire time.
“Hey, man.” Alex nods at him when he walks in.
Alexandru slaps him on the back. “Tyler.”
Before anyone can say anything else, Winnie comes sweeping into the room. Her step hitches when she sees him, but then she hardens her expression and closes the distance with a resolute tilt to her chin. “I asked you all to come downstairs because I have an announcement.”
“Yes,” Alex drawls and rolls his eyes. “We know.”
“It’s going to be a bit of a shock, and I never expected it to come together this quickly, but, well, I applied, and they accepted, then I accepted, so it’s done.”
Winnie takes a deep breath and looks up as if waiting for a reaction.
A moment of silence passes. Tyler isn’t sure he’s breathing.
“What, Winnie?” Alex finally asks. “What’s done?”
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t I say?” She smacks her palm to her forehead and shakes her head. “I’m transferring to NYU.”
No one says anything.
He’s pretty sure they’re all waiting to see if it’s some sort of joke, but it becomes clear that it’s not when she quietly adds, “I start next fall.”
“What?” Alexandru erupts.
“NYU!” Yetta gasps. “Isn’t that all the way in New York?”
