“Why not?”
“’Cause I don’t want to.” I breathed out, still irritated about the way other girls acted around him. It just kept eating at me, which was a good thing, because it helped me resist Jack. God help me.
“Aw, come on, Kitten.”
“Stop calling me that!” I rose from the table, grabbing my things. “I’ll see you later,” I announced, my attention solely focused on Melissa.
I flung my pack across my shoulder and slipped hastily out a side door. Dropping my sunglasses over my eyes, I headed toward the tall Communications & Arts Building.
“Kitten! Kitten, wait up!”
I looked back to see Jack racing to catch me, and everyone’s attention drawn toward us.
“For the last time, my name isn’t Kitten.” Hiking my bag strap a little higher on my shoulder, I sped up my pace.
“I know! But you’ve never told me your real name,” he said, slightly out of breath.
I let out a quick sigh. “Cassie.”
“It’s really nice to meet you, Cassie.” He said my name all syrupy sweet and his brown eyes danced. It was easy to see why girls threw themselves at him.
“I’d say it’s nice to meet you too, but I haven’t decided yet.”
He laughed. A real, hearty laugh and I had to stop myself from doing the same. “Anything I can do to help sway your decision?” He scratched his hair, his bicep flexing.
“I highly doubt that.”
“Let me take you out, Cass.” He said it so honestly, I almost believed he genuinely wanted to.
“No.” I stood firm, my tone flat.
“Why not?”
“I enjoy my dates to be disease-free.”
Score one for Cassie.
Take that, Jack Carter.
“As do I,” he quipped confidently before giving a head nod to a passing teammate.
Now it was my turn to laugh. “Right. I’ve heard you’re not really particular about who you date.”
“Well you heard wrong, then.”
“Oh, that’s right. Actually, I heard you don’t date at all. You just sleep with any girl who bats her fake eyelashes in your direction.”
“I really need to meet your sources.”
He followed me into the white stucco building. When I reached my classroom door, I turned to him and said, “See ya, Carter,” as I headed down the stairs to my regular seat.
“Are you going to be this hostile on our date?” he shouted into the packed room.
All heads turned my direction, curiosity overwhelming them. I swallowed the lump in my throat and willed my cheeks to not turn red. Yeah, like that’s going to work.
Pausing on the stairs, I pivoted and glared at Jack. “Who said I was going on a date with you?”
“Don’t make me beg, Kitten.” I shot him an irritated glare as the classroom filled with whispers and sounds of shock. “Don’t make me beg in front of all these people. It’s embarrassing.”
“I’ll go out with you, Jack,” a busty blonde shouted, poking her shellacked face out from behind her seat.
“Perfect! I’m sure you two will have a great time together.” I dropped into my seat and slinked lower, wishing for the power to become invisible.
My eyes closed and I took a few deep breaths before warm whispers interrupted my attempt to relax. “I don’t want to go out with her, Kitten. I want to go out with you.” His breath tingled against my neck, causing the small hairs to prickle with excitement and sending goose bumps shooting down my arm.
“What are you doing? Get out of here,” I whispered, my tough facade cracking.
Honestly, I’m surprised it lasted this long.
“Promise me you’ll think about it.” His voice lowered with insistence, then he gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Promise you I’ll think about going out with the school’s biggest player? Oh sure, I’ll think about it.” Seriously?
“Promise me,” he insisted.
Either he was actually sincere, or he was a really good bullshit artist and I was completely buying into it. I took one deep breath. I turned my head to the left and looked him dead in the eyes. “Fine. I promise I’ll think about it. Will you go away now?”
A wide grin emerged and his gorgeous dimples appeared, torturing me with their adorable sex appeal. He stood up without another word and walked out of the classroom. I sat in silence, trying to hear anything other than the sound of my heart banging like wild bongo drums in my ears.
I’m pathetic.
When class ended, I walked outside to find Jack surrounded by a group of giggling girls. His eyes met mine and he broke from the circle, running to catch up. “Stalk much?” I said between breaths.