The Girl Next Door
Chapter 38

As I crest the second-floor landing of the library, my gaze sweeps over the tables strategically placed near the anthropology and sociology section, but I don't immediately notice Beck.

I'm about to pull out my phone when a high-pitched giggle draws my attention to a girl lounging on top of a study table. I'm not able to see who she's talking to, but my guess is that it's a guy. I know flirty behavior when I see it. Dismissing her, I glance away and continue searching for Beck. Maybe we were supposed to meet on a different floor or section. When another laugh erupts, I glance at her again. She shifts, and I catch a glimpse of dark wavy hair.

I don't need to see any more to know she's talking to Beck. I step to the side, and his handsome features come into view. The strawberry-blond-haired girl perched on the table leans over, giving him what I assume is an unobstructed view of her cleavage. Jealousy bubbles up inside me like a geyser before I quickly stomp it out. I'm not one of these girls who want to spend every spare moment of her time fending off other females. I also don't want a guy who will flirt with every v****a he comes across. This is precisely why I was reluctant to give Beck another chance. It hasn't even been a week since I agreed to go out with him, and already he's chasing after other chicks?

No, sir. That won't be happening on my watch. We can snuff this out as quickly as it sprang to life. Thank God he showed his true colors before I could become any further invested. I'm not even going to confront him. He can screw himself. I'm out of here.

As I take a hasty step in retreat, ready to stomp down the stairs, Beck glances over and catches sight of me. A wide smile lights up his face as he waves me over like he wasn't caught red-handed with another girl. Does he really think I'm going to be all right with this behavior?

Hell, no. He messed with the wrong chick. I'm not one of his bubble-headed groupies who will put up with anything for the chance to be with him. I hitch my backpack up higher on my shoulder before stalking toward him.

Not once does Beck's attention deviate from me. As I reach the table, I open my mouth to blast him into next week.

He beats me to the punch. "Hey, babe. Missed you."

His fingers tangle around mine before he tugs me closer. Thrown off by the affectionate greeting, I trip over my own feet and stumble toward him. He slides one hand into my hair before bringing my face to his and kissing me. It's nothing more than a fleeting caress, but it's enough to stir something deep inside me.

What the hell is going on here?

Confusion swirls through me as I glance at the girl on the table. She grins and continues swinging her long legs.

Shouldn't she be upset that Beck is making out with someone in front of her?

None of this makes sense.

Only then does it occur to me that maybe-just maybe-l got the scenario wrong.

Beck keeps a tight grip on my fingers as if unwilling to let me go. "Callie was keeping me company while I was taking a break."

I clear my throat and force out an introduction. "Hi, I'm Mia. It's nice to meet you."

Can you imagine if I hadn't kept my jealousy under wraps and lost it? Even the thought is enough to embarrass me.

Callie flashes a full-wattage smile that nearly blinds me with its intensity. I'm tempted to smack this girl for being so damn perfect with her bouncy hair and amazing body.

"I'm Callie." She swivels toward me. "Beck has been telling me all about you."

"Really?" As if I needed any more evidence that I jumped to the wrong conclusion.

"Yeah," she enthuses. "There are going to be a ton of disappointed girls on campus when they learn Beck is officially off the market."

Officially off the market?

Is that what's happened?

I give Beck a bit of side-eye to get his take on the matter. He grins as if amused by my reaction.

"I should probably take off." Callie hops gracefully from the table. Her perfect breasts jiggle enticingly with the movement. I sneak a peek at Beck to see if he's watching. I mean, how can he not be? Her breasts are big and bouncy. I'm almost entranced by them, and I'm not into girls.

Instead, his gaze stays trained on me. A little hum of awareness zips through my veins. It's almost as if Callie and her gravity-defying boobs aren't on his radar.

"I've got a ton of homework to finish up. I'll see you in class, Beck." She turns to me and waves. "Nice to meet you!"

Beck gives her a chin lift as I return the sentiment.

Once she's gone, I mutter, "Callie seems nice."

"Yup, she's cool. She cheered freshman year and then quit." He shrugs. "It was too much of a time commitment."

Cheerleader. I could definitely see that. She's peppy.

When I attempt to pull my hand free so we can get to work, he tugs, and I tumble onto his lap. His hands band around my waist to hold me in place.

He c***s his head as a smile simmers around the edges of his lips. "You thought I was flirting with her, didn't you?"

"Nope." I shake my head. "Never crossed my mind." There is no damn way I will admit that to him. Even if it is the truth.

His grin widens until I'm tempted to smack him. "I'm serious about being with you and only you. I don't have any interest in other girls." Read more free novels at Ebookex.com

I glance away. Whatever this is between us is moving at lightning speed. Am I ready for that?

"Mia," he whispers, recapturing my attention. "You don't have anything to worry about."

There is so much sincerity overflowing from his green eyes that it's impossible not to believe him. "Okay."

"I've waited a long time for this. I'm not going to f**k it up."

How can I possibly resist a guy who says something like that to me?

Even though we're in the library, I press closer and lower my lips to his. It's all too easy to lose myself in the taste and feel of him.

After a handful of moments, he groans and pulls away. "If you keep that up, we won't get much work done."

It might be worth it.

"Stop looking at me like that," he whispers. "You have no idea what it does to me."

I inhale a shaky breath. He's wrong about that because it does the same to me.

Studying.

Right.

We need to get to it. I'm supposed to be helping him with his paper. When I attempt to rise from his lap, his hands stay wrapped around my waist. "One more kiss," he growls.

A smile curves my lips as they settle over his. This time, I try not to get lost in the feel of him, but it's not easy. When I pull away, our faces stay close, his breath becoming mine.

"I was thinking, if your Jeep is ready by the weekend, we could take off Saturday after the game." He pauses. "And I could take you out."

My breath catches at the idea. "On a date?"