Playing Hard to Get(97)

“Please, call me Chelsea. And that makes sense, considering you’re an English tutor. A writer. That would be fun! He told you I was his dad’s tutor, right? That’s how we met.” His parents share a look, and it’s full of nostalgic love.

“He did tell me. Such a coincidence.”

“When he let me know he was getting a tutor, I said he could be meeting the love of his life and he denied it. Now look at the two of you.” Chelsea beams.

Owen nudges his wife’s shoulder, also looking pleased.

I glance over at Knox to find him watching me, his brows lowered, a question in his eyes. Was it over the use of the word love? That might’ve scared him. I don’t know what his feelings are for me yet, but I do know he likes me. A lot.

Could he be the love of my life?

God, I hope so.





After breakfast, Knox drives over to the campus to drop me off at the bookstore.

“I’m going to walk her to the store,” Knox tells his parents after he parks the car in the twenty-minute loading/unloading zone. “Give me a few.”

Before they can say anything, he shuts the door and smiles over at me. “I have something for you.”

I’m frowning. “What is it?”

He walks to the back of his car and pops open the trunk, pulling out a small gift bag that he hands over to me. “Open it and find out.”

I reach inside the bag and pull out a T-shirt that looks like our football team’s jerseys. On the back it says ‘Maguire’ across the top with his number on it. Eighty-eight.

“I want you to wear it to the game. I know we’re public and everyone knows we’re together, but I want them to know we’re really together.” His expression turns serious. “I want to see you wear my number.”

“I love it.” I clutch the shirt to my chest, overwhelmed at his words. The look on his face. “Of course I’ll wear it.”

“Look inside. There’s more.”

Glancing into the bag, I see that there’s a pack of face paint. Red and white and gold, which are our school colors. “What’s the paint for?”

“I thought it might be fun for you. I got a ticket for Natalie too, and I know Blair is going to the game as well. You can all go together and paint your faces before the game. If you want.” He shrugs, suddenly seeming unsure.

Unsure is not a word I would ever use to describe Knox Maguire.

I shove the shirt back into the bag and wrap my arms around him, squeezing him tight. “I love it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He hugs me close, pressing his lips to my forehead. “My parents adore you.”

“They’re so nice. I really like your mom.”

“I knew you would.”

I tip my head back, smiling up at him. “For someone who says he has zero boyfriend experience, you do the job pretty well.”

“You make it easy for me. I just want to see you happy. That’s my end goal.” He leans in and kisses the tip of my nose. “You are my end goal, Jo Jo.”

He walks with me to the bookstore and I think about what he said. What the words imply. Am I really his end goal? Or was he just caught up in the moment and he said something he doesn’t really mean? I don’t want to ask him about it.

I’m afraid of his answer.

Most likely I’m overthinking it. When he’s ready to tell me how he feels, he’ll let me know. Knox isn’t one to hold back his emotions, something I appreciate. Too many men out there are repressed creatures who are afraid to be vulnerable, but not Knox. He’s opened himself to me more than once, and I’ve fallen a little more in love with him every single time.

But what if he doesn’t feel the same way? I don’t like giving someone the upper hand in a relationship. The one with more feelings, with more on the line, is always the one at a disadvantage, and I’ve already been there before.

I don’t think I could handle going through something like that again.

“I’ll pick you up later tonight for dinner,” he tells me when we stop a few feet away from the bookstore’s entrance. “Around six-thirty. Is that okay?”

“Sounds great.” I smile at him, holding up the bag. “Thank you again for this.”

“Can’t wait to see you wearing my number tomorrow.” He kisses me, lingering a little too long, his tongue swiping out for a quick lick. “Don’t know why I didn’t ask you sooner.”

“I’m glad you did.” My entire body tingles when he slips his arm around my waist, his hand landing on my ass. “Some girls might get jealous though.”

“Good. Let them be jealous. I want everyone to know you’re mine.” He kisses me again, fiercer this time, as if he wants to leave his mark.

It works. I float all the way into the bookstore. I float the rest of the afternoon, caught up in my feelings for Knox.

If anything bad happens between us, it’s going to hurt so much. But I’m willing to take that risk.

Only for him.





THIRTY-SEVEN





JOANNA





“Is it too over the top?” I turn to face Natalie, bracing myself for her criticism.

It’s Saturday, just after noon, and we’re getting ready for the game—Natalie, Blair and me. We’re crowded in my bathroom, the face paint all over the counter, all three of us covering our faces in our school colors.