AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I frown. Is this guy for real?
I mean sure, he’s built like a wall so I probably shouldn’t be picking fights with him. I don’t mean he looks like a small garden wall either. He’s built like the great freaking wall of China or something, because this guy is so huge he’s blocking the light from the door, which he left open. And he’s got me thinking in similes and metaphors. Ugh. I’m all kinds of messed up now.
“Erm, yes. You did,” I tell him. Just apologise already. Even if he doesn’t mean it. It’s the polite thing to do. It’s a societal construct, and I have a love hate relationship with those. Just do the right thing!
“No. I kicked your chair. Not you.” He smirks at me, slate grey eyes twinkling, and I instantly hate him. Because he’s right.
My mouth gapes like a gasping fish as I try desperately to form some kind of comeback when he smirks at me again – holy crap he is sexy when he does that – and reaches out to tug a lock of my white blonde hair.
His huge busted up knuckles graze my jawline. I freeze. A stranger is touching me.
A. Stranger. Is. Touching. Me.
Summer turns and gives me a look of concern, knowing that this is the time I’d normally start freaking the fuck out. I was suspended from primary school on my very first day for punching a boy who touched me. I was four.
But…the only thing worse than being touched by a total stranger, no matter how handsome, is unexpectedly liking it.
Silence envelopes me in a warming embrace, more comforting than any weighted blanket or white noise machine. I know. I’ve tried them all. My eyes widen in wonder and my lips form an ‘O’ of surprise. When this guy...this sexy, intimidating, maddening stranger...when he touches me, all the noise stops. Disappears, like it was never there to begin with.
I don’t remember the last time I sat in a crowd and heard total silence. I sigh in sheer bliss, melting down into my seat as I sink deeper into peace.
The arrogant asshole looks insufferably smug. Does he think my contented sigh is from his touch?
Disgusted, I huff and turn my back on him, but that still doesn’t stop him leaning forward once more to tug on my hair again. I grit my teeth and growl but don’t give him the dignity of a response.
Especially when he stretches out in the row behind me, crossing his legs underneath my seat so that his foot knocks against mine. I feel like I should stamp on his toes, or at the very least ask him to move, but with the press of his ankle against mine, the silence remains. And I’m too weak, too intoxicated by it, too selfish to give it up. So I sit there, with my playlist on pause, able to actually listen to the dean. Able to breathe. Able to think.
It’s heaven.
But all too soon it’s over and everyone is packing up, making noise, and moving out. Summer waits until the worst of the crowds are gone, knowing that I’ll be upset if we get caught in the press of strangers, before helping me to my feet. Arrogant asshole lack-of-personal-foot-space-guy is already gone, and I’m distracted by his absence. So much so that when Summer suggests we go and get a drink, I automatically agree without even trying to think of an excuse.
