The Boyfriend Deal(5)

“It doesn’t sound like you’re too excited to see me,” I whispered in her ear. “Whatever will people think?”

She scowled up at me. “That we aren’t together. That’s what they’ll think.”

“Come on, Red. You know you’re intrigued. What could you possibly have to lose?”

Her cheeks flushed a rather charming shade of pink, and I wondered just what naughty idea had crossed her mind. With a smirk, I placed my lips by her ear again.

“Careful there, Red. I might get the idea you like me far more than you’re letting on. It’s looking to me like you’re far more interested in my offer than your lips are saying.”

She huffed and elbowed me in the ribs. All I did was laugh, give her a squeeze, and then I let her go so she could get her food. When we reached the register, I stuck my hand over her shoulder and paid for her meal and mine, earning me another glare. When I’d come up with this plan, I hadn’t realized how much fun it would be. She prickled so easily around me, and I couldn’t wait to tear down those walls and show her what she’d been missing all these years.

When she took her usual seat with the other geeks, I slid into the spot next to her, making sure our arms brushed. The look she cast my way was confused, irritated, and hopeful all at the same time. That one look told me a lot. It seemed she wasn’t as unaffected by my charm as I had thought, which was good if this plan was going to work, but the irritation told me I would have to work for it. I had a feeling that nothing about Hadley was easy. By her own admission, the rumors that she’d never let Hunter get past first base were true. That actually pleased me … a lot. It meant she could experience those firsts with me, when she was ready of course. I might chase anything in a skirt, but I’d never taken what wasn’t offered freely.

“What are you doing here?” she asked through clenched teeth.

I smiled the kind of smile that had made girls melt at my feet since I was big enough to walk. If anything, she scowled even more, but the pulse in her neck, which was beating wildly out of control, told me she liked me more than she was admitting.

“Where else would I sit? I mean, you are my girlfriend.”

She gasped and opened and shut her mouth several times, her eyes wide as if she couldn’t believe I’d just said that, especially in front of her friends. The girls around us giggled and watched the show with avid interest. At least someone was eating out of the palm of my hand, even if it wasn’t my supposed girlfriend. I’d take what I could get. If I won over her friends, then it wouldn’t be long before those walls she’d put up started to crumble.

“I’m not your girlfriend,” she hissed.

I reached out, wrapped a long lock of her hair around my finger and gave it a gentle tug. The move seemed to freeze her in place, and I watched her chest rise and fall rapidly. She wanted to be my girlfriend, even if she didn’t admit it. This wasn’t as easy as I had thought it would be. With stalker-boy dogging her every step, I’d thought it would be a piece of cake to get her to agree. Why was she being so stubborn?

“I thought we discussed this, Red. I asked you out, and while I’m still waiting on your reply, I’m fairly certain it’s going to be yes. We can start simple. Ice cream after school. You know you’re tempted.”

Hadley opened her mouth to respond, probably to put me in my place, but she yelped and glared at her friend across the table.

“She’d be happy to go with you,” the friend said.

I should have known her name. It wasn’t like our school was very big, but I had to admit that I didn’t keep up with the geeks. Not unless they were named Hadley Ryan. I still flashed her a smile of appreciation, since it seemed she was on my side.

“Thanks, Jenny,” Hadley hissed.

“Oh, please,” Jenny scoffed. “Like you weren’t eventually going to say yes. I know you like to torture boys before you agree to go out with them, but Tyler seems like a nice guy. I think you should give him a chance.”

I tipped my head toward Jenny as I smiled at Hadley. “What she said.”

Hadley folded her arms over her chest. “Fine. One date.”

“One date is all it will take for you to fall completely under my spell.”

She rolled her eyes and focused on her lunch, but I caught the side-eye from her several times and knew she was thinking it over. Now that I’d won my first date with her, I had to find a way to get her to agree to a second one. For some reason, my charm and stellar personality didn’t seem to be working on Hadley. Which meant I needed to up my game. She’d liked that kiss in the hall. Maybe if I found another reason to kiss her, then I’d get her to agree to date number two.