Free Graham (Scandalous Boys Book 2) by Natalie Decker

off as a dick. But I’m not a complete asshole. You sounded like you were having a nightmare, so I laid down with you only to comfort you. It seemed to work, because you stopped mumbling and tossing in your sleep.” She’s eyeing me up like she’s ready to rip off my nuts, so I leave off the part where she whispered my name in her sleep.
    She takes a step back and twists a lock of her own hair around her finger. “I need to go home. Take me back to my car.”
    I nod and don’t say another word to her.
    On our way to the grocery store, I put the radio on loud so we can continue the silent treatment between us. I glance over at her every once in a while during the drive. Her gaze is fixed on the passenger window. A couple of times I catch her shoulders rising and dropping quickly, as if she’s letting out frustrated breaths of air. She’s not the only one frustrated, that’s for sure.
    What am I doing? I’m just supposed to do my hours and get my ass back to school, not worry about her. But lately she’s been on my mind more than I like.
    I grip the steering wheel tighter. The damn grocery store is coming into view. I pull up next to her car, expecting her to bolt from mine as soon I throw it in park. She doesn’t. She lingers, and I bite back a smile that wants to appear. “Well, you’re here.”
    “Thanks for the ride.”
    I shrug like it’s no big deal. I’m such an asshole. “Yeah, well, it was whatever.”
    She glares at me, opens the door, gets out, and slams the door closed. I roll down my window as I watch her stomp her sexy ass over to her car’s driver’s side. “Hey, you don’t have to throw a tantrum at my car door.”
    “Oh, go fuck yourself, Graham!” Then she gets into her car and fires the engine.
    I watch her peel out in the parking lot as she drives off. I would go after her … but I don’t. What I need to do is clear my head. Of her. My thoughts. Of just everything.

Chapter Twelve
     
    Sarah
     
     
    It’s been a week since I’ve seen Graham. I hope I never see him again. Him and all his gorgeous smiles … and sexy abs. Ever since he’s rooted himself in my life again, he’s been nothing but trouble.
    On my way to sociology, I spot Tucker, leaning into some other girl, playing with a strand of her hair while she giggles and smiles at him. It fuels my anger. That should be me. So what if Tucker is a huge player? Graham obviously is a huge player too.
    Ah! I shouldn’t think about Graham or compare him to other people.
    I trudge on to class, plop down in my seat near the back, and wait. Within three minutes the class fills up, and Professor Wilder starts speaking. “Good morning. Today, I’m handing out our end-of-the-year project. Now remember, this is worth two exam grades, so if you bombed any tests earlier this year, this project will definitely give you a boost. If you fail this project, I regret to say you will also fail this class. Please take this seriously. There is no rush on turning it in.”
    Professor Wilder makes his way down the aisles handing out thick packets of paper to each of us. I take mine and read the title. Project: Investigate social behavior. Great.
    “I will have each row come up to my desk and draw from the bowl. Inside the bowl is your assigned behavior. No, you cannot choose a behavior. No, you can not ask for another. This is to help you grow and learn. Step out of your comfort zone.” He stops near his desk. “I know some of you have parents, siblings, or even friends who experience one or more of these behaviors. I know that we might have identified with them.” His eyes seem to lock on me, and I quickly look away. This class has opened my eyes to a lot of things I guess I should have recognized as wrong, or even misguided, in my parents’ behaviors. Throwing cash at your teen daughter in order to apologize is frowned upon. Trying to identify with your daughter by wearing clothes that are not age-appropriate? Again, this is frowned upon.