Free Hard to Forget (Hard to Resist Prequel) by Shanora Williams Page B

She gripped Bryson’s arm and forced him to turn around. “I swear you’re a fucking asshole. Your girlfriend is over here, not over there. Stop talking to tramps.”
    “Chill, Grace,” Bryson said, remaining cool , his eyes soft. “We’re friends and I think she’s a really cool chick. I really don’t know why y’all hate her so much.”
    “Um, maybe because we know why she’ s trying to get so close to you,” Grace snapped.
    “I find the situation immature.” He looked from Grace to me. “Plus she has nothing on my girl. I have a hot chick o n my arm. No ruining that.” He placed a kiss on my cheek and just like that, I’d sunk against him. I breathed his masculine scent in and adored it. I embraced his hug, his touch, his firm body against mine. He kissed me and I kissed him back with the passion that I’d held back on all day.
    “Whatever,” Grace groaned before walking away. We watched her walk off and then Bryson sighed heavily.
    “You aren’t mad , are you?” he asked.
    “No,” I lied. Well, I wasn’t mad but I was bothered by his flirting. “But sh e’s right, Bryson. Stop talking to her so much. I really don’t like anything about her.”
    “Babe,” he said, laughing. “She’s my lab partner. She’s helping me out in class. You know how hard science is for me. I hate it, just as much as you do. I need some kind of help.”
    “I’m sure there are plenty of people that are willing to help you without a problem.”
    Stepping back, he observed me while folding his arms. “You think I’m going to do something with her?”
    “No.” My voice was abrupt as I grabbed his hand. “I just don’t want her to try and do anything. I trust you. Not her.” I peered over his shoulder at Sara who was watching us. We locked eyes for a quick second and the hatred flared between us. I was immature to flip her the middle finger but I didn’t give a shit. I wanted her to know how much I hated her.
    “You seriously need to chill out, Nat.” I looked up at Bryson who was running a hand through his hair. “Don’t fuck up our rep.”
    He placed a kiss on my lips but I didn’t kiss him back. “What the hell do you mean “don’t fuck up our rep”?”  I felt my features tightening and my fingers curling into fists. Anger took hold of my emotions but he sighed, as if it was nothing.
    “You’re acting like a damn kid.”
    “Oh, I’m acting like a kid because I don’t want you near that skank?”
    “No , you’re acting like a kid when you say certain shit. Brush it off, get over it. If she isn’t worth your time, act like it. I’m not going to dislike someone just because you don’t like them.”
    “But you know how she is, Bryson. I don’t want you around her. I don’t care about you being near anyone else, just not her.”
    A few people slowed down to listen in on us without making it noticeable but of course Bryson noticed and shook his head. “I’ll talk to you later. I don’t have time for this shit.”
    Before I could speak, he was making his way through the crowd with hunched shoulders. If it were possible, steam would have been blowing out of my ears, I was that furious. I felt my cheeks heating up and as I looked up, I saw a few people looking in my direction. Once they realized that I was looking, they looked away, pretending they hadn’t even been listening.
    Dating a quarterback had its advantages and its disadvantages. I admit that his rep was something that I had to protect but I was starting to resent everything about it. If it meant that he would stay away from Sara, so be it. I didn’t care how I made myself look just to prove to him that I actually did care and I didn’t want anything in between us. I thought we were worth more than a “reputation” but by him walking away and acting like I was immature and overreacting, I guess I was wrong.

Chapter Three
     
    I was glad that our history teacher didn’t feel well and went for playing a movie instead of