With a sigh, I withdraw and rock back on my heels. I stare down at her open legs another moment longer then hop to my feet and drag my sweatpants back into place. Then, to occupy myself, I go find her missing shoe. When I return, she’s balanced on one foot, her leggings back on.
“Your coat and scarf are a ways back,” I tell her.
I hand her the shoe and hold her elbow while she slips it on. Her arms come around her waist.
“Good,” she murmurs. “I’m freezing.”
I dip my head. She leads the way back through the forest.
“So, interesting phone call?”
She elbows me, and I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow at dinner.
[ 24 ]
SCARLETT
It’storture looking at him.
Every time our eyes graze past one another, my cheeks fill with heat, and my body tingles in all the wrong places.
Or the right places, depending on who you ask.
It’s been almost twenty-four hours since he was buried inside of me, and I still can’t stop thinking about it…or him.
Now, we’re stuck at an awkward dinner with our parents, pretending that we’re one big happy family. I’ve contemplated taking the fork and stabbing myself in the eye, just to get out of it, but alas.
“So, lacrosse?” my dad questions, looking directly at my nemesis. “How is that going?”
Cross, in a crisp button-down, shifts in his seat. His lips press together tightly as he reaches for his glass of water. “It’s good. Season hasn’t started just yet. We’re practicing every day, though. With a few scrimmages in between.”
My dad turns toward me. “Have you been to any of the scrimmages?”
I open my mouth to answer, but Cross beats me to it. “She’s been to one.”
My dad chuckles. “Yeah, sports aren’t really her thing.”
“I don’t know…” Cross leans back in his seat, his legs spreading wide underneath the table to graze the side of my thigh. “She likes to run. Maybe track is your thing?”
I clench my teeth together and give Cross my attention. My tight-lipped smile is laced with venom, but fuck my heart for beating right out of my chest when our eyes collide. He keeps his face unmoving, stoic almost, but there’s a wild challenge in his gaze that fuels me like nothing ever has before.
“I’d rather be in the library than anywhere else on campus,” I say, sliding my attention to our parents with a soft smile.
Cross snorts and tries to cover it up with a cough.
My hackles rise, and I snap my head over to him. “Do you know what a library is? The place where you study? I know you’re not too keen on the idea…given your grades.”
Cross narrows his gaze, but the way his mouth twitches tells me he likes our little sparring game. Knowing him, it’s probably a turn-on.
Sofia laughs quietly, my dad chuckling beside her.
Cross and I break our stare-off, and I see my dad reach for Sofia’s hand. They’re smiling at one another and then at us.
“What?” I ask, looking at my father.
“You two are like true siblings,” he muses. He turns and looks at Cross’s mom. “Aren’t they?”
“Arguing like cats and dogs.” She shakes her head, another soft laugh leaving her.
