Maybe This Time (Maybe #1)(28)

“Jade.”

“Why is she always around you? And why did you let her kiss you?” I ask, my voice gaining steel.

“I pushed her away, Summer,” he growls, and I can tell he’s getting annoyed. Well, too damn bad.

“Clearly not soon enough!” I snap.

“Who did you go on a date with last night?” he counters, turning it around on me.

“What’s your problem? We aren’t even together,” I say defensively, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Exactly,” he smirks, obviously feeling like he won this round.

“That doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt, Reid,” I say softly, avoiding looking at him.

He curses. “I didn’t want her. I only want you, Summer. You’ve gotten under my skin.”

“At least I didn’t kiss my date,” I say with a scowl.

“And you won’t get a chance to,” he says with finality. I want to stay mad, but we stare at each other for a few moments, and as usual his eyes penetrate through my every defence.

What is it about him?

“Will you come to my next fight?” he asks, suddenly looking a little unsure. His fingers drum on my comforter, waiting for me to reply.

“I have to warn you, I closed my eyes through most of the one last night,” I admit, scrunching my nose. Reid chuckles, shaking his head at me in amusement.

“How often do you fight?” I ask.

“There’s a fight on every week, but I usually go once a fortnight or sometimes once a month. There are only certain opponents I’m interested in fighting,” he tells me, tracing down my collarbone with his finger. When his finger reaches the top of my breast, I raise an eyebrow.

“Where does that finger think it's going?” I ask, smiling.

“I want you, when you’re ready,” he says, kissing me on my temple.

“And if I’m ready right now?”

“I’ll know when you’re ready, beauty. Now get ready, cos I’m taking you to my house.” He gets out of the bed and walks out of my room.





Chapter Eleven


“Can you at least look at me?” Ryan asks, standing next to me as I take a handful of popcorn.

I glance up at him, sighing like it’s a big deal. “What, Ryan?”

“Don’t be mad, babe, come on. I had to follow my brother’s wishes and he didn’t want me telling you anything,” he says, his eyes pleading with mine, begging for me to understand.

“You all made me look stupid,” I grumble, sliding over on the couch so he can take a seat next to me.

“That wasn’t our intention,” he says, grabbing a handful of popcorn.

“So I’ve heard.”

“Don’t be stubborn and just forgive me,” he says, throwing me one of his panty dropping smiles.

“Doesn’t work on me, Ryan, but nice try.”

He laughs, and then sobers. “I’ll make it up to you, alright, babe?”

“You better.”

Reid walks out, freshly showered, in a pair of basketball shorts slung low on his lean hips. I sigh in appreciation.

“Why don’t you drool over me like that?” Ryan mock sulks.

“You just don’t do it for me, Ry,” I tease.

“I look exactly like him!” He chuckles, shoving another hand of popcorn in his mouth.

“No, you don’t, I think your beer drinking is causing your abs to disintegrate,” I joke, laughing when I see the look on Ryan’s face. He narrows his eyes at me, and runs his hand up his abs, lifting the shirt up with the movement.

“Don’t think so babe, trust me, I’ve been getting no complaints,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Ryan?” Reid asks expectantly.

“Nope. I’m good right here, with my two fave people,” he says, smiling.

Reid grunts, and inserts himself next to me on the other side. “Hey, beauty,” he says, his lip tilting upwards.

I get butterflies every time he calls me that.

“Hey,” I say in a soft voice, his scent engulfing me. “You smell good,” I blurt out.

Reid’s eyes smile at me. “What are we watching?” he asks, putting his arm around me and pulling me closer towards him.

I press play on the remote. “The Notebook.”

They both object.

“This is our punishment, isn’t it?” Reid asks, heaving a heavy sigh.

I grin. Ryan mumbles something about me being evil, while Reid raises an eyebrow in amusement.

Then we watch the movie.





*****


Reid opens the door for me as we walk into the restaurant. This is our first official date, and I’m a little nervous. I play with the charm on my handbag, twisting it around my fingers. We sit in a booth, side by side.

“I’m pretty sure you’re meant to sit opposite me,” I say, grinning.

“Then I can’t touch you, so it doesn’t work for me.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Reid?” I joke, nudging him with my elbow.

“It’s me,” he whispers into my ear, then proceeds to bury his face in the crook of my neck and shoulder. A shiver of pleasure takes over my body.