“He won’t.” I stand, too, closing the distance she’s trying to create. “We won’t.”
“You don’t know him!” she shouts, barely audible over the music that’s switched to a loud, screaming track. “He’s a scorpion. And he always stings. It’s his nature.”
“Fine.” I cup her face in both hands again. Force her to look at me. “Let’s say he does. It won’t change how I feel about you.”
She shakes her head violently. Tears gather in her eyes—actual tears—before she yanks away.
“Youwon’t. You think you will, butyou won’t.”
My jaw works. “You clearly don’t know me either, if that’s what you think of me.” The words come out harder than I mean them to. So I soften my voice. “But that’s okay. Give it time. You’ll get to know me. Totrustme.”
I step closer. She doesn’t back away this time.
“Just... don’t leave next week. You haven’t had long enough here to see your full potential. Finish senior year. Apply for college. You’re smart enough to start at a state school.”
She’s shaking her head before I finish.
“I can’t afford college. That’s insane. I just need to get a job. Z and I are going to hitchhike to Austin, get jobs, split rent, we have aplan. And why the fuck are we even talking about this?” she snaps, voice like a whip. “Jesus. I just wanted to fuck you and let off some pent-up... whatever this is between us.”
The pause hangs there.
She looks at me, and the offer is still written all over her face.
All I have to do is say yes. All I have to do is reach for her and this could be mine. She could be mine.
… For seven days.
What the hell are you doing?screams the voice in my head.She’s gorgeous. You’re so into her. She’s into you. No strings attached. Every guy’s dream, right?
“I want strings,” I hear myself say.
“What?” She looks genuinely baffled.
I close the distance between us one more time. Slide my arms around her waist. It feels so natural, soright, having her there. She sighs— in relief, in surrender, holy shit—as her body settles against mine like it was made to fit there.
I rest my forehead against hers. Let myself have this moment, even though it might be all I get.
“I want strings attached,” I say clearly. Firmly. “I don’t want to just hook up for a week and then never see you again. Maybe some guys are down with that, but it’s not how I’m built.”
My throat feels tight. I push through anyway.
“I want strings with you, Harper.”
She stares up at me. The gold in her eyes catches the light. For one perfect moment, I think maybe I’m getting through?—
Then she shakes her head.
Pulls away.
There are definitely tears in her eyes now, and the sight of them guts me.
“Boy Scout,” she whispers, shaking her head.
Then she turns, runs into the bathroom and slams the door behind her.
FOURTEEN
CALEB