You're the Reason - J. Nathan Page 0,48
speechless for a long moment, replaying his words and actions that night in my head, trying to make sense of them. “So, you decided to be mean to me?”
He walked over and lowered himself to his haunches in front of me, resting his hands on my thighs. “The asshole left you alone outside when you were clearly drunk. I was mad at him. And mad at you for putting yourself in that situation.”
“You let me walk home alone.”
He scoffed. “I followed you home.”
My mouth parted. “I don’t know if I should kiss you or add it to your list of creepy stalker tendencies.”
He shook his head, not bothering with a response. “Then, you corrected me when I asked what you were doing out there. I knew then and there you were exactly what I wanted—but could never have. And it pissed me off.”
I sat speechless, the newfound information whirling haphazardly through my mind. He wanted me? But he thought he couldn’t have me?
“So, yes, Sophia. I saw you play pool. Are we clear now on what went down that night?”
“You could’ve just told me instead of being an asshole.”
A bitter laugh escaped him. “I have a lot on my plate. Wanting you was not something I wanted to add to that plate.” He reached up and brushed a rogue wave of my hair off my face and tucked it behind my ear. “But there you always were. In my classes. My history partner. Chantel’s roommate. Ryan’s latest obsession. It was like the universe telling me something.”
“So, I was the reason for your bad attitude?”
He stood, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet. “You were the reason I smiled for the first time in a long freaking time and meant it.”
Butterflies took flight in my stomach, his unexpected honesty flooring me. I had no idea how to respond. So, I said the first thing that came to my mind. “Care to wager on this game?”
His lips twitched in the corners. “What kind of wager?”
I thought for a moment. Then my mind wandered back to the sight of him in that towel. And I knew exactly what I wanted, especially since there was no way I’d lose.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
There was urgent knocking on my door Friday morning as I got ready for History through Film. I hoped Chase had decided to show up to surprise me. But when I pulled open my door, Valerie stood there holding a sign: Happy Birthday, Sophia!
I hadn’t seen Valerie since she took off on me Sunday night. I knew I’d pushed too hard, and I understood that she wanted space from me. I didn’t necessarily like it, but I respected it. So, this peace offering, especially on my birthday, meant the world to me.
Instead of saying anything, I stepped out into the hall and wrapped my arms around her.
She wrapped her arms around me, sign and all, hugging me back. “I missed you,” she said.
“I missed you too.”
***
I made my way to class a couple of minutes later. Once I neared the building, I stopped short and started cracking up. Chase sat outside the building on the front steps. His chest was bare and a white towel was wrapped around his hips. His eyes lit up with amusement once he spotted me, and he stood up to greet me as I moved closer to him.
Girls giggled and stared as they walked by, making me rethink my wager as I stepped in front of him. “I like your towel.”
“I made a wager with the devil.”
“Chantel was here?” I glanced facetiously around.
He enveloped me in his arms and dropped a kiss on my forehead. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks. Why are you out here? Are you trying to give the girls a show?”
“Only one girl.” He stepped back and grabbed my hand, pulling me away from the building.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re skipping class.”
“Why?”
“It’s on your list, so I’m making it happen,” he said.
Heads turned as we made our way across the quad. “What are we gonna do?”
“Do you have something in mind?” he asked.
I thought about it for minute. “Well, seeing you in that towel is reminding me of last night.”
“I like the way your mind works,” he said.
***
Chase held my hand as he drove through the busy streets of Houston that evening. I wore a sundress paired with a denim jacket and some nude heels Valerie lent me, hoping I hadn’t overdressed for what he had planned.
“So, give me a clue,” I said from the passenger seat.
He shook his