Free Enigma by Aimee Ash Page B

the floor.
    I could tell that he wanted to end the conversation, but she grabbed his shoulder again.
    “Thanks. Please, let me buy you lunch. I’d like to do something to thank you.”
    “That’s not necessary,” he said.
    “Maybe not, but I would still like to go to lunch with you. Once the word gets around that you’re attending Long Beach University, every girl will want to go to lunch with you, Jack Jones.”
    I rummaged through my bag and gritted my teeth. Chanelle’s bony hands were still wandering over Jack. I wanted to tell her that he was off limits, but Jack beat me to it.
    “Thanks for the offer, Chanelle, but I don’t think my girlfriend would appreciate me going to lunch with you,” Jack said quietly.
    Silent revenge. Jack dented her ego and polished mine. He looked at me as I pulled out my cell phone, and smiled. Chanelle looked horrified that she’d been rejected, but surprisingly, she persisted.
    “Girlfriend? What girlfriend? Jack Jones doesn’t date. Everyone knows that. Feel free to ask me out when you break up with her. Oh, I mean if you break up with her. And don’t forget that I asked first,” she said.
    “I don’t think that’ll happen. Like I said, I have a girlfriend now.”
    Chanelle’s eyes narrowed. “Well, Jack, if you ever need, you know, a night off, here’s my number,” she said, extending a piece of paper that was wedged between her bony fingers.
    I bit my lip and through pure rage, threw my bag on the floor, walked over to Jack, and straddled him like he was about to get the best lap dance of his life. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. He returned the kiss, tightening his hold on me, and when I came up for air, Chanelle and everyone else around us looked stunned.
    Still straddling Jack, I smiled sweetly at Chanelle and said, “For your information, my boyfriend and I will not be breaking up, and he won’t be joining you for lunch, either.” Then I took the piece of paper out of Jack’s hand, crumpled it up, and threw it in her lap.
    Chanelle sat open-mouthed with the piece of paper in her lap. Jack smiled at me and I felt empowered.
    “Good luck, whatever your name is . You obviously don’t know Jack Jones as well as you should.”
    I ignored her; I wasn’t going to allow her to strip me of my pride, so I decided to wait until later to ask Jack what she meant. I had no idea what had come over me; I’d never behaved like that before, and would’ve normally been mortified at bringing so much attention to myself, but I wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. After all, I was only claiming what was rightfully mine.
    Jack’s football coach was standing at the front of the class. “Excuse me, Miss. Please take your seat,” he said. “You can finish making out after this meeting.”
    There were a few snickers, but I didn’t care. I wrangled off of Jack’s lap and sat in my chair. I crossed my legs and Jack placed his hand on my thigh. I leaned into him and we smiled at each other. I was a moth to his flame and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on him.
     
    W hen the meeting was finished, Jack and I walked out hand-in-hand, and I felt like everyone in the room was watching us. They were probably wondering why such a good-looking guy would want to date a plain girl like me. I wondered the same thing, but I did look good in the bikinis I’d bought, so maybe it was time I gave myself a little more credit.
    We walked to the parking lot and I put my bag in the back seat. When I turned around, Jack pinned me to the car and kissed me with profound passion. His lips pushed against mine and I couldn’t help but get lost in the moment. I wrapped my arms around his neck while inhaling his delicious scent, and he ran his hands down my sides. There were a few other students in the lot, but I didn’t care. I ran my hands underneath his T-shirt, finally getting to feel his toned chest, and he felt better than I’d anticipated. His fingers discreetly