I snort. “You’re too smart of a girl to believe something like that.”
“I don’t know what to believe,” she says.
“I know that you don’t seem too happy with him.”
She stiffens. “We’re just…hanging out.”
“Are you trying to convince yourself or me?”
She rolls her eyes. “Gavin, it’s over between us. I’m glad you’re helping me with the greenhouse, but I can’t trust you.”
Her voice cracks, and I can see it. Right there in her eyes, those deep pools of copper, she regrets what she just said. It gives me a hope like I’ve never had before.
“I lied to you, okay? And it was stupid. But I’ve never cared about anyone as much as I cared about you. If I could change your opinion of me, I would. In a heartbeat.”
Her breath hitches. I have to grit my teeth to stop myself from leaning forward and kissing her. She watches me for the longest moment, and I’m certain that at any second the bell will ring and we’ll be late to class.
“Ditch class with me,” I say. Holy shit. I said that. I can’t believe I said that.
Her eyes widen. “What? Why?”
I shrug. “Spend the day with me. I’ll win you over. I’ll show you that I’m better than him.”
Dammit, dammit, Gavin. No. I told myself to be better than this.
She looks at the floor, and then gradually brings her gaze up to mine again. “Gavin…” I can see the regret in her eyes. Sense the thoughts in her mind that swirl around, and then eventually land on what I don’t want to hear. “I can’t trust you. I’m sorry.”
“If you knew the real TJ, you wouldn’t trust him either.”
Her jaw flexes. “Yeah, well, he never lied to me.”
The bell rings, and we’re officially late for class. I take a deep breath. “Maybe you should read my letter.”
