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Pulling her closer to me, I smirk at her. “I know.” My lips are beside her ear. “I saw the textbook in your bag when I set it on your table yesterday.”
Her breath hitches, then rapidly expels as she turns her head, lips inches from mine. “Then why did you throw your books down and tickle me?”
A smirk pulls up my lips. “Because I wanted to hear you laugh.”
As I bend to pick up the books I dropped, she gasps slightly. Once I’ve gathered them, I stand, interlocking our fingers. “Come on, gorgeous.” I pull her behind me, leading her to the baskets.
I can’t help the smile that crosses my face from the dazed look on her face. I hoped I’d get that reaction from her. It proves what I’ve been wondering—she is affected by me.
And that makes me happier than I’ve been in fuckingyears.
Putting my books in a basket, I sneak a peek at her face. Irelynn’s cheeks are flushed as she stares at her feet, as though she’s trying to regain her composure.
She’s affected me so damn much since yesterday. I can’t believe I just met her and she’s permeated my thoughts, even when I was hanging with Darin. I don’t remember watching the football game that was on the TV.
I’m glad the movies we watched last night were all ones I’d seen before, because I couldn’t focus on anything excepther.
When the first movie ended and she told me she wanted to watch a horror movie, I was concerned that it would give her nightmares. But that concern was soon erased by her reaction. During the movie, Irelynn inched closer and closer until she was practically sitting on my lap. At one point, she turned her face into my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her. When she turned back to the TV, she melted into my body, her hand resting on my abs as she laid on my chest. It was heaven, breathing her in, feeling her warm body against mine.
Halfway through the movie, her eyes were heavy, and she struggled to keep them open. But then she heard a noise outside and her eyes snapped open, her face panicked. I pulled her closer, reassuring her everything was fine. The tension disappeared from her body, and she released a long, content sigh. My heart exploded inside my fucking chest. For the first inyears,I was completely relaxed and content.
It wasn’t long before her eyes closed and she drifted off in my arms. I watched her sleep for a while, staying awake to make sure that bastard didn’t try anything.
Then I breathed her in until I was too exhausted and content to keep my eyes open any longer. Despite the danger that William presented, I knew I’d wake at the first sign of any trouble.
And for the first time in years, I didn’t have any nightmares. I’m trying not to think about it, scared of what it means.
We head to the Psychology textbook section, and I pluck the Social Psych book from the top shelf, putting it into my basket. I give her a devilish grin and she rolls her eyes, making me chuckle.
My fingers are threaded through hers as we wait in the long checkout line. By this point, she seems completely comfortable, and I can’t help grinning. As my eyes move across the store, I tense, meeting William’s glacial blue eyes. He flicks his gaze to our joined fingers, then over to Irelynn, who remains oblivious to him. Watching her in my peripheral vision, I do my best to control my body language, so she isn’t aware William is here.
My eyes slice through him as I turn my head, as though I’m perusing the store. I glower at him, the warning clear on my face.
Don’t even fucking try it asshole, or I’ll kick your damn ass.
Sneering at me, William disappears through the exit doors. I watch him until he disappears and then I turn my attention to her. “Do you feel like a coffee?”
Her head lifts to mine. “Sure. On one condition.”
“Yeah. What’s that?” My lips quirk upward.
“You have to use the gift card I gave you to buy your textbooks.” Her chocolate eyes are locked on me, waiting for my confirmation. Although I hate that she spent money on me, or rather, her parents did, I know she will be insulted if I don’t use it.
I push a lock of curls behind her ear. “I’ll use it. You’ll be upset if I don’t. And I can’t have that.”
She swallows hard, affected by my words. A bright smile breaks across her face, happiness dancing in her eyes.
I’d use a thousand gift cards if it makes her smile like that.
“Thank you.” She leans on her tiptoes, her lips pressing against my cheek.
When she lowers back down, I smile at her, deeply affected by that simple act of affection. I squeeze her fingers, giving her a wink.
Her breath hitches in her chest and she looks away, her cheeks scarlet.
Yup, I definitely affect her. And I’m not going to think about why that makes me so damn happy.
When we get to the register and the cashier gives me the total, it’s less than the gift card total. “Give me one second.” Spotting a bear with the MVU t-shirt on it, I grab it from the shelf, then set it on the counter. Irelynn looks baffled as I swipe the gift card.
