“Oh, please, sweetheart. You’re just the flavor of the week. He’s going to do the same thing to you as he did with all of us, so don’t get too attached.”
I feel the tears threatening to spill out, but I refuse to let either of them see me cry. What if she’s right? I know he has a past. I don’t wait for him to agree with her, so I release Zach’s hand and walk on toward the building.
“Buh-bye,” I hear the bitch say as I pass her.
“Fuck, Becca, why are you such a bitch?” Zach raises his voice behind me. “Hails, wait up!”
I choose to keep walking.
“Haylee, stop.”
I feel a tug on my arm and am pulled back to face Zach.
“It’s cool. I need to get to class.”
“Hey, don’t listen to her—to any of them. Those hookups were nothing. I slept with them because well—” He pauses. “—I was stupid and didn’t think I would ever find something like this.” He laces his fingers through mine and brings our conjoined hands to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss over my knuckles. “This. Is. Different. You. Are. Different.”
“I know you have a past…”
“No.” Zach presses a finger against my lips to keep me from continuing. “That’s what they all are—the past. They aren’t and could never be you. Do you hear me?”
I whisper just loud enough for him to hear, “Yes.”
His hand releases mine and grips the back of my neck, pulling me to his lips. I open willingly and welcome the warmth of his mouth. I fist my hands in his shirt as we pull away and press my forehead against his chest.
Zach wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s get you to class. Then tonight I was thinking maybe we could hang out at the apartment, do homework, and maybe order some takeout.”
“Yeah, I’d like that. But you think we could add in some making out too?” I pinch his side.
“Oh, hell yes, we can totally pencil that in.”
I have my elbow propped up on the bar, leaning against it. Kyler is talking to me about something, but I’m not paying attention. My attention is solely on her: the most beautiful girl—no, woman—in the room. It’s almost as if there is a glow of light around her.
How have I never noticed how beautiful Haylee is in all the years I’ve known her? I’ve been missing out on something special all these years. The past few weeks have been amazing. From the study sessions where we sit and do homework, dinner or coffee dates that we fit in our busy schedule, or just hanging out at the apartment. Tonight, we all came out to Steele Toby’s to relax after a stressful week of midterms. I like that our groups of friends all mesh well together.
Since our first date, I can’t get Em’s last conversation out of my head. Is it possible that she could be the one? I’m totally crazy to be thinking those thoughts now, right? I mean, we haven’t even been together that long. We haven’t even done more than kissing—lots and lots of kissing. I’ve wanted to prove that Haylee is different than all the other girls by taking it slow. Although, my balls are bluer than blue.
Was this what it was like for my sister? Fuck, I wish she were here to talk to about all of this. Would she be okay with me dating her best friend? Fuck it—she dated my best friend, so anything less than her approval would make her quite the hypocrite.
Why am I standing here thinking about that when I could be with my girl?
“I’ll be right back.”
Kyler moves his attention to see what I’m looking at as I leave my spot at the bar.
He chuckles. “Yep, sure. I’ll see you at home.”
At least that’s what I think he said. I’m not too sure; my sole focus is closing the distance between Haylee and me.
I walk up behind her and wrap one arm around her waist. I brush her blonde curls off her shoulder and lightly nip the skin between her neck and shoulder. Her arm rests on top of mine, keeping herself wrapped in my embrace. It is her way of acknowledging that I’m there. She is trying to have a conversation still, but I can hear her breath catch before the speed of her breathing changes altogether every time my mouth comes in contact with her skin. I can feel her pulse racing from my other hand on her wrist.
I whisper in her ear, “What do you say we get out of here?”
She turns to face me and looks up with desire.
“Take me home, Mr. Jacobs,” she says with a wink.
Her voice is full of want, and I haven’t even touched her. On the short Uber ride back to the apartment, her thigh never loses contact with mine and her hand lightly but with just slight pressure rubs my leg. The higher it gets, the harder I get. This car needs to get home like now!