Misunderstandings (Woodfalls Girls 2)

“You’re not a blithering idiot.”

“I’ve had my moments. It’s those damn lips and pierced eyebrow. They wilt away our senses.”

“You think my lips are sexy?” he asked huskily, running said lips across my cheek. They left a trail of heat across my skin as they made their way to my ear.

“Did I say ‘sexy’?” I asked in a shaky voice as his hot breath breathed into my ear.

“Well, you said ‘damn lips,’ which I happily translated into ‘sexy lips.’ Can I see you tomorrow?” Justin asked, switching gears.

“I have to study for a World History exam on Monday.”

“How about after?” he persisted.

“Um,” I hem-hawed, trying to decide if two dates in a row was a wise idea. I wasn’t sure how fast I wanted things to go.

“Come on, you know you want to.”

“Oh, I do, do I, Mr. Know It All?”

“Are you saying you don’t want to see me tomorrow?” he asked, placing his lips back on mine.

All thoughts of taking it slow and casual fled from my mind like they were being chased by demons. I’d been right all along. He was definitely dangerous.

“Fine, but I get to pick the place,” I caved.

“Deal,” he said, finding my lips one more time. “Now get your cute butt inside before you freeze it off,” he said, taking in the shivers I’d been unsuccessfully trying to suppress.

“Who’s bossy now?” I griped, pulling open the door.

His chuckles followed me as I made my way into the building with a goofy smile on my face.

“I’d be careful with that one. He’s nothing but a player.” A voice startled me from behind.

“What?” I said. I turned around to face the one girl in our building who drove me absolutely batshit crazy. It had taken less than one day last year to see right through her act. Kara put on a good Southern charm show, but after one conversation, it was obvious she was as venomous as a poisonous snake. My instincts had proven to be true. Somehow, she managed to be the root cause of any drama that happened in our dorm. She had an uncanny knack of making people think they were special just as she placed her well-sharpened knife in their backs. Her lies and half-truths had backfired in her face, and by the end of last year everyone was wise to her routine. I’d hoped I wouldn’t get stuck being in the same dorm with her again, or that maybe she’d live off campus somewhere, but I wasn’t that lucky. For the most part, I’d been able to escape her web of drama. Melissa wasn’t as lucky, which would have been enough for me to hate Kara if I hadn’t already come to that conclusion on my own. I had a strict rule: Don’t fuck with my friends. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. You hurt someone I loved and that was it.

“Justin. He’s a player. He uses and moves on. Just thought you should know,” she said, fluffing her hair.

“Thanks for the news flash. Don’t you have a ‘woe is me’ Facebook status update to make or a picture to upload on Instagram?” I asked.

“You don’t have to be a bitch. I never would have pegged you as the type to go out with a playboy. I was just trying to help. Trust me. I know from personal experience what a bastard he can be.”

“Yeah, well go ‘help’ someone else. Any so-called advice you have to offer is neither needed nor asked for. Got me?” I said, making my point clear.

“We’ll see if you’re still saying that when he leaves you high and dry for the next set of tits that catches his eye,” she snipped, all honey gone from her voice.

“Duly noted,” I muttered, taking the steps two at a time to the second floor. My kiss-induced elation had dissipated by the time I made my way to my room.

“Crap, it was that bad?” Melissa asked, looking up from her nails she was painting.

Without answering, I threw myself back on my bed, mulling Kara’s venomous words through my head. It wasn’t like she had delivered earth-shattering news. I knew he had a colorful dating track record, but playing sloppy seconds to that bitch Kara made me want to dry-heave. Anyone else I could overlook, but a hookup with that twat was a different story.

“Brittni, tell me. Was he a complete dud?” Melissa asked, throwing the stuffed turtle she kept on her bed at me.

“No. He was effing great, but I can’t see him anymore,” I said, feeling sick as I uttered the words aloud.

“Why not? If he was so fantastic, why can’t you see him anymore?” Melissa demanded, throwing a pillow at me this time when I didn’t answer her right away.

“Because, he went out with Twat-Waffle Kara,” I moaned against her pillow that I had pulled over my face. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to scream or smother myself.