Free Presently Perfect (Perfect #3) by Alison G. Bailey Page B

gaze followed Tweet across the cafeteria. Just before walking out the door she was stopped by a large hand touching her upper arm. A tall, no-neck, dark-haired, muscle-headed Smurffucker was talking to her. The burning sensation in my chest spread like wildfire. He shifted back and forth on his feet, smiling and talking. I couldn’t hear what he was saying but I knew what he was doing. He was asking her out. My teeth were clenched so tight that my jaw hurt. I saw Tweet’s head shake just before the smile dropped from his face. After one more touch of her arm, the muscle-headed Smurffucker walked away.
    Nodding my head slightly in satisfaction, my jaw loosened with a smile. Beth asked me to the dance at about the same time. Apparently, she had taken my reaction to Tweet turning down the Smurffucker as a yes to her question. She bounced in her chair a couple of times, squealing and clapping her hands. After Tweet disappeared behind the doors, I realized what I had gotten myself into. I was going to tell Beth she misunderstood me, but she had already gotten up and hopped away. I caught up with her later that day. She was still extremely excited. I felt bad, so I didn’t say anything. Besides, Tweet sure as hell wasn’t going to ask me to the stupid dance.
    Letting out a deep sigh, I rested my elbows on my knees. I lowered my head, removed my baseball cap, and ran my fingers through my hair a couple of times. I needed to stall as long as possible while I figured out how to explain this without sounding like a complete asshole.
    “You know what, forget I asked,” Tweet blurted out.
    She quickly packed up her stuff, shoving everything into her backpack, and stood. As she took a step in front of me, trying to get away, my hand shot out, grabbing hold of her wrist.
    “Don’t run away from me. Sit back down.” I kept my voice steady and low.
    After hesitating for a few seconds, she took a deep breath and then slowly lowered herself down onto the bleachers beside me. I turned my head and noticed she was staring at my hand that was still wrapped around her wrist. This was the first time in months that I’d touched her. Reluctantly, I uncurled my fingers, sat up, and focused on the baseball field.
    “I felt guilty. I know I’m getting ready to sound like a pussy but I was disappointed that you didn’t ask me.”
    “I didn’t know you wanted to go,” she said.
    “I don’t give a shit about going to a dance. I wanted to go with you and I was hoping you would want to go with me, but you never said anything. When Beth asked I said yes for some reason. I wished I hadn’t after it came out of my mouth. She seemed so excited and happy. I couldn’t tell her I changed my mind.”
    “Why’d you feel guilty?”
    “I don’t know. It felt—like I was… cheating on you,” I stammered.
    I couldn’t believe those words slipped out of my mouth. I was surprised but not sorry. I’d had enough of the mixed signals, raging hormones, pushing away, seeing Tweet in every other girl, rubbing up against Brittani, and watching some no-neck Smurffucker touch my girl.
    Turning toward her, I said, “Tweet, I’ve been having certain thoughts and feelings about you.”
    She was completely frozen. Nothing moved except her blinking eyes that showed a different reaction each time they opened.
    Blink.
    Shock.
    Blink.
    Hurt.
    Blink.
    Sadness.
    Reaching out, I placed my hand on top of hers, causing her to snap back to the present and look at me.
    “I think about you all the time, Tweet.” I said, lacing our fingers together.
    “It’s nice to be thought about.”
    It was a stupid response, but she hadn’t expected me to tell her this stuff today. Hell, I hadn’t expected me to tell her this stuff today. I had taken her completely off guard and it made her uneasy.
    “When you’re around I want to touch you, hold your hand, or put my arms around you. I want to kiss you again.”
    I continued to hold her gaze, searching for more than the