I looked up.

Gabe was watching us intently, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her hand then back at my face. I felt stuck. I wanted to date her. In a normal situation I would have flipped him off and thrown her into my bedroom without a second thought.

But now?

I wanted to treasure the feeling of her fingertips against mine, because I was pretty sure in a few months… I wouldn’t have that luxury.

Chapter Twenty-Four

I hate how much I like him. Almost as much as I hate it when I’m not able to be with him all the time. I am falling way too hard and fast. Someone catch me, stop me, call me crazy, slap me — geez, just don’t let me get my hopes up.

Kiersten

It was officially two months since I met Wes. Ever since our first date, I’d seen him almost every day for lunch and at least twice a week for movie nights at our place.

Basically, he was everywhere. A permanent fixture in my life. So regular in fact, that people no longer stared, they just seemed to expect it.

The only thing I couldn’t put my finger on was the fact that he was losing weight. I mean, he still looked hot, but his muscles seemed more defined, his jaw even sharper than before. When I mentioned it, he just laughed off my concern and said practices were hell.

“So what chapter we on?” Wes dropped his lunch onto our regular table and took a swig of water.

I grinned. “Last one.”

“No way!” He pulled me in for a hug. “Killer job, it only took us over fifty days to finish one book.”

“You know what that means?” I bit down on my lip and moved closer to him, scraping my chair against the floor.

“What?” He leaned in and flicked part of my hair. Good Lord, the boy was obsessed with hair, or maybe it was just with red. I didn’t know which, but he was always touching it as if somehow my hair was going to fall out or disappear.

I swatted his hand away. “Just means we need another book when we finish. I’m thinking Mansfield Park or…” My voice trailed off. His face turned pale as he broke eye contact and fidgeted with his food.

“What?” He licked his lips and spread his salad around his plate like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to eat it or just torture it.

“We don’t have to read anymore. I mean, I know you have other friends, and it has been every lunch and—”

“Stop.” He rolled his eyes and gave me that sexy grin I was so used to. “I was just upset about Mansfield Park. I don’t really like that story. How about you pick something else and we’ll get started in on it after Thanksgiving break?”

“Okay.” I smiled when he looked at me, but it was hollow. I could feel that it didn’t reach my eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Of course,” he said, almost too fast as he gave me another fake grin and cleared his throat. “Just got a lot of work to do before break, you know?”

“Oh.” I tried not to sound disappointed. “Right, yeah, I have a lot of homework too.”

“Between that and practice…” A shadow fell over his face. “I don’t know. You know how you have rough days?”

“Yeah.” I reached out and placed my hand on his arm. “We all do. It’s good to know you’re not perfect.”

“So far from it.” He reached for my hand and kissed it. “I uh, do sort of have a favor to ask you though.”

“Okay.” I shifted in my seat, suddenly nervous that he was going to ask me to not see him again or do something crazy and start dating, which actually wouldn’t be the first time he’d suggested it. A month ago he jokingly encouraged me to go on a date. I’d slammed the door in his face, and he spent the afternoon apologizing. So right, I overreacted, but it hurt my feelings. I mean, guys weren’t that dense, were they? Couldn’t he tell I liked him? As in, a lot more than he liked me?

I clenched my hands tightly in my lap and waited for the inevitable.

“Will you spend Thanksgiving break with me and my dad?”

So not what I was expecting.

“Huh?”

“Nothing, never mind.” He reached for his tray and started to stand, but I grabbed his wrist.

“Wes, I’m not saying no, I just didn’t expect that.”

“Yeah?” His hands were shaking, either he was nervous or coming down with something. “What were you expecting?”

“Oh, you know… for you to try to set me up on another date and hurt my feelings.”

Wes laughed loudly, earning the attention of people around the cafeteria. “Right. I think I learned my lesson last time, don’t you?”

I shrugged.

“Shit.” He let out a heavy sigh and grabbed my hand. “You know I like you, I just—”

“—don’t date freshman.” I cleared my throat nervously.

“And don’t want Gabe to kick my ass.”

“Please!” I rolled my eyes. “Like he could kick your ass.”

His eyes clouded over before he gave me another heart-stopping smile. “I’ll tell you what.” He leaned in. “We’ll date.”

“What?”

“For two weeks.” He grinned and held up two fingers. “For two weeks you’re mine. We’ll date, we’ll hold hands — more than we do now.” He brushed his thumb over my knuckles as he searched my eyes. “And at the end of two weeks, you’ll realize I’m not as cool as you think I am, and move on to greener pastures.”

I felt my eyes narrow. “Is there a catch?”

“Of course.” He laughed and tightened his grip on my hand as he leaned in. “You have to come home with me for the first week. That’s Thanksgiving break, and then…” He stood, pushing his chair away from the table and got down on both knees. “And then you have to promise to be my date for Homecoming.”

My mouth dropped open.

Was Weston Michels — football god — celebrity — holy hunk of hotness — on his knees in front of me asking me, not only to meet his dad, but to go to Homecoming?

“Kind of uncomfortable down here.”

I laughed and helped him to his feet throwing my arms around his neck. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

“Wait, is that a yes?” Wes swung me around the room and then did something so out of character I almost missed it.

He kissed me as if we really were dating.

He hadn’t touched me since the first date we went on.

His lips brushed mine briefly and then harder as he set me on my feet and wrapped his arms around my waist. With little effort, he lifted me onto the table and cupped my face. “Thank you.”

“For what?” I said breathlessly.

“Saying yes.” He was totally serious. His face had that same shadow as before.

I touched his smooth jaw with my fingertips. “You really are having a rough day, aren’t you?”

He clenched his teeth and gave a jerky nod.

Without thinking I slid my arms around his neck and held him as tight as I could. “I think the star quarterback is allowed to have rough days, as long as…” I let my voice trail off.

“As long as what?” he said, taking the bait and pulling back so our lips were really close again.

“As long as he promises to always share them with that nerdy freshman he keeps hanging out with.”

“Not nerdy.” He kissed my mouth. “Beautiful.” And kissed me again. “Sexy.” And again. “Gorgeous hair—”

“What is it with you and hair?” I laughed against his neck as he interlaced his fingers with mine.

“It’s precious.” He shrugged helping me off the table. “That’s all.”

“Hair and hearts,” I murmured. “Weird obsessions, but okay. I’ll allow you some quirkiness on behalf of your hotness factor.”

“How very gracious of you.” He chuckled, kissing my hand. “Now let’s eat before you go to your next class. And then packing. I’ve got a freshman to take home for the week.”

Yeah, I was probably never going to lose the smile on my face. Ever.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Yeah, Gabe was going to murder me in my sleep.

Weston

I checked my phone. An hour had gone by. I’d figured Gabe would have stopped by my room already to yell or throw things or punch me in the face.