Here, right now, is my time.
I remember having this same ‘rule the school’ feeling in the eighth grade and my friends and I reveled in it, as fourteen-year-old boys will do. We were obnoxious as hell and ran that campus like we owned it, which we thought we did.
I’m definitely going to do the same thing again this year too. I’ve earned this spot.
My class load this year isn’t too strenuous. Not like I’m going to skate by my senior year, but at least it’s relatively easy. My friends and I have already compared our class schedules, so I know who’s in what class with me for the most part—with one exception.
Addie Douglas.
I have no idea if she’s in any of my classes or not, and like a complete ass, I haven’t talked to her since the party at Bayshore. Though what was I supposed to say?
Hey, it was fun sitting with you in your car. Don’t know what got into me, holding your hand like I did when I had a girlfriend at the time, but I got rid of her so…want to go out sometime?
Yeah. I’m sure she’d respond well to that.
Besides, I was busy the last few days. Football practice kicked my ass. Thoughts of how I needed to end things with Sasha also preoccupied my time. After our breakup, she blocked me everywhere she could, but my friends sent me the video she posted on her private story the night we split. Looking all sexy and shit with her tits in the camera.
Whatever. If she wants to find someone new, I could give a damn. I’m over her.
Completely.
So yeah. It wasn’t a good time for me to reach out to Addie.
Until today. Today, I’m ready. I’m single. She’s single. I need to make a move before Liam beats me to the punch.
The asshole.
The way I hear Liam talk about her at practice, they’re texting on a daily basis. He’s gone so far as to say that they’re officially talking—which is code for them speaking with each other exclusively. When that happens, usually a couple are on their way to actually being together.
If that’s the case, Liam moves fast.
And I’m completely fucked. Yet again.
First period I have English and Addie isn’t in there, which isn’t a surprise. She’s in honors English and I’m in college prep.
Second period is American Government, again no Addie.
The entire morning, I don’t see her. Every passing period between classes, I’m looking for her familiar dark head, those pretty blue eyes and the smile that gets me every time I see it, but nope.
I don’t see her, and it’s fucking depressing.
By the time lunch arrives, I’m feeling dejected. Down and out. Hopeless, even.
I should’ve realized a long time ago I can’t get my hopes up over this girl. Something always gets in the way. We’re never on the same page, and I’m getting impatient.
Maybe I should just give in to Liam and be done with it.
We all go off campus and grab McDonald’s—not the lunch of champions, but we’ve waited the last three years to be seniors, so we can leave school for lunch, and we’re going to celebrate. Liam is with us, along with most of the seniors from the football team.
Guess he’s not so official with Addie that he has lunch with her. I make a point not to sit with him so I don’t have to listen to him talk about her. It’s easier that way.
By the time lunch is over and we’re back on campus, we only have two periods left. I walk into my World Religions class to find Addie sitting at a desk with no one else nearby, her lips curled in the faintest smile as she watches something on her phone. There’s not a friend of hers in sight.
Not a friend of mine in sight either.
Excitement filling me, I stare at her, taking in the tight black top she’s wearing and how it reveals a bit of skin. Nothing too scandalous, just her lower back, but it’s enough to have me curious.
But then again, when it comes to Addie, I’m always intrigued.
About everything.
Deciding to just go for it, I approach her desk, plopping into the chair right next to hers. “Hey, Adds.”
She glances up from her phone so quick I’m afraid she just gave herself whiplash. “Beck. Hey.”
Her voice is breathy. Almost like a whisper. Maybe she’s surprised to see me? I don’t know.
“Hi.” I smile at her like a dope and stare, while she does the same thing, her lips curling, her nose scrunching a bit.
Adorable.
“I’m so glad you’re in this class. None of my friends are. They all took it last year,” she says, glancing around.
The class is filling up quickly, mostly with juniors.
“I had friends in this class last year too. My schedule wouldn’t allow it, and I wasn’t going to take it, but Ava pushed me to,” I tell her.
“Yeah, Jos said the same thing. She loved this class.” Addie’s smile grows. “How is Ava?”
“Great. She’s spending a lot of time with your sister.” Eli Bennett and Diego Garcia—my sister is married to Eli and Addie’s is married to Diego—both play for the Seattle Seahawks. “Always chasing after kids.”
“Jos is doing the same. I wish they lived closer,” Addie says, her voice full of longing.
“Me too.”
My mind suddenly fills with images of the two of us going to Seattle together to see our sisters. That would be fun…
But, of course, I’m dreaming big time because this girl views me as a friend and that’s it, though I’d give anything to change her mind. She’s too busy talking with Liam to see me as anything other than the guy she’s known for what feels like forever. Yeah, we might have chemistry, but it’s never enough for her to act on. Maybe it’s not enough for me to act on either, considering I never really fuckin’ do.
I think of that one time in the bathroom at that party last fall, when I almost kissed her. The timing was awful. I was with Sasha and Addie was with Jonah and damn it, I’m not a cheater. The guy interrupting us by knocking on the bathroom door right before my lips touched hers was the only thing that prevented it from actually happening.
I came this close to cheating on Sasha and I might’ve not been able to forgive myself. Addie might’ve viewed me differently too. That would’ve ruined everything between us.
Thank God it didn’t actually happen.
But then again, I wish it had happened because at least I’d know what Addison tastes like. And right now, that is the biggest question lingering in my mind.
What do this girl’s lips taste like? How would she feel in my arms? A perfect fit? What would it be like to have her melt against me, whispering my name when I keep kissing her, her fingers in my hair, my hands on her waist, sliding down to her ass—
“Maybe someday our families should go up together and visit them,” Addie suggests, her sweet voice interrupting my increasingly dirty thoughts.
About her.
“Yeah, maybe.” Doubtful, but it’s fun to dream.
“How’s your first day of school going?” she asks, changing the subject.
“Better now that I see you’re in this class with me.” I probably shouldn’t have said that, but I’m shooting my shot, just like that fucker, Liam.
Her cheeks turn the faintest shade of pink. “I’m glad you’re in this class too.” She ducks her head, her lips still curled up. “I’m sorry about what happened Saturday.”