Impossible Girl (Sexy Nerd Boys #2.5)

by K. M. Neuhold

  “School’s good. Not much new.” I consider telling her about Remy, but I don’t want to count any chickens before they hatch. To be honest, I don’t want to jinx our non-date by telling anyone about it.

  “Alright, well we’re looking forward to seeing you. Drive safe, okay sweetheart?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Love you both.”

  “Love you Daddy.”

  Chapter 4

  Remy

  The sound of my buzzer startles me around 6pm on Friday. I look down at my phone and see that I missed a text from Dex about fifteen minutes ago saying he was on his way. Great, I didn’t get a chance to make myself presentable before he got here. Oh, well. I wipe the charcoal coating my fingers onto my already smudged sweatpants and get up to buzz Dex in. My door creaks open a minute later while I’m still putting my art supplies away.

  “Is that your art?” Dex asks, his eyes wide with interest as he eyes the sketch book in my hands.

  I pause for a moment. I know he’s really asking if he can see it. I rarely share my art. I’m proud of my art, don’t get me wrong, but it’s also rather personal to me. I bite my lip and glance down at the charcoal drawings in my hand before nodding and offering him the thick sheets to look at. He takes them gently like he’s afraid he’ll hurt them somehow. His lips part as he looks through them and I have the urge to lift up onto my tip toes and press my lips to his. But I resist because that would be a bad start to the whole ‘not being a skank’ thing. Plus, I said this wasn’t a date and I really don’t want to send mixed signals.

  “These are incredible,” he says as he continues to study them. “There’s so much feeling in them, it’s like your soul on a piece of paper.”

  I gasp at his astute observation. His eyes meet mine and a tingle runs up my spine as electricity sparks between us.

  “I don’t show many people,” I whisper.

  “You should! These are amazing,” he insists. He pauses on the last one. I blush as I realize that I had left in one of the drawings of him.

  “Wow.”

  I reach to snatch it away but he pulls it to safety and continues to study it.

  “Can I have this?” His eyes still haven’t left the page.

  “Um, sure, I guess,” I mutter. “Let me get cleaned up quick. I was in the artist zone and didn’t hear my phone go off before.”

  “Sure, although you look awfully cute covered in charcoal smudges.” He smirks at me and I blush again.

  “Well if you like me messy, I can show you my edible body paint,” I offer batting my eyelashes at him. He stares at me with heat in his gaze for several seconds before clearing his throat and shaking his head.

  “Don’t do that darlin’.”

  “Don’t do what?” I ask taking a step closer to him with a flirtatious lilt still in my tone.

  “Just be real, please. I want to get to know you,” he pleads, searching my face for something. Warmth spreads through my limbs and our proximity has an unexpected effect on me. Heat and something else permeates the air between us.

  “How do you know that I’m not being real?” I challenge. Maybe ‘shallow vixen’ is all I really am.

  “You are sexy as hell, Remy, but there is so much more to you than that. I can tell, and I want to find out what it is.” His voice is deep and tender, making my heart beat faster. It’s almost like he can read my mind with his response.

  “Let me go clean up,” I repeat and hurry from the room before I throw myself at him,

  only to be rejected yet again.

  Dex

  I sigh with relief when she scurries from the room. I was seconds away from saying ‘screw it’ and just kissing her. And, my god, the idea of painting her with edible body paint and licking it off... I have to adjust my pants to hide my erection. I know that this is not a real date, but I have something planned that I hope will impress her enough to let me take her out for real.

  “So are you hungry?” Remy asks as she emerges from her bedroom wearing a pair of worn jeans and a red T-shirt that ride high, showing off just a sliver of the skin on her stomach. Ugh, she looks too damn good.

  “Actually, I had something in mind, but it’s kind of a surprise,” I explain sheepishly. I hope I’m not pushing my luck, since this is supposed to be a casual hang out.

  “Okay,” she says with a shrug.

  “Any musical requests?” I ask once we’re in the car.

  “Anything except for country music,” she says with a laugh. “No offense.”

  “None taken, I hate that whiny shit.” We both laugh.

  I put on a top 40 station and turn the volume low enough so we can talk without having to yell over the music. She picks up my book that’s in the center console, looks at the book, then looks at me quizzically.

  “What? Stephen Hawking’s The Universe in a Nutshell is fantastic. You should give it a read.”

  “No thanks. I think I’ll stick to my trashy romance novels, thank you very much.”

  “Well, if you want to learn about the universe, just let me know and I can lend you some Stephen Hawking.”

  “Alright, 20 questions. Go,” she commands.

  “Whoa, bossy,” I joke. “Alright, favorite color?”

  “Green.”

  “Favorite season?”

  “Spring. There’s something that just feels so good about stepping outside in flip flops and a tee shirt after a long winter.” she sighs contentedly at the thought. I have the urge to reach over and entwine our fingers, but I know that would definitely be ‘date’ behavior, so I resist.

  “Any pets growing up?”

  “No.” A sad look passes over her features. I want to ask more about her childhood but, truth be told, I’m scared. What if I do and she pulls away or shuts down?

  “I always wanted a dog. One day I am going to get a dog.”

  “What kind of dog?” I can’t see her as a small dog person.

  “I’ve always loved golden retrievers.” The sad look from before is replaced with a far-away, dreamy look. I want to make her look like that more often. “Do you like dogs?”

  “I love dogs. I had a German shepherd growing up. He was an amazing, loyal dog.”

  “So, where are we going? You’re not taking me out to the middle of nowhere to murder me are you?” she asks playfully.

  “Not to murder you,” I assure her. “But, I am taking you out to the middle of nowhere. I packed a picnic and I thought we’d go eat under the stars.” I run a hand through my hair, bracing for her rebuff.

  She twists in her seat to look at me better, her lips parted in surprise.

  “That’s amazing,” she whispers.

  “It’s no big deal.” I try to shrug it off. “I love star-gazing, I thought you might enjoy doing it with me.”

  “I like that idea.”

  We drive in silence for a few minutes before we reach my usual spot. I’ve come out here a lot to stargaze. This is the first time I’ve brought someone along though.

  “Don’t move,” I instruct as I get out of the car and rush around the other side. I pull open her door while she looks at me skeptically.

  “Why wasn’t I supposed to move?” she asks.

  “Because my mama raised me to open the door for a lady. I got the impression that you aren’t used to that type of thing and wouldn’t wait for me to get around the car to get your door. Couldn’t let you dishonor my momma, now could I?” she looks up at me with surprise written across her face. “What?”

  “No one has ever called me a ‘lady’ before. It was nice.” The pure smile she gave me nearly stopped me in my tracks. I reach for her hand and help her out of the car before rushing around to the trunk to grab the picnic basket and blanket.

  Once we’re comfortable, laid out at the top of the hill, I reach for the picnic basket I’d packed and hand her a sandwich.

  “It’s beautiful up here,” she says, gazing at the stars in awe.

  “I like coming up here when I feel upset or overwhelmed, becaus
e being under all of these stars makes everything feel insignificant. I kind of like it.”

  She laughs and takes a bite of her sandwich.

  “Has anyone ever told you that you’re kind of strange?”

  “All the time darlin’.”

  We eat in silence for a few minutes, just watching the stars.

  “I’m going to paint this when I get home,” she whispers as she lays back on the blanket.

  “So why study business when art is your passion?”

  She shrugs and I don’t think she’s going to answer my question. Then she lets out a sigh and turns to face me.

  “Nikki told me I should major in something practical and just keep art as a hobby,” she explains. “It’s not like I can make any money with my art.”

  “Your art is amazing, you could sell it at a gallery,” I insist. She shakes her head.

  “No. Nobody wants my pieces.” And with that the subject was closed.

  “So why did you change your mind about hanging out with me?”

  “I didn’t. You asked me on a date. I didn’t agree to a date, I only agreed to hang out,” she clarifies.

  “So is this like a try out then? If this goes well, you’ll go on a date with me?” I ask unable to keep the hope out of my voice.

  “No, I told you I don’t date,” she says firmly. “But we can keep hanging out, and I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to some good old-fashioned dirty fun.”

  “Hey now, my mama told me that nobody’s going to buy the cow if they can get the milk for free. So I’m not giving you any of my milk unless you go on a date with me. It’s my only bargaining chip.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” she looks at me with one eyebrow raised

  “Not kidding darlin’. Those are my rules.”

  “So you’ve never had casual sex?” Her voice is full of disbelief.

  “I never said that,” I reply with a laugh. “I don’t do that anymore.”

  “Why not?”

  “That’s a story for a different day, I think.” I’m not ready to tell her about Maya yet, I don’t want to freak her out too much on our first non-date.

  Chapter 5

  Remy

  By the time Tuesday rolls around again, I’m debating whether or not to go to my scheduled tutoring session with Dex. Friday night was not a date, but I did have fun. I expected a call or text from him, but Saturday and Sunday came and went without a word. By Monday, I felt like a loser for waiting by my phone all weekend for a guy. I’d even considered texting him, but I felt like that might come off as too desperate or needy. I never text guys, ever.

  So, it’s two minutes to noon and I’m standing outside of the Tutoring Center, gnawing my bottom lip in indecision. I could walk in there, not even mention Friday night or the fact that he hasn’t called, and rub it in his face that I don’t care. If I don’t go, he might think I’m upset that he didn’t call. I guess that decides it. I push my shoulders back and strut into the building with false confidence. Fake it ‘til you make it; that’s a thing people say, isn’t it?

  “Remy.” His eyes light up as I enter the room and my stupid traitor of a heart starts pounding in my chest.

  “Dex.” I nod at him and maintain a mask of nonchalance.

  “Listen, I meant to call or text you this weekend. I had a great time hanging out Friday. I’d love to do it again sometime this week if you’re free at all,” he says, his voice laced with sincerity. Damn him, I was ready to write him off as a jerk and move on with my life.

  “Sure.” I nod curtly, still trying to keep my poker face.

  “You’re mad at me?” It’s more of a statement than a question.

  I roll my eyes and pull out my calculus book and homework for this week.

  “Why would I be mad at you?” I challenge.

  “I would assume because I didn’t call or text you, but you didn’t call or text either. So, it’s not like I was ignoring you or blowing you off. I was out of town Saturday and Sunday,” he explains in an irritated tone.

  I sigh, I guess he’s got a point. It’s not like I should expect a call anyways. I’d been hoping for one though.

  “You’re right,” I say dropping the icy edge to my voice. “I was just being pissy. We should definitely hang out soon.”

  And with that we get down to our tutoring session. Dex must be some sort of genius because, by the end of the hour, I actually understand what’s going on in calculus.

  “Thank you so much, I might actually have a chance of passing the test next week!”

  “You’re a good student.”

  I shove my stuff into my bag and stand. We look at each other awkwardly for a minute.

  “So I don’t know if you’d be into it, but there’s this cool paintball arena not too far that Asher and I go to sometimes. I thought we could go too. Make it a group event,” he suggests running his hands through his delectable locks again.

  “That sounds fun, but I have to warn you that Nikki is competitive as hell.”

  “So am I. I’ll book it for this weekend.”

  My smile falls a little against my will Not that paintball doesn’t sound fun, but I don’t want to wait until the weekend to hang out again. God, I am such a girl.

  “But maybe we could hang out sooner than that too. Watch a movie or something?” he suggests. I bite my lip and gaze up at him.

  “That sounds good.” Just then, the door to the tutoring lab opens and Trey saunters in. “Text me,” I say hurriedly to Dex before Trey can make things awkward again.

  Dex

  Trey makes no attempt to hide his appreciation of Remy’s ass as she walks out of the tutoring center.

  “Mmm-mmm,” He makes a noise of appreciation once she’s gone, then turns to grin at me.

  “So, Rem is a real firecracker in bed isn’t she,” Trey says, slapping my arm and grinning jovially. My fists clench.

  “I wouldn’t know. We’re just friends.” I considered lying for a split second so I could stake a claim to her, but that isn’t what she needs. Remy has enough men in the world treating her like she’s a piece of meat.

  “Oh come on man, I know Remy and that girl is all about being ridden hard and put away wet.” He gets this faraway look in his eyes, as if remembering exactly what Remy looks like when she’s being fucked. I clench my jaw so hard, I think my teeth might crack.

  “Oh dude, has she done the thing with her tongue when she -” I slam my hand down on the table and fix him with a murderous glare.

  “That’s enough,” I say tersely.

  “Whoa, man what’s the problem? It’s not my fault that she’s been with half the guys on campus! If you act like a slut, people are going to talk about you like one.” Trey holds his hands up in front of himself. Like that would stop my fist from planting in his face.

  “The problem man, is that Remy deserves to be respected. Regardless of who she’s been with or what she’s done with them. That’s not something to be discussed in public, as though she has no right to privacy!”

  “Whatever you say, man,” Trey relents with a shake of his head. It takes me several minutes to calm down and begin tutoring this stupid fuck.

  Remy

  Dex: what are you up to right now?

  I can’t keep the smile off my face for some reason when Dex’s text flashes across my screen.

  Remy: wouldn’t you like to know ;)

  Dex: are you home?

  Remy: yes

  I wait for another text, hoping that he’ll ask if I want to hang out. A knock at the door startles me. I look down at my ratty paint clothes and grimace.

  “Who is it?” I ask through the door.

  “Just a sexy cowboy with some movies and popcorn.” His husky voice sends a thrill down my spine. How is it that he can cause such a physical reaction in me without any effort and yet he seems immune to all of my charms?

  “Hold on a minute,” I call out.

  I know he already saw me in gross paint clothes on Friday, b
ut I’d prefer if he didn’t think I was always such a slob, even if it is mostly true. I scurry to my bedroom and quickly change into a pair of dark skinny jeans and a black scoop-neck tank top. I glance in the mirror and shake my head, I look like I just crawled out of a cave with my messy hair and no makeup. I finger comb my hair fruitlessly and then give up and go answer the door.

  “Took you long enough,” he teases once I fling the door open.

  “Excuse me, but you showed up at my door unannounced. It’s not nice to catch a lady off guard like that. I wasn’t decent,” I accuse with a flirty smile. I step aside to let him in and we both settle onto the couch like we did the first time he came over.

  “So what movie did you bring?” I ask.

  He sets a bag of microwave popcorn, a box of raisinettes, a box of dots and the movie Choke on my coffee table.

  “I figured if you liked Fight Club, you were probably a Chuck Palahniuk girl.”

  “I loved this book, haven’t seen the movie though.” I grab the movie and pop it in.

  “Dots or raisinettes?” He holds up both boxes.

  “Dots,” I say snatching the box out of his hand. I settle against him, enjoying the way his manly scent engulfs me in this close proximity. He puts an arm around me and I feel like I could happily die here in his arms. Don’t be stupid, that’s how you get your heart broken my inner voice warns.

  We talk and joke during the movie. My favorite thing about it is that the main character is a sex addict. The constant sexual themes and nudity seem to make Dex uncomfortable, which is kind of adorable.

  “Have you ever had sex in a public bathroom?” I ask during a scene where the main character hooks up with a woman from his sex addicts anonymous group in the bathroom. Dex blushes and clears his throat.

  “Not a public bathroom. I did fool around with a girl once in a bathroom at a party, so semi-public I suppose.”

  “Semi-public sex is the best. The extra adrenaline rush that comes with the possibility of getting caught.” I bite my lip and gaze at him seductively.