I look at Ian and shake my head. “It’s like I’m not even here.”
Ian smirks. “Who knew you could be catty.”
This time, Alex finally joins in with a roll of his eyes. “I don’t know if catty is the right word for her. Grace is definitely a smartass when she wants to be.”
I shrug innocently. It’s not my fault some people bring out my sassy side. Maybe it’s a dancer thing, hooked up to the theatrical side of me that likes to be overly dramatic for the sake of putting someone in their place. Like the girl who outright hates me for having her boy toy.
“Is there an issue that I need to be aware of?” Mrs. Voit’s voice wavers out to the crowd. “Because I have no qualms about making this a project assignment where it’ll be more than your final grade that’s vastly approaching. Perhaps you can keep the theatrics of your quarrel to yourself until the end of class, hmm?”
A smile tugs at my mouth as I turn back around to face the screen. I know I should feel somewhat ashamed, but I don’t. I can’t help it.
Class drags by as the movie continues. It’s one of those old black and white films that has barely any speaking in it. The dancing, though, now that’s phenomenal. It’s the twenties era costumes that twirl around you with a high tempo beat to dance to.
Finally, the movie comes to an end and the lights flicker back on. It takes practically no time for everyone to grab their things and then exit the door. I offer Mrs. Voit an apologetic smile as I leave, hoping she sees that while I didn’t start it, I wasn’t in any rush to end it either. Which doesn’t help any, but whatever.
“So,” Alex says as he reaches for my hand. “That was interesting.”
“I’d say so.”
He looks down at me, the sun highlighting the golden streaks in his dark hair. “I really don’t know what to say to you,” he sighs. “I feel like I need to apologize for those girls even though I know technically I didn’t do anything.”
I pull in a breath. “Honestly? I’m not worried about you. Or those girls. They annoy the shit out of me and yeah, I’m a little jealous that they think they have a right to you. But I know what kind of person you are, so as much as it may make me feel insecure sometimes, I trust you.”
Alex doesn’t say anything for a minute. In fact, he’s not even looking at me as we continue to walk side-by-side.
“Earth to Alex,” I say after several long moments. “You in there?”
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “I just wasn’t expecting that.”
“Why? What were you expecting?”
He shrugs a little. “I don’t know. You to go off on them? Tell them all about how the great Alex Hunter and why he became the playboy? Then throw it in my face and storm out of the room? That crossed my mind that it might happen.”
I balk, stunned that he said that. “You think I would seriously do that?”
“No. I don’t know. I just assumed that’s what would happen under pressure. Worst case scenario and all that. But you didn’t do any of it, just defended yourself and I don’t know how I feel right now. In awe? Hell yeah. A little shocked that you just admitted to trusting me? Definitely hell yeah.” He runs a hand through his hair and smiles a little.
“Well, I wouldn’t do that, just for the record. I know who you are.”
“I know who you are, too. It’s just...when Lila and Killian first got together she flipped because of all the girls, you know? So I just made the assumption that you would do the same.”
“It’s not like I wasn’t pre-warned about them,” I shrug. “And I’m a little more spunky in this area than Lila is, no offense to her. The girls who act like that chick in class, they bother me. But I’m clearly a better person and have more going for me than my tits.”
Alex laughs, slinging his arm around my shoulder as we huddle close together. A light snow is starting to fall from the sky and I blow out a breath of air just to watch it make smoke in front of me.
“It’s nice out here.”
“I love the snow,” Alex smiles. “I know we get it every year, but I love the kind that doesn’t always stick when it falls. Playing in that kind of weather is always my favorite.”
“You’ll probably want to go somewhere cold in the NFL then,” I sigh. “Like Montana or something.”
“There’s no NFL team in Montana.”
I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean. You’ll play for the Packers, then. I know it’s cold in Wisconsin.”
“And then you’ll dance inside where it’s all warm. See? It’s a win-win.”
I pause in the middle of the path we’re standing on. A few people have to shuffle by us since we’re in the way. “Are you making future plans for us?”
“It’s just talk, Grace.”
But I can see it in his eyes. It’s not just talk. He wants it, just like he wanted it in high school. And back then it had scared the ever-loving hell out of me. Now, though? It just felt right, felt like it was the most practical thing in the world.
“Stop,” Alex says softly.
“Stop what?”
“If you’re going to spout off some bullshit about how that’s never going to happen, then I don’t want to hear it, okay? Just let me have this.” He looks down at me. “Please.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Alex asks while looking skeptical. “You’ll let me have it?”
I nod my head. “I’ll let you have it. And for the record, it doesn’t sound that bad. Especially if I get to dance inside where it’s warm.”
Alex tucks his fingers beneath my chin, tilting it up until I’m looking him in the eyes. He looks so sincere and vulnerable right now, I’m brought back to the kid that stole my heart all those years ago. “You’re perfect, do you know that?”
“Nobody’s perfect.”
“You’re perfect for me, Grace Hart.” He tips my chin up more until he brushes his lips against mine softly. They’re so warm, it’s like I could melt into him.
So I do.
I slide my arms up his shoulders until I’m kissing him back full-heartedly and then some. It’s a sweet kiss, something that makes your toes curl up in your shoes and lights a spark inside of you. Every dim-lighted space is suddenly filled with a light that makes everything shimmer and shine.
Kissing Alex is like kissing sunshine.
“I love you.”
It’s so soft that I almost don’t hear it. Like he mumbled it to himself without even realizing. But I did hear it, and a huge grin overtakes my face. I’m sure I look crazy right now, but dammit, my boyfriend who’s had my heart since we were fifteen just told me he loved me.
“Don’t,” Alex says softly.
“Don’t what?”
“Say it back.”
I step away from him, thrown off guard. “Why not?”
“Grace,” Alex says while running his hand over his mouth. “Just don’t say anything back, okay?”
“Why? Are you taking it back?” I narrow my eyes and poke him in the chest with my finger. “You can’t just tell someone that you love them and take it back, Alex Hunter. That is not how it works. So too bad, so sad, because I heard you and you can’t take it back.”
“I’m not taking it back, I just said don’t say it back.”
“You can’t tell me what to do,” I scoff. “That’s not how this works.”
“Grace,” he sighs. “I just don’t want to hear your million reasons on why it’s too soon or why it’s a terrible idea or anything that even remotely comes close to that, alright? So let me just say it and then be done.”
“Didn’t you just tell me that you didn’t think that I would screw you over? Why would you say that and then assume that I would say something after you tell me you love me?”
Alen tucks his hands into his front pockets and shrugs.
“God, you’re such a jerk,” I scowl and march off towards the Union without him following me. I stop about twenty feet away and swing back around towards him. “And for the record, I love you, too, assho
le.” And then I turn back around to head towards the Union.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Alex
I can’t stop grinning. I know she just called me an asshole after she told me she loved me. But dammit, my girlfriend just told me she loved me.
And called you an asshole.
But who cares about that part?
I pick up speed to catch up with her. To say what? I don’t have the slightest idea, but I’m so over the moon she could call me an asshole until she’s blue in the face and all I’d want to do is kiss her.
Grace is in the Union, shoving off her puffy coat as she looks at Lila who is talking to her but doesn’t seem to notice her mood. I give her a minute to collect herself before heading towards the food area.
I quickly walk over to the table, noting that all the people I deem important are there. “Guys,” I announce, “she said she loved me.” God, I’m grinning so hard I’d be amazed if my cheeks didn’t get stuck this way.
Hoots and hollers go around the table and I practically vibrate with all my excitement. It’s only Lila who arches her eyebrows at me. Okay, so maybe she wasn’t oblivious to Grace’s mood.
“What exactly did she say?” Lila asks when I flop down next to her, leaving a seat between us for Grace.
“She called me an asshole and told me she loved me,” I smile.
“Only you would be so happy to be called an asshole when a girl is professing her love,” Killian snorts from across the table at me.
“It’s my own fault, I got scared she wouldn’t say it back so I told her not to say anything. But she fucking told me she loves me, man.” I tilt my head back and thank everything holy. “God, it feels amazing.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Ian snorts. “But congratulations man.” He reaches across the table and gives me a fist pump.
“Does this mean you’re not mad at me anymore?” I ask.
Ian rolls his eyes. “I think you’re less of an asshole than this one,” he points at Killian, “but you two wouldn’t be you without interfering in my life in some way.”
“It’s not entirely on purpose,” Killian says. “We just want you to be happy like we’re happy. And the way you went on about that girl, it just sounded like she made you really fucking happy. I was just trying to be encouraging.”
“By placing a bet?” I arch an eyebrow.
“You made a bet with Ian?” Lila gapes. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“What?” Killian looks taken aback. “Don’t be mad at me, baby doll. He didn’t even accept the bet so it’s all good.”
“It’s true,” Ian sighs and then leans back in his seat. “But I think I will.”
“Woah, man,” Killian holds up his hands. “That was a joke. I just thought it would give you a little encouragement to talk to the girl.”
“And I will,” Ian sits up straighter. “So I’m taking your bet.”
“But we didn’t even bet anything,” Killian scowls.
“And you’re not going to,” Lila interjects. “No way, no how.”
“Fine,” Ian rolls his eyes. “But I still accept the challenge.” He holds out his hand for Killian to take, and to my surprise, Killian shakes it.
“Okay,” Killian nods. “But I don’t want anything from this, like Lila said. I just wanted to give you a push.”
“Yeah, I got it,” Ian smirks.
Oh jeez, and these are my friends.
“I can’t believe you’re okay with being called an asshole,” Lila snorts at me, bringing us back to our previous topic.
“She’s called me an asshole so many times it’s not really all that different,” I shrug nonchalantly. “I mean, what’s the saying? Something about how if you say something so many times it loses its meaning.”
“It’s still ridiculous,” Lila says. “And here she comes.”
I turn around in my chair, grinning as Grace stands behind me, fuming. “Babe,” I open my arms wide before shoving her chair back so she can sit down.
“Don’t you babe me, Alex Hunter,” Grace growls and drops her plate on the table angrily. “Go sit somewhere else.”
“Are you sure she loves you, man?” Killian grins from across the table. “‘Cause that sure sounded like hate to me, not love.”
Lila kicks him under the table.
“Oh my God, you told them?” Grace practically shrieks. “What is wrong with you? That’s private!”
“If it makes you feel any better, he said you also called him an asshole,” Ian offers out.
“No, that doesn’t make me feel any better!” Grace huffs. “You,” she points at me before grabbing my sweatshirt sleeve and starts yanking, “get up, we need to have a private talk.”
“Ooh, Alex is in trouble,” Killian sings as I stand up and let my irate girlfriend lead me around by my sleeve.
We make it around the corner, standing near the hallway lined with trash cans before she releases me, folding her arms across her chest and glaring at me. I should probably say something, but really all I want to do is kiss her. So I tug her arm until she’s pressed against me and press my lips to hers.
It doesn’t last long. She backs away in a huff. “Alex, stop kissing me!”
“Why?” I try not to grin.
“Because you’re being cute and I’m trying to be serious right now.”
“I feel like I’m seriously cute,” I goad her on.
“That is not what I meant and you know it,” Grace says and pokes me in the chest with her tiny finger. “You can’t just go spouting off our private business to our friends.”
“You said you loved me, I feel like that’s a pretty big thing that I should be allowed to gossip about.” I fold my arms over my chest and stare down at her. “Look, Grace, I know what I said came off as douchey, but I told you why I said it.”
“No you didn’t!” Grace fumes. “You just stood there staring at me!”
I cluck my tongue at her, “Nuh, uh, uh. I said that you were going to give me some shitty reason about why we couldn’t be together and that I didn’t want to hear it.”
“But I wasn’t going to give you some shitty reason!”
“Well,” I roll my eyes, “whatever reason you think is a good reason that I’m going to disagree with because I love you, I don’t want to hear about it.”
Grace opens her mouth, closing it and then opening it up again. She looks like a cute little fish breathing and trying to mime words except she doesn’t know what to say. And she would probably kill me if she found out that I just thought of her as a cute little fish.
“Thank you,” I say smugly. “That’s all I wanted. Get used to the idea and then just keep all your negative comments to yourself until you think they’re not worthy anymore. And then,” I emphasize, “you can tell me you love me back. Problem solved.”
Grace closes her eyes and does her mental count to ten thing. I only know she’s doing it because she’s mumbling the numbers. She used to do that when I was infuriating her and she was trying not to explode. Guess old habits die hard.
“Better?” I ask when she opens her eyes again.
“You’re going to shut up and listen to me for one minute, okay?” she says sternly.
I try and fight back the grin. She’s so cute when she’s bossy. God, I’ve got it bad.
“First of all, you can’t just drop a huge bomb like that on someone and then tell them to not say anything. That’s completely stupid. Of course I’m going to have something to say about it. And just so you know, I can probably come up with a hundred reasons as to why us continuing to date would be a bad idea.”
“Well, that’s–”
Grace gives me the evil eye before saying, “Don’t interrupt.” She pulls in another breath. “Like I was saying, just because I can come up with those reasons doesn’t mean I’m going to listen to them. If I let our past dictate what we do now, then we wouldn’t even be here. We’d still be avoiding each other. So no, you don’t have the right to tell me not to say a
nything.”
“Because you love me.”
That seems to cause her to deflate as she looks warily at me. “Yeah, I love you.”
“Then I don’t see what the problem is.”
“You told me not to say it!”
“We just discussed why I didn’t want you to say it,” I point out, “again. And then you gave me your monologue on how I was wrong, so I accept being wrong. So now can we just say it like normal people?”
Grace straightens her back and lifts her chin in the air. “I already said it. It’s your turn.”
“Well, I said it twice,” I smirk. “So it’s your turn.”
“I said it twice, too!” Grace huffs.
“Yeah, but you called me an asshole so I negated that one. So really you only said it once.”
“Fine,” she grinds out through her teeth. “I love you.”
“Aw, sweetheart,” I grin and pull her into a bear hug. “I love you, too.”
“It’s still too soon to say it, though,” she grumbles into my chest.
“Sorry,” I boast loudly, “I can’t hear all your negativity right now. I’m too busy basking in the love that my girlfriend just bestowed upon me.” I crush her tighter to my chest and rock her back and forth. “Shh.”
“Quit manhandling me!” Grace huffs in my chest.
I reluctantly let her go. She tries to straighten out her clothes and hair quickly as people pass us with questionable stares. I don’t give a damn who saw or heard us, because the fact of the matter is that this girl is mine and she’s not going anywhere. Not again.
“Let’s just get back to lunch, okay?” Grace asks and holds out her hand for me to take.
I grip her fingers inside my hand and tug her back towards the seating area of the Union.
Our friends, nosy as can be, are all patiently waiting for us by staring us down as we make our way across the room back towards them.
“Did you break up?” is Killian’s first question. “Because we put it to a vote and no one wants to pick sides.”
“We didn’t break up,” I roll my eyes. “Jesus, people can fight without breaking up you know.”
The Wrong Girl_Hanson University_Book Two Page 18
