Tease by Sophie Jordan Read Free Book Online Page B

Annie, too. I could read his dirty thoughts as he considered me. He was probably picturing Annie and me taking on half the football team or something. Judgy little bastard. I didn’t get why Georgia didn’t see it. I guess she was blinded by the fact that they’d been together since her sophomore year of high school. I knew his type though. He was happy to keep his pretty girlfriend, but he was always looking at other girls . . . leering at me. I had no evidence of him cheating, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t enjoy the offerings to be had at one of his fraternity parties when Georgia wasn’t around.
    Georgia buried her hands in her front coat pockets and rocked on her heels. “Well, what are you doing tonight?”
    I shrugged. “No plans yet.”
    “Pepper mentioned a party.”
    “We have that dinner party, Georgia, remember?” Harris reminded her.
    She angled her head, frowning. “No.”
    “At the home of my dad’s friend. The president of First National Bank, remember? I’m hoping to intern there.”
    “Oh.” Her shoulders slumped in disappointment. One look at her face and I knew she wasn’t interested in going.
    “I can go alone, but I told you about it a month ago, Georgia.” He paused, letting that sink in. “They’re expecting me to bring a date.”
    She nodded. “No, of course. I’ll go. I said I would.”
    I took a long sip of my cappuccino, further committed to the idea of staying single as I observed their little byplay. I wondered how much longer Georgia could tolerate him, and then reminded myself it had already been four years. Some habits were hard to break—including, it seemed, a sucky relationship.
    Georgia looked back at me. “Well, sorry, but maybe you can go to that party with Pepper and Reece.”
    I shrugged. “Yeah. Maybe.” It could be fun. Pepper and Reece didn’t do too many parties. Most of their time consisted of staring into each other’s eyes and other activities that I wasn’t privy to—rightfully so.
    “C’mon, Georgia. It’s cold. I’m going in.” Harris let go of her hand and entered the Java Hut. I watched Georgia as she stared after him. She looked troubled. The smooth skin of her forehead creased.
    “You two okay?” I murmured.
    She snapped her attention back to me. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”
    About what? That her boyfriend was an ass hat? I shrugged like it was no big deal. It wasn’t my place to tell her who she should and shouldn’t date. I’d tried that once with my own mother and it didn’t go over too well.
    “Harris is just stressed. He’s got a big test coming up. And he’s looking for an internship for the summer.”
    I nodded like I understood.
    “Want to go to breakfast tomorrow? It’s been a while. We’ll get Pepper to join us, too.”
    It had been a while since the three of us had one of our breakfasts. I missed those mornings. Maybe I’d even tell them about Mom pressuring me to attend Justin’s wedding.
    But then you’d have to tell them about Justin . I mentally shuddered at that idea. I didn’t want to think about my prick of a stepbrother much less talk about him. Some things were better buried in the past.
    “Yeah. That would be great.”
    She gave me a quick hug and disappeared inside the Hut. I set a brisk pace across campus, eager to get to the studio and lose myself on the canvas . . . the only place where it felt safe to let emotion run free. Where I could let myself lose control.

 
    UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE
    HarperCollins Publishers
    ....................................
    Chapter 4
    I lost track of time as I worked. A few other students worked in the studio, intent over their projects, but silence was an unspoken rule in this place. It was a large room. Larger than any classroom save for maybe the few stadium-style ones on campus. Floor to ceiling windows allowed natural light to pour in. Every once in a while I would glance up and gaze out at the lawn of flawless white, tapping the end of my