“Why are you avoiding me?” he asked softly as his eyes trailed over me, making me feel as naked as the day I was born, despite being heavily clothed.
I stared at the floor awkwardly.
“I just can’t help you.” I shrugged.
He stared at me for a moment before nodding.
“Look. I just need to go on a date with Ray. That’s all. Is there anything I could do to make that happen?” His tone was flat, almost defeated, so I looked up at him in surprise.
“Need?” I questioned stupidly.
“This really shouldn’t be so hard,” he muttered as he walked into the kitchen, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl.
“Help yourself,” I remarked in astonishment at his confidence in a stranger’s house.
He winked at me as he sat in the window seat,mywindow seat- and bit into the apple, chewing as he gazed at me.
“Take your hair down,” Bailey commanded, and I felt dizzy.
“What? No.” I shook my head in disbelief.
He stood, walking over to me quickly. He raised his fingers to my hair, pulling the elastic out with ease. My hair tumbled to my shoulders in waves, and I bit my lip.
Didn’t I just say no?
He smiled then, and I had to stare back at the floor so that he couldn’t see the weakness in my eyes.
“You’re rather pretty.” Bailey sounded surprised, and I felt my mouth fall open. “So, anyway. I’ll level with you. I’ve made a bet to get the Ice Maiden to go on a date with me.” Again, his eyes met mine, and I folded my arms this time.
Was he so juvenile? Ray was right.What a dick.
“A bet? Do you even realize how pathetic that is? Why didn’t you just say no?” I snapped, annoyed with him.
“Look, I didn’t come here for judgment day. I just need your help. I will give you something in return, of course.” He flashed a smile at me, and those familiar butterflies danced in my stomach despite myself.
“Like what? I don’t need anything from you.”
I hope I sounded brave, but the look in his eyes told me otherwise. He looked me up and down before tilting his head to the side.
“I beg to differ,” he smirked, and I realized he was taunting me.
Oh, you absolute cretin.
“Enlighten me then.”
“Well, you could do with one of those makeover things. You know, an ugly duck to a beautiful swan?”
Ugly duck?
My cheeks flamed, and he sighed.
“Maybe come to a party or two. But god, you are socially awkward. Trust me; you’re getting the better deal here. My reputation is at stake.”
His words cut me like a knife, and I felt tears sting my eyes.
“I don’t want to fit in.”
He blew his hair out of his eyes with exasperation as he wrinkled his nose at me.
