“Let’s get one thing straight,” he said, his eyes pinning me to the spot. “I am. I’m not the reformed bad boy and I’m not looking to be changed by...” He swallowed the words and I felt myself flush with indignation.“You think I want to change you?”“All girls do.”“Let’s get one thing clear, Jason,” I shot back, my voice low and sultry, “I’m not all girls.”Heat flashed in his eyes as he leaned closer, taking the air with him. “I’ll break you.You know that, right? This, whatever this is, won’t end well.”Run, the little voice in my head screamed, run far away and never look back.But I didn’t reach for the door handle. Instead, my hand reached for him, twisting into his jersey and yanking his mouth to mine.“You’re fucking crazy,” he murmured, meeting my lips halfway, attacking me with his mouth, with frantic licks of his tongue. Jason kissed like it was the final play and the whole game was on the line.His hands wasted no time running down my body, palming my breasts through my sw

Her body began to tremble, her breath choppy and labored. The familiar tingle at the base of my spine told me I was close. Ready to fall right alongside her; she just needed one final push. Dipping my head, I closed my mouth around her nipple and bit down gently. Her cries echoed around us, pleasure crashing into me like a freight train. But like any good high, the inevitable comedown sucked ass.Felicity clambered off me, grabbing her leggings and sweater and awkwardly dressed herself.“That’s something for your list,” I said through strained laughter. I sounded like a fucking idiot. As if some lame assed joke about her list changed the fact I’d accidentally slipped out I wanted to fuck her out of my head.“We should get back to school.” Her voice was cold, sending the temperature inside the car down by a few degrees. “I don’t want to miss fifth period.”“Uh, yeah.” I tucked myself back into my sweatpants and pulled on my jersey. Things had gone from great to shit in two seconds flat

“It explains a lot.” A smirk tugged at her mouth.“Oh yeah?”“All that pressure, the expectation… it explains why you’re a grade-A asshole.” Hailee laughed softly, her eyes twinkling. But I didn’t laugh. I didn’t even smile. Because she was right.I was an asshole because I could be. People treated me like the prodigal son of football and somewhere along the way, I started acting like it. But what most people didn’t realize was, it was a defense mechanism. A way to protect myself.“I’m joking, Jason.” Hailee added when I didn’t reply.“No you’re not.”“Then maybe, but now? Now, you’re not so bad.” She grabbed the door handle to studio two and slipped inside. “What the—” Her words trailed off and I stepped up behind her to see what had rendered her speechless.Art supplies were strewn everywhere. Red and white paint was splashed up the walls, and across the canvasses lying haphazardly around the place.“I can’t believe someone did this.” Hailee’s voice trembled as she swiped tears from

“She’s still calling,” Mya’s concern perforated my bubble. “Maybe you should take it?” She handed me my cell.“Hey, Hails,” I tried my best at sounding sober.“Thank God,” my best friend sounded fraught. “I’ve been trying to call you for the last five minutes.”“Sorry, I was just... downstairs getting a drink.” It was almost true.Mya shot me a bemused look. “What?” I mouthed, shrugging. She rolled her eyes and went back to whatever—or whoever—had her attention on her cell.“The portraits...” It was only then I realized she sounded upset.“What happened?” I bolted upright, dread creeping up my spine.“Thatcher, he... he completely trashed the studio.”“He didn’t?” I gasped, my eyes growing to saucers. Hailee had slaved for hours over the Seniors Night project. “How bad is it?”“Pretty bad.” She sniffled and I knew she was probably putting on a brave front. “The guys helped me tidy up most of the mess but at least two portraits are ruined.”“Oh God, Hails, I’m so sorry.”“Yeah, it suck

I couldn’t.Because going would be admitting something I wasn’t ready for.So I sat there like a fucking statue watching the girl who had completely flipped my world on its head as she batted her eyes and twirled a strand of hair around her finger.My hand curled around the table. Walk away, I silently willed the douche to excuse himself. Because while I couldn’t go over there and stake my claim, I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to stand by and watch someone else make a move on Felicity. Not when I could still taste her on my lips, remember how good she felt bouncing on my dick, how fucking easy it was to lose myself in her.“Penny for your thoughts?” Hailee came up beside me.“Just chillin’.”“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her like this before,” she said, guilt ripping through me. “Did something happen between the two of you?”“Hailee—”“I know, I know. But I know Felicity and this isn’t her.”“I can’t be who she needs.”“I want to agree. I want to tell you to walk away and save her