13
The week at school passed by faster than Keira anticipated, but maybe it had something to do with these growing feelings she had for Reese, and the fact that they were hanging out more. It was nice, really nice, but she knew Molly was curious about what was going on. Keira just didn’t feel like it was the right time to say anything, especially when she didn’t know what this was between her and Reese.
She still heard whispers and rumors circling about her, and even more so that people saw her and Reese hanging around each other at school, but she’d taken a play out of his book and… just didn’t give a fuck.
And God, it was so liberating.
But then at the end of the week, the rumors of her and Reese died down as shit started being stirred about a tuba player in the marching band having been found with cocaine in his locker.
She made her way through the lunch line and grabbed a sandwich and bottle of water, when someone gently bumped her in the shoulder. Reese came to stand next to her and gave her a big shit-eating grin. Someone shouldn’t be that gorgeous, especially not every damn day.
“Hey.” He was so close to her that his arm touched hers as he reached for a sandwich as well.
She’d been thinking long and hard about how she felt and what this might mean, and frankly it scared the shit out of her. Never had something consumed her in life so much as her desire for Reese.
Finding him attractive and wanting him from afar was a lot safer—and a hell of a lot different—than being close to him like this and realizing her feelings ran far deeper.
“How you doing today?” His voice was deep and slightly scratchy in the most attractive way.
They continued to make their slow move through the lunch line, and as comfortable as she was becoming around him, the truth was, the more she let her thoughts and emotions take over, the more she became very aware of every part of him.
“Good. I’m doing good. You're good?” Her face flamed as she stumbled over her own words.
He stared at her for a moment as if trying to decipher why she was acting weird as hell.
Because what I feel for you is a lot stronger than what I thought. Because getting to know you has made me fall harder.
“I’m good,” he responded and flashed her a crooked smile that had her pulse jackhammering behind her ribs.
After paying, she started for where Ian and Molly sat but stopped and looked at Reese. “You want to eat with us today?” She hardly ever saw him in the cafeteria and assumed he went off campus for lunch.
“Nah, got some shit to do this hour, but next time, yeah?”
She nodded, forcing herself not to blush at how good it felt hearing him say it. “Okay, well, I’ll see you later.” She stood there a moment too long, staring at him as if maybe she had something else to say. She hated this awkwardness she was feeling being around him, but acting like they could be friends when she felt anything but was getting under her skin.
She went to turn and head toward the table, when Reese gently grabbed her elbow, stopping her.
“So, how about we do something this weekend?”
“Do something?” She faced him fully, aware people were staring at them.
“Yeah,” he said softly and let go of her elbow, but she didn’t miss how it felt like he did that really slowly, like skimming his fingers along her arm, as if he hadn’t wanted to let her go.
Or maybe wishful thinking.
“Yeah, like grab something to eat or check out a movie? Hell, maybe hang at a party that will most likely be thrown at Devil’s Bluff Lake?”
Another party didn’t sound that appealing after the whole Josh situation, and maybe her face gave that away, but he was shaking his head.
“Fuck Devil’s Bluff. Just you and me, yeah?”
“Yeah,” she said softly, ducking her head so the fall of her hair hid her face. God, she was making things so weird.
“We can do whatever you want. I just want to hang out with you, Keira.”
“That sounds good.”
His grin was blinding. “Cool. I’ll shoot you a text later today so we can set something up.”
“Yeah, okay.” She stood there, not moving, but her cheeks hurt from how big her smile was. He gave her a wink before leaving the cafeteria. She watched him the whole time, and when he disappeared from her view, she blinked back to reality and looked around, noticing so many people staring at her and of course leaning in to whisper shit.
She had no doubt the rumors about them would start back up, but she… really didn’t give a shit and instead let her smile grow as she looked at some of the nosey assholes who glared at her.
Keira made her way toward where Molly and Ian were and set her tray on the table before pulling the chair out and taking a seat. Keira didn’t miss the instant tension in the air when she was next to her best friends. They were so anxious with each other they hadn’t even been watching the interaction between her and Reese like everyone else.
Sighing heavily, she grabbed her sandwich and started eating. But her quiet lunch was short-lived when Molly started in on the questions.
“What’s going on with you and Reese Trenton?”
Okay, so I guess they did notice the interaction between us.
Keira lifted her gaze from her food to look between Ian and Molly. “What are you talking about?” she said between a mouthful of food. She could play dumb.
Molly narrowed her eyes. “Come on now. You two looked really friendly over there. Not to mention you’ve been talking an awful lot this last week.” Molly leaned forward. “I mean, your smile
