Tease by Sophie Jordan Read Free Book Online Page A

quick work of getting dressed. I dried my hair so icicles wouldn’t form when I stepped outside, already knowing exactly where I was headed this morning.
    Hair dried and minimally styled, I applied light makeup and pulled on my heavy coat. Tossing a thick scarf around my neck, I slipped on my Uggs.
    It was still early enough that not too many people were up and about. I made a beeline across campus for the Java Hut, hoping the caffeine would help my aching head. My stomach grumbled the instant I entered the popular campus coffee shop. It was practically impossible to get a seat during the week. At the moment the line was relatively short, only two people in front of me. Sorority girls from the looks of them and the Greek letters emblazoned on their butts.
    One of the baristas spotted me. “Hey, Emerson!”
    He was familiar. I think I fooled around with him at a party last semester.
    “Hey!” My gaze flicked to his name badge. “Jeff.”
    He grabbed a cup from the stack. Pen in hand, he scribbled my name on the cup. “What do you have?”
    “Cappuccino.”
    The girls in front of me shot me a not-so-nice look, clearly not appreciating my drink order coming before theirs.
    The cashier shot them an apologetic look and started to punch the keys until Jeff stalled her with a hand on her arm. “I got this,” he murmured while sending me a wink.
    The cashier shook her head and turned to the two sorority girls. “What can I get for you?”
    With a last withering glare for me, they stepped up and ordered.
    I smiled weakly at Jeff. “You didn’t have to do that.” Really, I wished that he hadn’t.
    “I wanted to.” He shrugged. “Small perk of the job. Buying a drink for a cute girl.”
    “Thanks,” I said, because at this point it would cause more of a scene to resist.
    “So how’ve you been? You have a good holiday?” he asked as he began frothing milk for my drink.
    “Yes, thank you.”
    “Awesome. Went skiing. My uncle just bought a place in Vermont. Only a few hours from here. Let’s me use it anytime. You ski? You should come with me one weekend before the snow melts. There’s a hot tub.” He lifted his eyebrows suggestively and I knew just what he was imagining we could do in that hot tub.
    “Um. Maybe.”
    “Cool. You still got my number?”
    Had I ever had it? I nodded.
    “Well, don’t be afraid to use it.” He sealed the lid on my cup, and leaned across the counter toward me, bracing his hands on the marble. “You didn’t call me back when I called you last time.”
    I accepted the cup, fidgeting with the edge of the cardboard sleeve uncomfortably, unsure how to respond. Most guys were happy with a fling. Sometimes they called, but they never cornered me about it like this when I didn’t call them back.
    He winked and held up both hands. “Hey, it’s cool. I’ll call you later.”
    I smiled and nodded like that would be good. “Thanks for the drink.”
    Turning, I walked across the wood floor, sipping from my steaming cup. I’d meant to order a muffin, too, but no way was I turning around for another dose of awkward.
    Stepping outside, I tugged my soft scarf high against my chin and turned in the direction of the art building.
    “Em!”
    Looking up, I watched as Georgia trotted across the street, tugging Harris after her.
    “Hey,” I greeted her.
    “Hi,” she replied in her sultry Alabama accent, cheeks flushed from the cold. “What’s up? Where you headed?”
    “I’m going to work in the studio.”
    She nodded. “What’d you end up doing last night?”
    I hesitated. Now would be the moment to tell her that Annie ditched me, but then that would lead to the topic of how I got home . . . and where I spent the night.
    I settled for: “Went out with Annie.”
    Georgia pulled a face, revealing just how little she thought of Annie.
    “Bet ya’ll had fun.” Harris looked me up and down, his lip curling ever so slightly, and I wanted to kick him. I knew he thought I was a slut.