The Impact of You

Chapter 6

Avery

Hiding behind that dumpster seemed important at the time – I couldn’t have someone from my past spotting me, so I’d dived for cover. But now, awaiting someone named Stacia, I question what in the hell I’m doing in Jase’s bedroom. This isn’t me. I don’t follow guys home. I certainly don’t make myself at home on their beds. This is just asking for trouble. And now clearly he has a girlfriend, which makes me look like an even bigger idiot.

Trey leaves and Jase makes no move to explain. Since it’s too late to escape, I wait. A few seconds later, we hear footsteps climbing the stairs to the attic.

A petite girl with long blond hair rounds the corner and her megawatt smile fades as soon as she sees Jase isn’t alone.

“Oh. Hey, Jase,” she recovers and leans down to plant a kiss against his cheek.

God, could this be more awkward? I want to die.

Jase, having perfected his bored-with-life look, nods once at her and then flicks his gaze to mine. “This is Avery. Avery, this is Stacia.”

Stacia turns, but her smile was only reserved for Jase because it fades as she takes me in. There’s something she hates about me being up here with Jase, and the inner bitch inside me enjoys that fact. This girl just reeks of fake, and I’m instantly not a fan.

“I didn’t know you had someone over.” Stacia’s voice goes soft as she turns to Jase.

“Well, I do. Did you need something?” His voice is cool, unemotional.

Damn. This can’t be his girlfriend. Otherwise, he’s a real asshole. Of course I’m dying to know who she is, but I won’t ask. Not sure I could handle hearing that right now. Jase has treated me with nothing but kindness and respect, and I sort of want to continue thinking the best of him.

“No. Just wanted to say hi.” Stacia lifts one shoulder, then drops it and I can’t help but notice the way her chest sticks out when she does. The move is practiced, beyond obvious. God, this girl is annoying me in all of thirty seconds. Before the awkward silence has time to fully descend on us, Stacia bounds over toward me. “You look familiar.”

My heart stops.

Literally ceases to beat in my chest.

I hope to God she has no idea why I look familiar. I pull in a breath and shrug, working to convince myself it’s just a coincidence. She can’t know.

Desperately needing to change the subject, I ask, “How do you and Jase know each other?”

Jase answers for her. “Ex-girlfriend.”

Oh.

“Yeah, some days I’m his ex-girlfriend, some days I’m…what am I exactly, Jase, on those nights you call me and beg me to come over?”

“You wish, Stacia.”

her mouth curving into a victorious

My stomach cramps.

chair, watching her with guarded

time. “I can see you’re trying to impress your new friend, so I’ll go.”

tenses as he bites back whatever he wants to say. He steers Stacia by the elbow toward the door. “Avery and I need

lets him guide her out

firmly shut, I look at Jase.

toward me. “You’re saving

“How?”

of Stacia. She’d hang out

rise from the bed, wondering if he doesn’t want company and if I should head out too. “Oh…did

shoulders stop me from going any farther. “I

as immune to his charms as I’d like. I smile up at him like a lovesick fangirl. Idiot. I

Get comfortable.”

chemistry crackling between us, no matter how much I might

you

was hiding, so I zip it and relax on his large queen-sized bed. It’s much more plush and comfy

the book from my early childhood development class and bravely settle

what’s your

What about you?” For some reason I expect him to say undecided,

Mostly because it pisses my

you mean?”

“He’s a mayor and wants to make a run for congress. He’s always been obsessed with politics…so of course he

them I

something artistic, and since I’m shit at art and just okay at music, I figured

like your classes?”

the most interesting thing to me anyway, so

pissing off your dad?”

yeah. He blew a

smile. Why do I get the feeling that Jase is letting me in on things he doesn’t normally share? And why do I like it so much? I focus on my book for a few minutes, but reading about attachment disorder is pretty dry, and Jase’s mouthwatering goodness is right there on display. It’s hard not to sneak glances at him from time to time. A tiny crease marks his brow as he concentrates, and his lips move when he reads – something he makes

Stacia’s really your

like it. And of course my frat brothers give

my eyes back to my book and relax into the inviting

gave birth to you?” he asks, his brows pulled

birthmom?” I was used to teaching people the correct terminology. He

All the time,

why don’t you?”

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