“Dammit, Piper—”
I place my hands on his chest, hoping to placate him with my touch. I’m not sure why I think it’ll work. He clearly thinks I’m just trying to get out of the bet I so clearly lost. I mean I was practically wrapped around him by the time he ended the kiss, and I let him kiss me again. I definitely responded, so there’s no use claiming I didn’t like it.
“I have plans tomorrow.”
But that doesn’t appear to be the right thing to say. His eyes are hard, and he’s clenching his jaw again. “Cancel them.”
“I can’t. I have dinner with my parents every Thursday night. It’s not optional.” From the way he studies my face, narrowed eyes, his lips still pressed together in a firm line, I can tell he’s not sure if I’m lying or not. “You can ask my brother if you don’t believe me.”
His eyes widen a fraction at that, and then he relaxes. “Sorry. Fine. I believe you. We have an away game this weekend, so I guess I’ll have to wait until next week to collect.”
Somehow that’s more disappointing than it should be. “I guess so.”
“Give me your number,” he demands, reaching in his pocket to pull out his phone. He unlocks it and hands it to me. I should put up a fight, if for no other reason than because of the high-handed way he just expects me to do what he tells me, but I don’t. After typing in my number, I hand his phone back. He taps at the screen, and a second later, my phone vibrates on the counter. He gives me a hard look, then dips his head for another fierce, thorough kiss. “No more excuses,” he tells me when he pulls away, moving back and putting space between us. “See you next week.”
And just like that, he turns and walks away.
I take a moment to compose myself in the kitchen, finish my water and collect my phone, then return to the living room. But when I do, he’s gone altogether.
And I don’t know whether I should be relieved or disappointed. So somehow, I’m both.
* * *
Gray picks me up to take me to dinner at our parents’ on Thursday, which isn’t unusual. We often ride together. I just normally meet him at practice. But I’m still avoiding practice right now, though I couldn’t exactly say why. I made out with Cal in Eli’s kitchen and we’re going out on a date next week, so it seems silly to avoid Gray’s practices just to avoid Cal. But here we are.
“Hey!” I say when I climb into the passenger seat of his car. “How’s your week been?”
He glances at me out of the corner of his eyes, waiting for me to fasten my seatbelt before putting the car in drive and pulling away from the curb in front of my dorm. “Fine. How was yours?”
“Good. Busy. Lots of homework.”
Another side eye. “Oh yeah? That why you haven’t been at practice lately?”
“Yup.” I mean, that’s not theonlyreason, but Gray doesn’t need to know that. “You know how it goes. We’re getting close to the end of the semester, so everyone’s piling on the work.”
He hums noncommittally. “You didn’t seem too busy last night.”
I throw him a confused look, but he stares steadfastly at the road, not even glancing at me. “It’s good to take breaks. Dani was invited to Eli’s get together, and she asked me to come. So I did. Is that a problem for you?” He’s never made a big deal about me being at football team events before.
He grunts. “I don’t have a problem that you came yesterday, no. I do have a problem with who you spent most of your time with.”
“Oh my god,” I mutter under my breath, not even bothering to hold back my eye roll. “Are you serious right now?”
This time he does look at me, and yes, he absolutely is serious.
I just roll my eyes again.
He turns onto a side street in a random neighborhood and pulls over in front of a house, slamming the car in park and turning to face me. “Piper, I’m serious. McAdam isn’t a guy you need to be spending time with.”
“Thanks,Dad.Your objection is noted.”
Apparently that’s not good enough, though, because instead of putting the car back in drive and taking us to Mom and Dad’s house, he stares at me, his jaw clenched. “He fucks anything that moves.”
Ohhh, we’re onto theconvince Piper she’s too dumb to know when someone’s bad newsportion of the evening. Or maybe it’sconvince Piper she’s not special by attracting this boy’s attention? Hmm. It’s a toss up.
I put on my most thoughtful and intrigued face. “Anythingthat moves? Really? Interesting. I guess it’s good to know he’s not into necrophilia.”
Poor Gray just looks confused and horrified. “No. What? Why would you say that? And that’s not supposed to make him sound interesting.”
