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Nicole throws her head back and cackles. “You’re dating the wrong guys, Case.”
“Definitely the wrong guys,” Lola agrees with a snort.
While my sorority sisters continue their lively debate on the merits of celibacy versus the joys of sex, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Jordan . . .
I nearly rip my jeans freeing the damn thing, but my stomach plummets to my puked-on shoes when I see Elijah’s name light up the screen.
Still smiling. Best day ever.
It’s all I can do not to hurl my phone across the room.
His text taunts me again. The worst part of this whole thing is I actually like Elijah. Under different circumstances—before Jordan came onto the scene—I would’ve probably chosen him over the others.
I take a healthy swig of my wine, close my eyes, and I’m back there on the boat with him. He was right, the lake did fill up after about an hour, but with Trey hanging his head over the side, and the sails billowing all around us, it felt like we were completely alone out there. And our time together flew by while Elijah asked me about my childhood dreams. Told me all about his own. How he’d wanted to be a doctor since as far back as he could remember because he wanted to help people. The emotion in his declaration moved me. He’s one of the good ones, and in a very real way, I feel terrible that he never really had a chance.
His voice echoes in my head . . .
“Pick me, Kennedy.” His blue eyes locked on mine as he brushed a curl from my face. “To hell with the whole competition. Pick me because I care about you. Because I think you care about me, too. Just . . . pick me.”
His impassioned plea set my heart fluttering wildly behind my ribs. A month ago, I would’ve killed to hear his declaration, but everything changed after Jordan. “I still have two more dates to get through this weekend.”
He groaned and stared into the clear blue sky. “I just don’t want to lose you. Can’t you see how good we’d be together?” He stepped closer, feathering his fingers over my cheek. “Think about it, okay?”
Even as I nodded, I knew it was a lie. I’d made up my mind, even if Jordan changed his.
While I was lost in visions of hot cinnamon rolls and Jordan’s smile, Elijah pulled me in and kissed me. He must’ve mistaken my gasp of shock for pleasure and stepped up his game, grabbing both sides of my face and molding his soft lips to mine.
A roar of laughter to my right drags me back to the present as my conscience screams at me to purge the memory. I didn’t kiss Elijah on purpose, but does it even matter? Is it still cheating if you didn’t mean to do it? If Jordan had bothered to message me even once this morning, I wouldn’t have been lost in a haze when Elijah went in for the kill. This is all his fault for ignoring me.
I furiously tap out a message.
If you think you can ignore me all damn—
I don’t even get the whole thought down before an incoming message from Jordan pops onto the screen.
Did you have fun on your dates?
My pulse quickens as I erase the unfinished message and type out a reply.
Not even a little.
Good.
A laugh bubbles out of me. Even without the benefit of an emoji, I can clearly see his smirk in those four little letters. I’m not sure if I want to punch him or kiss him. Probably a little of both. But maybe there’s still hope for us yet.
I type when can I see you? then erase it before I hit send. I don’t want to sound as desperate as I feel. Instead, I opt for jealous?, hitting send before I change my mind.
His response is almost immediate. More than I’d like to admit.
I can’t wait to see you.
I wait on pins and needles for his reply, heaving a sigh of relief when it pops onto the screen.
Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.
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