Unwrapped by Gennifer Albin Read Free Book Online Page B

room.
    He lowered his voice. “Uh, what do you mean?”
    Jared didn’t get the cue to lower his voice. “You know. The story.”
    Chase wasn’t quite awake. Or he was still lost in the fog of Kira because there was some warning bell going off in the back of his head but he couldn’t seem to register what it was.
    And without Chase stopping him, Jared kept on talking. “That article you were gonna write about her not being a virgin? The exposé?”
    Oh, yeah. That.
    And he didn’t have to wonder long if Kira had heard the conversation.
    “Exposé?” She stood behind him wrapped in his comforter.
    He turned and met her eyes. In the span of a few seconds, her expression morphed through confusion, understanding, and finally settled on hurt.
    God, seeing pain in Kira’s eyes was never what he’d intended.
    And now her expression was changing again—to rage.
    Panic ran through Chase like a wildfire. “No, Kira, it’s not what it sounds like. I mean, I was going to write about you and Cherry Savers and not having your cherry, but that was—”
    “You were planning to tell everyone about what happened at the bar?” Her tone was drowning in fury.
    He couldn’t deny it. Jared was right behind him and had already spilled the truth. No, he’d have to be honest and hope for the best. “Yes, but not after—“
    Honesty seemed to not have been the most successful course of action. Kira was already gathering her clothes off the floor.
    “Stop. Talk to me.” His pleading didn’t halt her in the least. He stepped in front of her, one hand on her shoulder, the other still gripping the towel at his waist. “Come on, Kira. I can explain.”
    She met his eyes and he almost wished she hadn’t. It wasn’t just rage he saw there, but pain. “Were you or were you not going to expose a very private thing about me—a thing that would hurt and embarrass me—to the entire school?”
    With all his heart he wanted to say he wouldn’t have done it. But at one point, for at least an hour of his day, he had planned on it. Sincerely planned on doing the awful thing. He lowered his eyes. “Yes. I was.”
    Kira brushed past him into the bathroom.
    He followed after her. “But I changed my mind.” She slammed the door in his face, nearly hitting him in the nose.
    Jared chuckled behind him reminding Chase of their audience. He turned and glared at his roommate, but that’s all the energy he had to expend on Jared for the moment. His concern was Kira.
    Speaking at the door between them, Chase continued to beg for forgiveness. “I’m sorry, Kira. It was a stupid lack of judgment on my part. But I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t have done it.” God, he hoped she believed him when he wasn’t so sure that was the truth. If they hadn’t gone out to coffee, if she hadn’t been so charming and fun, would he have still abandoned his quest?
    He wasn’t sure.
    The door opened and for a moment Chase’s spirits rose.
    But Kira wasn’t coming out to talk to him. She was dressed and ready to leave.
    “Kira, wait.” While she looked for her keys and shoes, Chase scrambled to find a pair of jeans. “Let me explain. Or make it up to you. I’m sorry!”
    Without so much as a goodbye, she brushed past Jared and was out the door.
    Fuck! He didn’t bother to do up his pants as he followed after her. “Goddammit, Jared,” he said as he passed his roommate.
    “Hey. I didn’t know anyone was here. Maybe you should have told me.” Jared obviously found the whole thing entertaining.
    “Jesus.” Chase cursed under his breath, running out the back door after the girl he’d become pretty attached to. “Kira, wait!”
    But she was already peeling out of the driveway.
    “Damn, that girl drives fast.” Jared had apparently followed Chase outside. “In more ways than one.” He laughed.
    “Shut up, Jared.”
    “Sorry, man.”
    Even though Jared’s apology didn’t sound all that sincere, Chase felt bad for snapping at him. After all, Jared