Ruin (Ruin 1)

“It would help my pride.” He nipped my ear with his lips and then his hands moved to my neck, massaging my shoulders. “But then again it is called Pride and Prejudice for a reason.”

I turned in his arms and hugged him. “Thank you so much.”

“Best first date gift you’ve ever received?” he asked, pulling away.

“It’s the only first date gift I’ve had, so sure.” I giggled.

“Damn.” He tilted my chin and gazed into my eyes. “I’ll just have to do better.”

“Memorize the entire book and we’ll talk.”

“Really?” His mouth curved into a wicked smile. “You do know that I was a child prodigy right? With the piano? And music? As in, my father almost made me do music instead of football? Photographic memory. So don’t go challenging me to memorize Jane Austen, I may just get bored enough to do it.”

I laughed and hugged him again. I loved the way he smelled, the way he felt against my skin. I didn’t want to ever think about him graduating. It made me sick.

“And on to the rest of the date.” He grabbed my hand and led me back to the car. “You ready?”

“Sure.” I put the book on my lap, careful not to let it fall, and watched in disappointment as we made our way back to the school.

I was ready to jump out my own window when we pulled up to my dorm and Wes escorted me to the door. Had he changed his mind? Embarrassed, I told myself it was silly to feel so rejected, especially after everything he’d done. It was ridiculous! It wasn’t as if we were dating!

“So…” He braced my shoulders with his hands. “Your list said to make two real friends. Well, honestly, I think you have three right underneath your nose without even knowing it. Damn,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m good at this list thing.”

I laughed out loud just as the door opened revealing Gabe and Lisa. Lisa giggled and held open her arms. “Welcome to the rest of your date!”

“You knew?” I hugged my book to my chest and smiled.

“Of course!” Lisa pulled my arm, tugging me into the main room. “I didn’t fill Gabe in until after you left though, thus his haggard appearance.”

I gave Gabe a pitiful smile as he rolled his eyes from the couch. He still hadn’t changed out of his jeans and white t-shirt, whereas Lisa was wearing a killer dress.

“Okay, it’s time!” She clapped her hands and disappeared into the kitchen.

“So it’s like a double date?” I elbowed Wes who laughed and shot Gabe a humored look.

“Laugh it up guys.” Gabe cursed. “Why is it that I get a date with my cousin and you get her?” He pointed at me while he was talking to Wes.

“Just lucky I guess,” Wes answered.

“True.” Gabe winked in my direction. “Well, the good news is I don’t have to kill you.” He was talking to Wes again. “She seems unharmed.”

“Except for the kiss,” I said with as much seriousness as I could.

Gabe’s eyebrows arched as he examined me and then slowly turned to Wes.

“Thanks.” Wes nodded in my direction. “Throwing me under the bus for doing you a favor, nice.”

I smirked.

“It was on her list,” Wes explained. “One I’m helping her with.”

“You were on her list?”

“Ah…” I stepped between them and set my book down on the table, careful not to drop it too hard. “I believe I wrote, ‘kiss a hot guy’.”

“Hi.” Wes held out his hand “Hot guy. Now what’s that make you?”

Gabe shook his head and then burst out laughing. “Clearly not hot, but she did call me nice yesterday.”