I can’t give in. Not now. Not ever.

I sink down to the ground and take a couple of deep breaths. I’ll wait ten minutes before I go back to the suite.

Forcing myself to remember Jessica and Jase’s kiss helps solidify my belief that Jase is just a player. No good will ever come from a quick fling between us.JASEI let out a chuckle as Mila runs away from me, and it earns me a slap upside the head from my cousin, Fallon.

“Stop teasing my friend,” she chastises me.

“It’s too much fun.” I quickly get out of the elevator and shoot the girls a grin before I head out of the dorm to see if I can catch up with Mila.

When there’s no sign of her, I walk to the restaurant, figuring that’s where she’ll be.

My grin widens when I think of how her breaths sped up as I leaned into her. Mila might be feisty and fight me at every turn, but her body’s reaction to me speaks louder than words. And damn, it’s so much fun getting her all riled up.

‘Just don’t push it too far, or you’ll risk your friendship with her.’ my conscience whispers.

Moving in the same circle, we’ve always been around each other. I used to see Mila as nothing more than a friend until she moved into the dorm a month ago. Little things about her started grabbing my attention.

At first, I flirted with her just because she shot me down when I asked her to be my plus one to the welcome ball held at Trinity every year. But seeing how riled up she got, my flirting intensified, and now I’m fucking addicted to the push and pull between us.

I know Mila wholeheartedly believes I’m a player, and it doesn’t help that she keeps catching me in compromising positions like the one earlier when Jessica laid a kiss on me. One minute, Jessica was declaring her undying love, and the next, her lips were locked with mine. I had nothing to do with the situation, and come to think of it, I was practically assaulted.

I never used to mind girls coming onto me, and I guess I created that monster by not saying no. But then I got slapped upside the head with the realization that little Mila isn’t so little anymore.

I shrug the thought away because Mila’s just a friend. One I obviously love teasing, but a friend nonetheless.

Walking into the restaurant, I feel everyone’s eyes lock on me.

“Hey, Jase,” Jessica says, and it’s only then I see her sitting at a table with her group of friends. She makes a point of glancing over at the empty table reserved for my friends and me, then says, “Don’t eat alone. Sit with us.”

“I’m just here to grab an order,” I say, trying my best to hide my disappointment because Mila’s not here like I thought. Knowing she has to eat, I walk to the nearest waiter and get her a chicken salad and pizza. Either one should be okay with her.

“I can keep you company while you wait?” Jessica pipes up behind me.

Shaking my head, I pull my phone from my pocket. “I have emails to check. Thanks, though.”

I’ve been preparing for my future position as CEO with my grandfather, and he’s taught me the importance of not burning bridges. You never know when you might need someone, so it’s best to always be polite. It sucks, though, because it puts me in a catch twenty-two with the girls. You give them an inch, and they want the whole damn body.

I never used to mind, but lately, it’s all starting to become exhausting. I also have to consider my future position as chairman of CRC Holdings, and a playboy image won’t be tolerated by the shareholders.

Suppose it’s time to start growing up.

I clear my damn spam folder, so I’ll look busy, and I let out a sigh of relief when the order is finally ready. Taking the food from the server, I keep my eyes on my phone, so I don’t accidentally encourage a student to approach me as I walk out of the restaurant.

When I’m outside, I tuck the device back in my pocket and glancing around, my eyes focus on someone coming from the lecture halls' direction. A grin begins to spread over my face, and I jog until I reach Mila. When I wrap my arm around her shoulders, she lets out a shriek, and slapping me against the chest, she quickly moves to the side.

When she sees it’s me, she darts forward and punches me against the shoulder. “Dumbass! You’ll give me a freaking heart attack. Don’t ever sneak up on me again.”

“Bet I made your heart skip a beat,” I tease her. I shove the food against her chest, and she has no choice but to take hold of the bag and box. “I got your dinner. Go eat.” Not waiting for her response, I begin to walk toward the dorm.


Tags: Michelle Heard The Heirs Romance