Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Maddox dipped his head to my level, breathing against my lips. My heart stuttered, and I froze on the spot. His lips skated over my cheek in a chaste kiss, and he lingered there for a second too long. “Good morning, Lila,” he said, his breath warm against my skin.
I felt the stares on us, the silent gasps coming from the others at Maddox’s public display of affection, even though it was anything but affectionate. He was teasing me, making me the center of attention because he knew how much I despised it. Fuck, this wasn’t good.
I pulled back, glaring up at him through my lashes. Without a word, I stalked past him, but his voice followed me as he called out across the hallway. “Don’t forget to give me back my jacket, baby.”
Double shit!
I snuck a quick look to my left to see people staring at me with open-mouthed expressions. Holding back a growl, I didn’t spare Maddox a glance as I stomped away with Riley at my heels.
When we rounded the corner to a fairly empty corridor, she grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop. “You kissed him!” she whisper-yelled, her face a mask of astonishment.
A groan escaped me. “Is this why everyone’s staring at me like I’ve grown two heads?”
“Someone saw you two kissing at your locker two days ago, and you know how quickly rumors spread,” she admitted.
The rumors in Berkshire spread like a wildfire, untamed and unstoppable. The people were hungry sharks in the tank full of blood. They probably thought Maddox and I were dating now due to the kiss and then the jacket comment made by Maddox.
“Well, here’s one important fact. I didn’t kiss him. He kissed me.”
“He kissed you?”
I threw my hands in the air. “Yes,” I growled. “Why is this such a big deal?”
Riley’s eyebrows popped up, giving me a look that said the obvious. “You kissed Maddox Coulter after declaring war on him. Yeah, babe. It’s a big fucking deal.”
“Whatever. It won’t happen again.”
She followed me, hooking her arm with mine. “Is he good, like the rumors say? I heard some girls say he can tongue-fuck your mouth like he’d tongue-fuck your pus–”
“Riley!”
She let out a smothered giggle, and I instantly knew she was teasing me on purpose. Such a brat. “Sorry, but you should see how you’re blushing right now.”
Ignoring the warm heat against my cheeks, I leveled Riley with a glare, and she pouted, but, thankfully, chose to remain silent.
I left Riley at her Calculus class before making my way to English. When I walked inside, Maddox was already there, sitting in his usual spot. He had his legs thrown over his desk, his ankles crossed. Two girls surrounded him, and they were giggling at something he must have said, except he didn’t look interested in the conversation; in fact, he looked like he needed to be saved from them. Why couldn’t they see that?
A little self-respect would go a long way. He didn’t want them; it was as clear as the sunrise in the morning and the moon in the night sky. The thing about Berkshire was that everyone wanted to be on top of the food chain. The only way to get there? Date a popular jock, it was as simple as that.
Maddox was the biggest fish in the tank, the best catch, and every girl wanted to get their hooks in him.
His gaze slid to me and the corner of his lips quirked up into a small smile. Maddox gave me his signature smirk, followed by the wink that had dozens of girls melting at his feet.
I lifted my chin in silent acknowledgment before taking my seat.
Soon enough, class started. Mrs. Levi began her Shakespearean lesson for this semester; we were studying Hamlet. She wanted to start the lesson with a Hamlet movie, the popular one with Robin Williams.
“It’s the best adaption,” Mrs. Levi explained. “But the projector isn’t working. So, I’m going to need someone to get the TV from the storage room. Lila, do you mind?”
She looked at me expectantly, and I nodded.
“Any volunteer to help?”
I held back a groan. No, no, no…
“I’ll go with her,” Maddox said smoothly.
Mrs. Levi clapped her hands together. “Oh, great.”
I marched out of the classroom, making my way to the storage room at the end of the hall. Maddox caught up with me easily. “You don’t look happy, Garcia.”
“Oh look, you’re back to your annoying self,” I countered.
From my peripheral vision, I saw him give me a lazy shrug. “You shouldn’t be surprised.”
Actually, I wasn’t.
“Did my jacket keep you company last night?” He said the words like he was whispering a dirty secret.
Of course. Everything had to be dirty with Maddox. He probably thought I sniffed his jacket while I masturbated. Fun fact: I didn’t.
I huffed. “I have it in my locker. I’ll give it back to you after school.”