His Forever Girl - Lucy Darling Page 0,14

to deal with the things that kept coming from Reid’s mouth. My feelings are a jumbled mess, and my heart and brain are not connecting. It is messing with my body. I didn't know if I should be mad or a little turned on. I have no freaking clue where the turned-on thing came from all of a sudden.

That’s kind of a lie. Every time I touched myself over the years my mind would fill with images of Reid. I could never bring myself to orgasm, because I couldn’t stop thinking about him and it turned me on, so I quit.

I see some of my classmates whispering to one another. Their eyes keep flicking toward me, making it overly noticeable they are talking about me. I’m not sure if this is worse or better. It went from no one paying any attention to me, to me now being the talk of the whole high school.

Before I can try and form a new plan, the bell rings, and our teacher, Ms. Webster, starts to talk. My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I pull it out and see a text from Reid.

Reid: Miss you.

Willow reads my text from the corner of her eye. She shakes with silent laughter. Reid is laying it on thick. Since he got my phone number, he’s sent me good morning texts. Today he had said he dreamed of what it would be like to see me waking up in bed next to him. I’m sure Willow’s eyes didn’t miss that text either.

The class seems to drag on with how much the teacher is talking. I have my phone in my lap so that she doesn't see that I’m reading texts.

Reid: How is Advanced Chemistry?

Me: How do you know what class I’m in? Stalking much?

Reid: Always when it comes to you.

The last part of my text is a tease, but the more I think about it, there is some truth to it. All these years he’s wanted me. I don’t see why he’d lie about this. Unless there is some bet to get into my pants. My stomach drops at the thought.

That’s not a far stretch because the football team is known to have a list of girls they’ve slept with. It was some sort of competition they had last year. Thankfully the school got wind of it and shut it down, saying if they heard another peep about it everyone would be expelled for a week. I wasn't lying when I told him that his friends are assholes.

“What?” Willow elbows me in the side. “You’re chewing on your bottom lip,” she whispers. I let my lip go. I’m going to ask Reid about that.

Finally the bell rings, freeing us all from class. We have block schedule, so there are four long classes every day.

“I’ll see your ass at lunch,” Willow says before we part ways. Our next classes are in different directions. I jump when someone puts their arm around me. It takes me less than a second to realize that someone is Reid. I try and shake it off, but he doesn't budge. I forgot that we have English together. People part the hallway for Reid. I don’t know if it’s because of his size or something else. I glance up at him as we walk.

“The football team—”

Reid cuts me off. “Means nothing to me. Football is over. I barely talk to them and when I do it’s at school.”

“Jackson,” I remind him.

“The only person besides you that I’ll talk to once this school year ends.” I try and read his face but don’t get anything.

“Remember last year when they did that competition about—” He pulls me closer to him as he again cuts me off. This better not be a habit.

“I reported them.” I stop walking, but Reid nudges me. “You hate being late.”

“Did you really?” I hold my breath for a moment, wanting that to be true. That’s the Reid I remember growing up.

“Yes. It was disgusting. Also one of the reasons I told them all to stay the fuck away from you or I’d kick them from the team.”

“Is that even possible?” Isn't that up to the coach or something?

“If I say it's them or me.” Okay, that would work. This school lives and breathes football.

“Is that why no one ever asked me out?” Things start to dawn on me. “You cockblocked.” This time it’s Reid that stops walking.

“I guess I did. None of them are worth your time, babe. I can