Brady holds me close to his chest and my eyes automatically close, letting the beat of the music move my body. He softly sings the words in my ear as he leads me around the floor. His cheek presses against mine as though we are the only two people in the room. My heart beats out of control with his warm hands around me and his soft breath on my neck. I swear I feel his lips graze slightly against my neck and I ache for them to meet mine. I want him…I want him to be mine.

As the song comes to an end, Brady doesn’t sing that last line, telling me he loves me. Instead he hugs me tightly, lifting my feet from the ground. “Thank you for the most incredible date I have ever been on.” He kisses my cheek again before he releases me.

We leave the bar and surprisingly, the waitress looks at me as well as Brady and tells us to have a good night. The car is silent on the way home, but Brady holds my hand, rubbing his thumb across my finger. When he glances over at me, we exchange smiles. The ride back to my dorm feels too short. I don’t want to say goodnight to him, but I will never ask him to stay. The thought of him leaving me tomorrow after I sleep with him is unbearable.

Brady parks the car in front of the dorm and his eyes move my way. For a brief moment, I think he is going to ask me to go home with him, but he opens the door and steps out. I watch him as he walks around the car before he opens my door. My body protests leaving the safe Camaro cocoon with him, but I get out and accept the hand he offers. He entwines our fingers and we slowly walk toward the doors. Emptiness fills my stomach with every step.

When we get to the door, Brady asks for my keys. I hand them to him and he opens the dorm doors, motioning for me to enter before him. He turns me into the mail locker alcove to conceal us from passers-by. He leans me against the cold metal mailboxes and stretches his arm above my head. This is it; he is finally going to kiss me. I should have popped a mint in my mouth. His other hand moves up toward my face and his thumb lightly brushes over my lips. I stare into the caramel eyes, filled with desire and want. He tips his head down to me and before I have a chance to lick in preparation, his lips are on mine. He cups the side of my face and captures my bottom lip with his soft and gentle ones. I allow his tongue access after he slides his tongue between mine, asking to enter. We taste one another as our tongues mingle together. He tightens his hand against my cheek and draws his body closer to me.

Brady slowly stops the kiss but continues to give me short tender kisses before he ultimately pulls away, leaving me numb.

“This date keeps getting better,” he says softly and grins down at me.

I smile back. I can’t think of a good come-back because I just want to beg him to do it all over again. I lean forward from the mailboxes and Brady puts his arm around my waist, leading me down the hall.

The halls are empty since it is Monday night and almost everyone has class tomorrow. I don’t hear Jessa on the other side of the door, so I assume she is asleep. The pull to have him come in and climb into my bed with me is fierce. But I can’t take the chance he won’t be there tomorrow. That he will use me like the others.

“Thank you, Sadie. I had a great time.” He leans me up against the door again, encasing me with his arms.

“Me too,” I agree, “thank you.” I hold the doorknob behind my back with my hand and stare up at those eyes that could make me do some very bad things.

He gives me a chaste kiss on the lips. “I will definitely be dreaming about you tonight.” His eyes roam my body, as though trying to burn the image in his head.

“Goodnight, Brady.” I open the door before I beg him to come in.

“Goodnight, Sadie. Sweet dreams,” he responds.

I shut the door and lean against it, releasing the breath I have been holding. I’m in so much trouble. Brady Carsen just carved out another piece of my heart.

Chapter 8

The next morning, my stomach flutters every time I think about the dance with Brady. That’s nothing compared to when I think about the kiss. My whole body actually covers in goose bumps: in the shower, on my way to class, and eating lunch. He has consumed my thoughts every minute to the point that I have to finally stop listening to his music on my iPod.

After my second class, I head back to the dorm and stop by the mailboxes. As I stand there, I can almost feel Brady’s lips on mine. I shuffle through the junk mail and land on a pink rectangle envelope. My fingers go weak and it almost drops to the ground. I can’t believe with everything going on, I forgot.

I toss the junk mail in the nearby trashcan and make my way to the chairs in the common area. Resting my bag on the chair next to me, I carefully open the card. Star confetti drops in my lap as I pull the card out of the envelope. The card has a picture of a cake and the title says “To a Special Daughter on her Birthday”. My mom signed the card with love from her and my dad, instructing me to call soon but I know they don’t really mean it. I have to admit the card puts a small smile on my face since last year they either forgot or didn’t care to celebrate.

Tucking the card in my messenger bag, I head down the hall to my room. When I open the door, I wish I would have gone to the library. Rob is sitting in my chair, relaxing with his ankle on the opposite knee and Jessa sits in hers with her legs crossed. They seem to be watching something on television. I don’t want to be rude so I continue to enter.

“Hey, Sadie,” Jessa says, looking at me over her shoulder.

“Hi, Jessa,” I respond back. “Hi, Rob.” I wave over at him.

“Hey,” he states callously. That pretty much sums up my conversation with him.

I don’t want to be here with them, so I decide I will change to go work-out. Placing my messenger bag on the floor by my bed, I swap it with my gym bag.

“Where you going, Sadie?” Jessa calls over when I get to the door.

“Over to the rec center,” I tell her.

“See you, Gucci,” Rob calls out, not taking his eyes off the television.

I open the door and roll my eyes. Jessa mouths sorry at me before I shut the door. I don’t understand why she is with him and it hurts a little that she never says anything to him when he makes those comments.

I get to the rec center with only five minutes before the kickboxing class is going to start. Scrambling in the locker room, I switch my shoes and shove my bag into a locker. I jog out to the room the class is being held in and am happy to see it isn’t as crowded as the night classes I usually attend. I sneak to the back row and recognize some of the girls from other classes, but am startled to see Brady’s friend, Kara, two rows in front of me. She is wearing a tight tank top and short black shorts. A tattoo peeks out on her right shoulder blade but I can’t tell what it says, just that it’s written in italic print.

Sweat drips from my body and my shirt clings to me by the time the class finishes. I grab my towel and water bottle to head back to the women’s locker room when I spot Brady leaning against the wall. Athletic shorts hang from his hips and a gray t-shirt with a ring of sweat around the collar covers his chest.

Being preoccupied with how stunning he looks, I didn’t notice Kara standing in front of him. She touches his forearm while he smiles down to her. I automatically see red. Friend, my ass. I knew he was lying that night at Aces, but after last night, I wouldn’t have thought he was playing me. I guess I was wrong.