Slow Play (The Rules #3)(67)

“What sort of girls are you referring to Shepard?” I ask innocently. I want to hear his answer because not too long ago, he was hanging with those same types of girls too.

“You know the type. Always eager to please.” He takes a big chug of coffee then sets his cup in the sink. “Let’s get out of here.”

Nice way to change the subject. I get why he’s doing it. Closely examining me and my habits when it comes to women means Shep has to examine his past behaviors as well. I’m not perfect, I’ve never claimed to be. Neither has Shep. But he’s turned his life around these last six months with Jade. He’s a different man. But his past still lingers, as does Gabe’s—and they have to face it every day when they look at me.

They’ve never liked that. I know. It always felt personal, like maybe they didn’t like me much anymore either. And that hurt, not that I’d ever admit it. I’d much rather pretend I was my normal, * self. I wanted to piss them off more so I’d at least get a reaction.

Infantile? Yeah. But I couldn’t help it.

Then I go and find a girl. A girl I actually like. A girl I want to spend more time with. That’s all I can commit to for now. I can’t say I want a girlfriend. I definitely can’t say I’m in love with her. But I can say that I like Alexandria. I like her a lot.

And for once, admitting that to myself doesn’t scare me.

“You ready to go?” Shep asks, knocking me from my thoughts.

“Yeah.” I drain my cup and set it into the sink as well, offering Shep a smile. “I’m f*cking starving.”

“Regular sex with someone you like does that to a person,” Shep says smugly as we walk out into the garage.

I don’t answer, just open the passenger side door of Shep’s car and climb inside. We ride together every Monday. This week it’s his turn to drive.

My phone dings and I check it, smiling when I see who the message is from.

What are you doing this afternoon?

I answer her quickly, ignoring the kissy noises Shep’s making as he fires up his car and backs out of the garage.

Spending it with you.

Her reply is just as fast.

☺ Awesome. So you’ll go on a run with me?

I frown. My girl runs? Since when?

You run?

I do. Well, I haven’t for a while but I think I need to get back into the habit. All this pizza I’m eating with my roommates is ruining my figure.

Please. She’s so thin I wonder where she puts it all.

You are perfect just the way you are.

You’re such a flatterer.

I’m not trying to flatter her. It’s the truth. She sends me another text before I can reply.

Text me when you’re done okay?

“Texting first thing in the morning. You two are so cute,” Shep says in a mock falsetto.

I’d hit him if he weren’t driving. “Fuck off,” I mutter as I send her one last text.

I’ll talk to you later. Have a good morning.

You too. xoxo

“What does it mean when a girl texts you a bunch of x’s and o’s?” I ask, frowning at my screen.

“Are you for real right now?” When I send Shep a helpless look he shakes his head, muttering under his breath. “It means hugs and kisses, dumbass. Jesus, where have you been? Living under a rock?”

His mocking words slide right off me. No one has ever sent me hugs and kisses in the form of x’s and o’s in my life. That probably makes me pitiful but I don’t care. In fact, I’m damn glad Alex is the first to ever do it.

So glad, I smile all the way to the diner.

Running with Tristan this afternoon was a huge mistake. Not only did he leave me in the dust more than once, he also made it look so easy. I’m huffing and puffing, trying my best to keep up while he’s running beside me, barely breaking a sweat and looking damn good while doing it. All the while he’s chatting me up without taking a breath.

I mean seriously, who is this guy?

Your potential boyfriend?

I shove the giddy-inducing thought to the back corner of my mind.

“I thought you said you were a runner,” he taunts as we’re in the home stretch. Otherwise known as a few blocks from my house. He’s turned around so he’s running backward, not paying attention to what he could possibly run into and I want to punch him for making it look so easy.

I also want to squeal with joy and tell everyone that guy’s mine. But that might freak him out so I keep my mouth shut.

“I warned you it’s been a while,” I huff out. I’ve pretty much given up, keeping up as best as I can while walking since I’ve given up on the running part as he runs ahead of me. Backward-runs, that is. He grins, too cute for words, the sun shining down upon him, casting him in this golden glow that makes him look downright…angelic.

Funny, considering he calls me angel on occasion, thanks to that costume I wore when I first met him.

He’s wearing a red T-shirt that clings to his chest in all the right places and black track pants, the type that button up the sides. Wonder what he would do if I went up to him and tried to rip his pants off…

“You should go to the gym with me,” he offers nonchalantly, interrupting my dirty thoughts.

“Really?” I try my best to remain nonchalant and not read too much into what he says. Of course, I could be insulted and think he’s making a veiled reference that I need to work out. I’m so thin—built just like my mom, who has the same willowy figure, so I know that’s not true. But I am fairly weak. “Am I not muscular enough for you, Prescott?”