Courtney jerked her attention back to her. “You barely even ate.”

Faith shoved what she could into her mouth before she stood. “There.”

She walked across the cafeteria and was quick to toss her tray into the dirty bin and race out the door, her head dropped between her shoulders.

She didn’t know why she was feeling so uncomfortable. As if she’d done something wrong when she’d only been trying to do something right.

Something nice.

But she guessed she understood it better when she was standing out in the courtyard and she felt the presence press against her from behind.

That hot, blazing hostility.

Shockwaves of heat and hatred.

Yet, it was chills that flashed across her skin when he leaned in closer, the boy so much taller than she was, casting her in shadow, his breath brushing across the shell of her ear. “What the fuck do you think you’re doin’?”

Shivers rolled, and her heart sped. She fumbled with her backpack strap. “I don’t know what you mean.”

He laughed a hard sound. “Really. So that sandwich and milk just up and appeared at my table. Like magic.”

She dropped her head forward, giving, because it was stupid to deny it. “I just thought you might be hungry.”

A scraping sound came from his throat, sliding over her like a threat she somehow wanted to hold.

To turn around and see what it might look like coming from his mouth.

“Mind your own damn business. I don’t need your pity or anyone else’s. I can take care of myself.”

She frowned, her teeth clamping in refusal, her courage flaring as she peeked at him over her shoulder.

He was right there.

The sharp lines and curves of his handsome face so close she could hike up onto her toes and press her nose to them. Feel them. Skin to skin. “Maybe I was just tryin’ to be nice.”

“Maybe you’re puttin’ your nose where it shouldn’t be.”

A flush rushed to her cheeks. She couldn’t help but wonder if he’d known what she’d just been thinkin’, how she was imagining what it might feel like to trace his features.

For him to trace hers.

To breathe him in like she was achin’ to do.

A shudder flashed.

What was wrong with her?

She spun all the way around and took a step back, lifting her chin in a show of defiance, needing to put some space between them. “Maybe you shouldn’t be such a jerk.”

His brows lifted, which only made those copper eyes appear bigger. Like they might gobble her up.

“And maybe you shouldn’t be such a little priss.”

Offense dropped her jaw. “I’m not a priss.”

“No?” he challenged.

She straightened her shoulders. “No.”

His eyes moved down her body, over her summer dress, which was hardly as scandalous as half the girls around here got away with wearing.

But her shoulders were bare, the bit of her exposed chest heating with a blush as his gaze traveled over her body.

She was right.

Those eyes could devour her.

She gulped, only for her mouth to run dry when he brought his stare back to hers.

“Looks like it to me,” he said, but his voice had gone somewhere else.

Deeper and darker.

Faith shook. “I need to get to the library.”

He laughed a disbelieving sound and took his own step back, as if he needed the space, too.

Or maybe she just repulsed him.

But when he looked at her again, there was something sad in his eyes. “Go on. Good girls like you don’t need to be hanging around with boys like me.”

Unsure if it was meant to be an insult or a compliment, Faith dropped her gaze to her feet, hiked her backpack up higher on her shoulder, and started up the sidewalk.

She didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or angry.

She really was just trying to be nice.

She’d almost made it around the building when he called out to her. “Faith.”

A quiver rolled through her. Like the piercing of an arrow.

She didn’t really know why it was so impactful that he knew her name. Why it made her feel the way it did, as if she’d just stumbled onto the missing piece of her life.

She slowly turned around to face him.

He was running his hand nervously through his unruly hair.

“Thank you,” he said roughly, nodding slowly, as if he were having to process the fact that he’d even said it.

“You’re welcome,” she answered, full of honesty.

He rocked a little, as agitated as a summer storm coming in the distance.

Faith’s spirit thrashed, sure that was exactly what he was.

Fourteen

Faith

Mack had just left a few minutes before. He’d assured me they’d amp up the security before he’d told me almost reluctantly that it was a good idea that Jace was moving in.

Was it?

Because I was trembling like mad as I ripped the sheets off the bed.

It wasn’t as if they’d been used since I’d changed them a few weeks ago, but I needed to do something with my hands.

Tags: A.L. Jackson Confessions of the Heart Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net