The Flirting Games (The Flirting Series - Young Adult) by Stella Wilkinson Read Free Book Online Page A

just
to get him to notice her as a girl, and then he had been leaving Compass Court
and there was no guarantee she would ever see him again.
    She had known that the end of year
dance for the Upper School was her last chance. She’d had a few alcoholic
drinks for Dutch courage and then she’d flirted outrageously with him till he
took her up on it. It was just supposed to have been a bit of kissing in the
woods behind the school. But it had been far more. She had wanted him so much
and it had been amazing. Right up until the last moment.
    He’d stroked her face and told her
she was beautiful. He’d walked her back to her dormitory door and then he had
shattered her illusions by apologizing and saying it shouldn’t have happened.
    ***
    As Jack steered the car down the
curving driveway, he glanced back at the school. It was then that he noticed
Sophie Jones standing near Rose.
    He felt guilt lance through him at
the sight of her. She had cut her blonde hair since he’d seen her last; she now
wore it in a bob just above her shoulders. It suited her, though he’d liked it
long.
    He remembered only too clearly how
he’d unclipped the piled-up style she had worn at the end of term ball last
year. He could still recall how silky it felt when he’d run his fingers through
it before they kissed.
    Damn, he should have stopped it
right there.
    He’d known how much she liked him.
But it was the last day of his final year and he’d had a fair bit to drink that
night.
    She’d been flirting with him outside
the front door and he’d practically hauled her into the woods by the river to
kiss her. He’d never meant it to go any further.
    He’d tried to apologize, but that
seemed to upset her. He liked her a lot and he really did fancy her, but he
didn’t want a long distance relationship and he didn’t want to start University
with a girlfriend to think about, especially one who still had another two
years at school.
    He wouldn’t have minded having a
girl in the background just for a bit of fun, but he didn’t think Sophie was
that kind of girl. She liked him too much; he’d just end up hurting her even
more.
    He still had her number in his
phone. He wondered if he should call her or maybe he could just text her.
    He shook his head and put the car
into third gear. He needed to bring his concentration back to the road ahead.
The metaphorical road ahead as well as the real one.

Chapter
9
     
    Ellie had her back to the door, but
could hear people coming and going, when suddenly she heard Nate enter with his
friends. She could hear their voices at the bar, which meant they must have a
clear view right to her table. Sliding over on to Liam’s lap, she wound her
arms round his neck and began to kiss him. After his initial surprise, he
seemed pleased and kissed her back in earnest, his arms around her waist. She
thought she had been doing it long enough to make a statement and was just
about to move away when a voice made her freeze.
    “Eleanor Parkhurst! I swear you are so in trouble!”
    “Jack!” She jumped up, nearly
knocking over the table. Blushing from head to toe, she hugged him. “What are
you doing here? Sit down, umm, this is Liam Anderson.” She winced, waiting for
the explosion.
    Jack sat down, laughing at her. He
shook hands with Liam who looked completely terrified at meeting the famous
older Parkhurst. “I remember you. You’re in South Tower?” Liam nodded dumbly.
    “I did tell you I would try to drop
by for your birthday,” Jack explained, his eyes still twinkling on an
uncomfortable Ellie. “Alex told me you were here.”
    “I’ll get some more drinks,” Liam
said, standing quickly. “Let you see your brother properly.”
    “He seems alright,” Jack commented,
watching Liam walk away. “I guess I don’t need to worry about Alex’s last email
full of angst that you were getting involved with Nate Naverly?”
    Ellie shook her head, unsure what to
say.
    “That’s him at the bar isn’t