“Thanks,” Hana replies as I slip out of the door.
I hurry so I don’t keep Mila waiting too long, but walking into the restaurant, someone bumps into me, and it sends me stumbling backward. I slam into something solid and glancing over my shoulder, I see that it’s Jase.
“You okay?” he asks, but his eyes are boring into whoever bumped me.
“Yeah,” I reply quickly and add, “It was an accident. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
My explanation sets Jase at ease, and he steers me past Justin, who says, “Yeah, it was an accident.”
“No worries.” The last thing I want is Jase starting a fight because of me.
When we get to the table, I sink down on a chair and let out a breath while complaining, “I’m accident prone today.”
“What happened?” Mila asks with a concerned look tightening her features.
“First, Jessica spills her drink on me, and then I walked into Justin.”
“Oh.” The single word doesn’t make it sound like Mila’s convinced they were accidents.
“Come on, lets order. I’m starving,” I say to change the subject. “I think I deserve some pizza today, but I don’t want a whole one.”
“You can grab a couple of slices from mine,” Jase offers, already signaling for a waiter. Once everyone has placed their orders, Jase turns his gaze to me. “How are you holding up?”
I scrunch my nose. “I’m okay, just wish I could make things right.”
“Give him time.”
When Jase just stares at me, I say, “You must be angry with me as well.”
He shakes his head lightly. “I’m not happy about what happened, but this thing is between you and Hunter, and it’s a mess you’ll have to clean up.”
“And I will,” I promise. “But for what it’s worth, I am really sorry.”
The corner of Jase’s mouth curves up, but there’s no warmth on his face. “I’m not the one you wronged, Jade.”
I nod, hating that things are awkward between Jase and myself, but I don’t blame him. I guess I can thank my lucky stars Fallon and Hana aren’t upset with me.
I glance at Mila, and she gives me an encouraging smile. “We should do facials tonight. Just relax.”
“Sounds good to me.” Under the table, I reach for her hand and give it a grateful squeeze.
“Yeah, I’d pay good money to have you do a facial for me,” Jase teases her.
Mila rolls her eyes at him in response. “In your wildest dreams.”
“Oh, baby.” Jase draws his bottom lip in between his teeth as he stares at Mila. Letting go of it, he murmurs, “You don’t want to know what I do to you in my wildest dreams.”
I let out a snort and quickly cover my mouth, so I don’t burst out laughing. Even I have to admit Jase was hot as fuck, but the stunned look on Mila’s face is absolutely priceless.Chapter 14HUNTERAs the days go by, I begin to feel a little better. Jade’s kept her distance, doing her best to avoid me, and it’s given me time to get my emotions under control.
Crossing the lawn between the lecture halls and the restaurant, Jase says, “I’m itching for a night out. We should go to Studio 9 and get wasted.”
“Why?” I let my eyes scan over his face, searching for any sign that he might be stressed. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” He gives me a playful grin. “Do I need an excuse to get drunk?”
“I guess not,” I chuckle. My eyes drift over my surroundings until I spot Jade. She’s just come out of the dorm and heading towards the road. Staring at her phone, she seems oblivious to the world around her. From the tightfitting outfit she has on, I guess she’s either on her way to the gym or going for a run down one of the trails.
Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her at the gym during my morning workouts. She must’ve changed her time so she won’t bump into me.
Jase lets out a low whistle, and hollers, “Looking hot, Jade.”
She doesn’t respond, her eyes still glued to her phone and it’s then I notice the earphones. “She can’t hear you.”
Without looking up, she begins to cross the road, and the blaring noise from an oncoming car doesn’t even get her attention. My heart explodes in my chest, and I rush toward her. My eyes dart between the vehicle that’s hitting breaks, and Jade, who just stepped in front of it. Grabbing hold of her arm, I yank her against me and wrapping my arms tightly around her, I swing us to the side of the curb, while my heart races into overdrive.
With Jade’s back pinned to my chest, I can’t make my arms loosen their grip on her trembling body.
Fuck, that was close.
My breaths explode over my lips from the sudden fright.
“Holy shit,” Jade whispers. With a trembling hand, she reaches up and removes the earphones, then says, “Thank you. Shit. I didn’t see the car.”