My heart was pounding as I stared after her for the second time that week. I couldn't quite explain it, but that girl had me twisted, and I didn't know why.
Forty-Five
Bonus Chapter 3
Isat outside Annabelle's house, aware that what I was doing was beyond the bet. I was already annoyed to fuck with myself for doing it, especially when my newly found jealousy hit an all-time high when my brother stood openly eye fucking Annabelle the other night. She deserved better, and I wanted to try and give it to her. Fucking Chase was a prick for treating her like he did, and when I called him later that night, I fucking roared at him. What if something had happened to her? He reminded me she was a 'just a bet.' I couldn't say shit, but I educated him on the fact she was also a real human being with feelings. I couldn't go back in time and reverse the bet, despite wishing I could. I felt protective over her; she was intoxicating. Movement out the window caught my eye, and the passenger door opened. Annabelle's divine legs slid in first, and then I saw a simple black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. She looked at me shyly, and I realized she had her hair different—it suited her.
"You've changed your hair," I murmured, gazing at it. She touched it self-consciously, and I smiled, quickly adding that I liked it in case she thought I didn't.
"So, where are we going?" Annabelle asked, twirling her hair around her finger.
"Well, you said you've never been on a date, and seeing as Chase royally fucked up your first one, I thought I would remedy that," I answered smoothly.
"This is a date?" She echoed, and I allowed myself a small smile at the disbelief in her voice.How has this gorgeous girl never been on a date?
"Yeah, baby. Aren't you lucky? I don't do dates."
"No? What do you usually do then?" She laughed, and I realized sadly that all I did was have one-night stands and endless flings with girls of no importance. I suddenly felt like a prick.
"Does it matter?" I snapped, already wishing I hadn't, but she smiled.
"Nope. Thank you for doing this. You didn't have to."
Ha, she has no idea, does she?
"I know. I wanted to."
I half hoped she would be boring and the date would be a nightmare so I could get back to some form of normality.
But it wasn't.
I couldn't stop staring at her as she absorbed everything I said like a sponge, making me sit back and wonder what the fuck was happening to me. Annabelle stared at me as she sucked on her straw, but not in the slutty way girls do when they're trying to get your attention. Instead, in a truly innocent way that was sexier than anything I had ever seen. She then gazed at me and accused me of sleeping with the whole school.
"Wow, is that right? Wait, not theentireschool."
I looked at her pointedly, and she flushed, her eyes dropping to the table.
"You're a football player and stupidly gorgeous."
She inhaled sharply, her eyes widening as she tried to backtrack, but I was too quick for her. I seized her hand, noticing how small it looked with mine.
"Do you think I'm hot, Anna?"
She shook her head immediately, and I felt a little deflated. So either she did, and she was in denial, or she really didn't. I know which one I wanted it to be.
"You didn't let me finish my sentence! I was going to say you are stupidly gorgeous, but you know it," Annabelle offered, slipping the straw between her plump lips and removing her hand from mine.
The food arrived, and we continued our conversation; she was witty and intelligent- something I'd realized most girls were sadly lacking. Yeah, they could suck a basketball through a straw, but so fucking what? The bill arrived, and the blonde waitress caught my eye, handing me the receipt on which she had written something. She was hot, and I'd save the number just in case. But I didn't want Anna to know about it. Tonight was about her.
"Don't argue. It's a date, and I paid. So remember that. The guy should always pay if he asks you out. It's called manners."
I had difficulty imagining another guy taking her out, holding her small hand in his. Kissing those soft lips.
Here comes the Green-Eyed Monster.
"Don't worry, Bailey, I don't plan on going on any dates anytime soon. Thank you, it's kind of you."
Thank fuck.
