BOOKSDRAMA Chapter 23
CHAPTER 24 JESS
It's been a week of cute hand-holding, waiting for me by my locker and carrying my books to class. Tom was the sweetest guy,
and even Luke's never-ending glares couldn't ruin it for me
At least, that's what I kept reminding myself. As much as Tom is the sweetest guy, and there's no way he would ever make me
feel uncomfortable, Luke just made me feel something else entirely Something more sinful, lustful, and a small part - albeit a very
small part of me craves that
That's the part of me that I have to lock down because Luke will never happen. He made that very clear. So my focus is on Tom.
He might not be a one-night stand like we all had initially planned, but senior year wasn't going as we had planned either. Sam
has had a string of one-boy relationships, or "friends with benefits," as she calls them
Laura has been seeing my brother for a few weeks now, and despite my skepticism, he was being just as sweet with her as Tom.
He waited
for her before school, dropped her off, and now he's making her watch his football game tonight - just like Tom asked me to
watch
and me
I had picked Luara up for the game. It was an away game, but the drive wasn't that bad. They had won the game, and now
everyone was coming back to my house because, well, my parents were out of town... again
"Thanks for letting me drive with you." Laura was still a little awkward about dating my brother, but I was fine with it
In fact, it gave me leverage. Now, he had no choice but to accept the fact that I would be dating Tom. So awkward as hell, but a
win-win
"Look. Just because you are dating my brother doesn't make us any less friends. I just want this awkwardness gone, okay? Best
friends, like before all this became so messy." I heard Laura sigh with relief and leaned in to hug me
"Hey, I'm driving," I teased but hugged her back
"Okay, great, because you have to tell me why Luke is giving you the death stare ALL THE TIME! Did something happen?" Laura
stumbled over her words a little
"Not after the kiss. I got out of the truck and walked back. That was it. He's just messing with me. He has some weird idea that
he's just as
much responsible for who I date as Josh, and now he thinks he has a say. He doesn't. I told him that, and clearly, he didn't like
"So the offer to, you know, be your first... that was Just to keep you away from other guys?" Laura seemed skeptical, and now
that she mentioned it - it didn't really make sense
"I guess. Fuck. I don't know. Luke has this untouchable aura, and he's the ideal picture of what a bad boy is. Every girl in school
knows that and wants him for that. It would be like taking a walk on the wild side. He's good for the experience but not for
something permanent Luke is a fantasy, not a forever."
"But do you maybe want him?" Laura asked me, and I paused for a second. A small part of me wanted Luke, but the more
rational part of me knew that it was a ridiculous thought. So Tom it IS
"I'm focussed on Tom. He's such a good guy, he's a gentleman, and he makes me feel safe. 1 mean, he's only kissed me, and
it's been a week." I explained more to myself than to Luara
"Well, Josh told me he's a good guy..." Laura offered, and I nodded, pursing my lips
"Yeah... a good guy. A safe guy." I repeated and saw Laura stare at me
"Luke is dangerous and risky. He's the opposite of Tom... and that's good, right?" Laura reaffirmed, and I nodded again
"Yeah. Yes. That's good, Tom 1s good..." 1 repeated
"But I bet you Luke knows how to fuck..." I almost choked. I was not expecting that to come out of Laura's mouth. "What?" She
shrugged,
and I started laughing
"I'm just saying - your first time is already so bloody horrible, 1t might as well be with someone who knows what they're doing,
and all I'm saying is, I think Luke knows what he's doing." That might be true, but I got the feeling that if Luke and I ever step
over that line, there would be no going back