Part 13 (1/2)

I avoid eye contact. He had been staring at my a.s.s? I know my cheeks have to be red. ”So, you won't be mad if I don't go?”

He frowns. ”I don't want to go alone. I tell you what...we can go and leave as soon as the wedding's over. Please?”

Biting my lip, I try to think of a way out. Nothing. He's got me now, I need to go. It's what my character would do. ”Okay, as long as we leave quickly afterwards.”

Aiden smiles, then leans down and presses his lips to mine. It startles me. He's never kissed me in public like this before. Cradling my face, he presses me against the wall. I screw my eyes shut. His lips are soft, but not Lachlan soft. His hands are gentle, but not like him. Frustration erupts from my chest. I grab his s.h.i.+rt and squeeze.

”Jesus,” he whispers, raking his fingers down my back to cup my a.s.s. ”You feel so good, Laney.”

Tears. They're threatening to run down my face. No, don't. I smile into his mouth, the only thing I can think to do.

”Why don't you come over tonight?” he whispers before biting down, gently, on my earlobe.

I suck in a deep breath. I know I should say no, because I can see the l.u.s.t in his eyes. But, I think about Lachlan. The frustration of wanting him so badly I can't breathe. It makes me see red. I want a release. I need to feel something more, to show me it doesn't have to be him. I need something to keep me from falling hard into Lachlan again, only to be torn apart.

”Why don't we go outside to your car?”

He groans and grabs my bottom lip with his lips. ”I think that sounds like a great idea. Come on.”

Adrenaline is coursing through my body, and despite my better judgment, I let Aiden pull me toward his BMW. Thank G.o.d the windows are tinted.

The parking lot is full of cars, but everyone is in cla.s.s or at lunch. I can hear my heart beat inside my head. Aiden pulls out his car keys, fumbles with the lock, and opens the back door. I feel like I'm sixteen again, climbing into the back of my date's truck to make out before my mom starts calling me to come home.

Sliding in, Aiden shuts the door and wastes no time intertwining his fingers around the back of my neck. ”G.o.d, I want you so bad, baby,” Aiden whispers, pressing his lips against my neck.

Aiden pushes his s.h.i.+rt over his head when I reach my hand underneath his s.h.i.+rt. His muscles are hard and tense beneath me. I press my eyes shut harder, a kaleidoscope of colors previewing before my closed eyes. Lachlan's face flickers into my vision every few seconds.

Aiden's body hovers over mine, his leg between my legs, pus.h.i.+ng them open farther. I feel his lips on my neck, traveling down to my bra. I don't stop him. I can't. All I see when my eyes are closed is Lachlan. Kissing me. Holding me. Touching me. Tearing me apart.

Aiden's fingers sliding down to my jeans zipper brings me back to reality. What in the f.u.c.k am I doing? My jeans are halfway down my legs when I grip Aiden's arm. ”Aiden-I'm...I need to stop. I'm sorry.”

Aiden widens his eyes and starts nodding like a bobblehead. ”Hey, it's okay. Don't be sorry. If you're not ready you're not ready.”

Really? Aiden smiles down at me, and then presses his lips against my forehead. I think I've fallen into the Twilight Zone. Did he really just give up that easily? It's definitely not what I was expecting.

”You're not mad?”

Aiden furrows his brow and sits up. ”Why would you think I'd be mad, Laney?”

Hmm...I don't know. You've kind of got that a.s.shole reputation going on. I shrug. ”You've been with so many girls. I figured you'd be p.i.s.sed.”

The corner of Aiden's lips moves up and he pulls me closer to him. ”I would never make you do something you don't want to. All the girls,” he rolls his eyes, ”I've been with have given it to me. I'd never take that without them wanting to give it.”

d.a.m.n. I wish I could rip the heavy pressure of guilt from my shoulders. A sick feeling starts to crawl up my throat, making me feel like throwing up in the back of his BMW.

I give him a weak smile and pick at my thumbnail. ”Thanks. I-I probably need to get home. I...I have homework.”

Aiden brushes his hair out of his eyes and gives me the biggest smile. ”Okay, I'll take you home. Come on.”

Chapter Fifteen.

Laney ”Why does it feel so good But hurt so bad?

My mind keeps saying Run as fast as you can.” Olly Murs ft. Flo Rida Slipping my feet into Heather's death traps, I take an uneasy breath out. This week hasn't been on my top favorite weeks of my life. First, I get caught making out with Lachlan on Dr. Phillips' desk, then I let myself get carried away with Aiden. That is not in the plan.

Heather hums along to some One Direction song, and I wish I had that life. The life with one boy who loves me, and I love him. Not a pretend boyfriend that I have to make appearances with, and turns out to be one of the sweetest guys ever. Or an ex-boyfriend that I can't look at without seeing my past. My mistakes. I haven't told Heather or Bethany what happened. I can't. Bethany came over last night and had a plan for me to put Ex-lax in his drink. I said I didn't want to do it and pretended to get a call from my mom. I'm sure that wasn't the end of it though.

Now I'm sitting on Heather's bed, staring out into oblivion.

”What's the matter with you?” Heather asks from her desk.

I shrug.

Heather shuts her laptop and sits across from me on my bed. Her hair is in a sloppy bun, her eyes wide and fingers intertwined. ”Are you falling for Aiden?”

I give her a puh-lease look. ”No, I just-I feel bad for him. I don't want to put that in his drink. I don't want to lead him on anymore. I just want to stop.”

Heather presses her lips together. ”Laney, he is a manipulator. He is making you think he is good. It's what they do.” I'm pretty sure she really thinks this but I'm surer that this has something to do with Bethany telling Todd that I coached her through their relations.h.i.+p.

I know this. I know exactly how boys think, and I know when they're playing me. I shake my head. ”No, you didn't see his face. He was so gentle. I-I know it's hard to believe. But, he's been hurt. I don't know the story, but you heard his roommate. He does it to cover up his pain. I-I don't want to do this to him. But I know Bethany will tell everyone, including Todd if I don't. And to be honest I don't want to hurt him anymore.”

Heather sighs and comes to sit beside me. ”If you don't do it, it's going to make him feel worse than having diarrhea.”

I try not to laugh. ”Gross.”

She shrugs. ”Just do it, then break it off next Monday. Then he won't know you played him and you can go on with your life.”

G.o.d. Vomit is rising in my throat when Bethany bursts into our room. She scans over us and frowns. ”You're backing out aren't you? What happened? You promised, Laney-”

I hold my hand up for her to shut the h.e.l.l up. ”Bethany, this is the last prank. I'm breaking up with him Monday. He's already lured in enough. And you have to promise that you won't tell anyone about this, including Todd. You promised.”

She twists her lips and nods. ”Sure. And he seems like he is really starting to like you. It would probably be better this way.”

For you. Sighing, I stand up and grab my wallet and keys. ”I'm going to go wait outside for him. I need some fresh air.”

I don't feel a release until I'm out of the dorm and into the cool air. Taking a huge breath, I take a seat on the concrete steps in front of our building. I keep telling myself that it's just a few more days but I still feel like c.r.a.p. I hear the slight hum of Aiden's Beemer and then he pulls up in front of me.

He rolls down the window. ”You ready?”

I nod, grab my things, and get into the car. Ready as I'll ever be.

My head is sweating. Jeez. Aiden is talking about something, but I'm too busy wiping at the back of my neck to pay attention.

”Laney.”

”Huh?”