Someone Like You (15 page)

And suddenly, I find
that I’m growing tired of this confusing little game we’re playing.

“
I can’t put up with this.” I tell him wearily.

He steps closer, nearly closing the gap between us. “Neither can I Nerd Girl.”

“Good.” I say with a gulp, still frozen to the spot by his cool, grey gaze.

“Yeah, so I think I know what we should do.” he says, backing me against the side of the doorframe.

Oh, what is going on?

I bite my lip nervously and his eyes travel to my mouth.

“Oh?” is all I can manage to say.

Damn I want him to kiss me.

I know I shouldn’t but I do.

“Yeah,” he continues. “This thing between us has gotta come to an end.” he tells me, placing his hands on the wall at either side of my head.

“Well, what do you suggest?” I ask a little breathlessly.

He throws me a wicked grin. “Oh I have a few ideas.”

“Enough of the games Priestly.” I say firmly, growing annoyed. “What do you want me to do because I can’t take this –” I gesture between us with my hand, “whatever
this
is – anymore!”

“Me either.” he says, the corner of his lips quirking up.

I grunt in frustration. “Well then, please enlighten me on what you’re going to do about it.”

“Oh I can’t tell you.” he says with a
wide grin. “I have to show you.”

And before I know what’s happening, he
leans in and kisses me.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Temperance

I can’t believe it’s actually happening. Okay, I may have secretly dreamed about this once or twice but I still can’t believe this is real.

And as I feel Priestly’s warm lips touch mine, I forget to breathe … heck, I forget how to function.

I feel faint and my knees threaten to buckle.

Priestly gathers me against his chest, wrapping his arms around my waist as he continues to kiss me. I run my hands over the smooth skin of his back just as
–

Bang!

We jump apart at the loud noise and I eye Priestly warily.

Bang! Bang!

“What the fuck?” he asks to no-one in particular as he strides past me and makes his way down the hall.

I will my jelly legs to follow him and stumble out of the room until I reach the living area where I find Priestly standing by our open front door with Anson.

“Uh, you gonna let me in handsome?” Anson asks Priestly with a wink. I also note that his eyes travel over Priestly’s bare chest.

“Anson, what are you doing here?” I ask, feeling bewildered since I just left him about an hour ago.

His gaze flickers over to me. “Did I interrupt something?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“No.” I say quickly as Priestly throws me a funny look.

“Um, I’m gonna go throw on a shirt.” Priestly announces before quickly leaving the room.

Anson’s eyes practically pop out of his head as he watches Priestly leave before turning back to me.

“Uh, you got some explaining to do!” he declares, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

I roll my eyes. “Um, what the hell are you doing here? I only left you like an hour ago?”

“Oh yeah!” he exclaims excitedly. “I came over here straight away as soon as I heard.”

“Heard what?” I ask curiously.

“Nixon’s dropped out!” he tells me with an evil grin.

“What?” I say, completely taken aback.

Anson nods excitedly. “Yup. I heard it from one of the girls in my study group. About an hour ago, he just upped and quit.”

“Best decision the little shit ever made.” a voice announces.

I turn to see Priestly, now dressed in a shirt with a small smirk on his face.

Damn. Part of me could get used to seeing him walk around shirtless.

Anson grins at him. “I couldn’t agree more. I just thought you’d want to know.” He tells me with a smile.

“Uh yeah.” I say distractedly. “I feel better knowing he can’t hassle me anymore.”

Priestly nods and avoids my eyeline. “Yeah. So, I’m gonna head out for more beers. See ya.”

He quickly exits the flat and I heave a sigh.

“Okay, spill.” Anson demands, looking at me expectantly.

“He kissed me.”

***

Priestly

“Dude, I kissed her.”

“What the fuck?” Carter practically shouts down the phone.

“I know. I’m an idiot.”

“What the hell were you thinking?” Carter demands. “Nerdo? Really?”

I kick at a few stones as I walk along, trying to clear my head.

“I know Carter. Believe me, I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me.”

He chuckles loudly before saying, “You really like her, don’t you?”

I heave a sigh. “I do but I can’t explain it. Seriously, at the start I wanted rid of her but … I don’t know. Something changed man.”

“Dude,
think about it. You wanted rid of her so you started to annoy her. But she challenged you which people don’t usually do. Maybe it just got to the stage that you didn’t annoy her to get rid of her, you annoyed her because you liked arguing with her?”

I stare at my phone.

What planet am I on? Did Carter just say something half-logical to me?

“Um,” I say stupidly. “Shit.”

Carter laughs. “Dude, you totally like her. It’s like you’re eight years old again, picking on the girl you like.”

“Oh fuck off.” I tell him as he continues to laugh.

“You know I’m right. By the way, I heard about Nixon. Care to explain?”

“I just gave him some friendly advice.” I tell him.

He lets out a low chuckle. “I’m sure it was real friendly!”

“Well, I also may have made a few calls that helped get him kicked out.” I add with a smirk.

“Ooh, nice one man. Listen, I gotta go. See you at the party in about an hour.”

“Yeah.” I agree. “See you then.”

Well, it’s official. Carter just confirmed it.

I like Nerd Girl.

Yep, I’m fucked.

***

Temperance

“Ahhh! You like him. You like him. You really, really like him!” Anson chants like a six-year-old schoolgirl.

“Please stop!” I yell, shaking my head at him.

Even though what he says is true, I still feel confused.

When did it happen?

When did I grow to like him?

Does he like me too or does he just want to hook up?

What will happen now?

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop.” Anson says before adding, “I’m also sorry about interrupting you guys.”

I shrug. “It was a bit of a surprise really and I’m not sure where it was leading to so you probably did me a favour.”

He nods. “Well, still, if you two are finally going to hook up, you’re going to have to look super hot! Follow me.”

Anson pulls me up from the couch and locks us in my bedroom.

“Okay,” he begins, throwing open my wardrobe doors. “Let me work my magic darlin’!”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Priestly

About an hour later, I finally head back to the flat. I’m still confused as to what to do about Temperance but I need to talk to her before everyone shows up for the party.

I unlock the front door and immediately make my way to the kitchen to grab a beer. Chugging back half the bottle, I start to make my way to her bedroom but stop.

What the fuck do I say to her?

What the fuck will she say?

I kissed her but now what …

Will she want something more?

Do I want something more?

Oh fuck, what have I done?

I back away from her door, make my way to the living area, and flop down on the couch.

What the fuck have I done?

I down the rest of my beer and sit with my head in my hands.

I’ve screwed up everything. She’s going to be so pissed at me … which will make me find her even more attractive … which will make m
e do something even more stupid … which will probably make her hate me.

Fuck,
then she’ll refuse to tutor me.

I’ll fail and then
I’ll get kicked out and my dad will be so pissed.

Fuck. I didn’t think one kiss could lead to so much shit.

Okay, I really need to talk to her … now where’s the rest of the beer?

***

Temperance

I heard Priestly come back ten minutes ago but I’m too scared to face him.

Even though Anson has me looking pretty good, I’m terrified of what’s going to happen when I face Priestly again.

I keep replaying our kiss in my mind and I can’t help but fear that he’s going to tell me it was a big mistake.

When I told Anson my worries, he told me not to stress and let my appearance do the talking. That was twenty minutes ago and I still feel lost.

What if it didn’t mean anything?

What will I say to him?

What will he say?

Do I want to do this?

Do I want to risk letting someone like Priestly into my life?

What if
we give it a go and it gets screwed up?

One of us will have to move out … probably me. Where would I go? I’ll be homeless. I’ll fail my classes and have to drop out.

Crap. Who knew one kiss could cause so much destruction?

Okay, it’s time to face the music … and if this little showdown with Priestly was going to have a soundtrack … I’m pretty sure it would be
The Eagles’
Heartache Tonight
.

“
Somebody’s gonna hurt someone,

before the night is through …
”

***

Priestly

I’m a coward.

I have purposely avoided Temperance all night. Yes, okay, I’m an asshole … but when I seen her looking so damn hot, all thoughts left my brain and I just knew I’d end up doing something incredibly stupid like kiss her again.

I know I should talk to her but maybe this conversation should be saved for tomorrow morning … or never … whenever … I don’t mind.

Anyway, Carter has been my lookout for the entire evening, which has pretty much consisted of me running in the opposite direction when I see Temperance, downing my body weight in alcohol and getting shitfaced.

Okay, not the most sensible plan but hey, I figure it’s better to have one last blow out before the shit hits the fan … which it
inevitably will when I find the courage to talk to Temperance.

What I’ll say to her when I
do manage to string together a coherent sentence … well, who knows?

All I know is that whatever happened between us can’t happen again. I can’t fuck this up. I have classes to pass and Temperance is the only way that’s going to happen. I can’t have her tutoring me and things being all awkward and shit.

I can’t –

Oh shit!

Here she comes again.

I glance around for Carter but he’s nowhere to be seen.

Shit.

“Priestly!” she yells to me and starts to make her way over.

I down the rest of my beer and try to think of an escape plan through the pleasant alcohol buzz in my brain.

Nope. I got nothing.

“Hey!” Temperance yells over the music. “I’ve been trying to talk to you all night. Can we go somewhere?”

Alarmed, I let my eyes dart around the room, seeking Carter – hell anyone – to save me from myself, and come up empty. I guess I’ll have to go it alone … Shit.

“Sure.” I hear myself reply.

She throws me that killer smile and I want to die there and then. I can’t like someone like her. I just can’t.
I have to fix this. I have to do whatever the hell it takes for this beautifully messed up relationship to end.

Temperance grins and I follow her out into the hall. Now with the front door separating us from the party, it muffles the noise slightly making it easier to talk.

“What’s up?” I ask, leaning against the door frame.

I watch as her cheeks turn red and she avoids my eyeline. “Um, about what happened earlier … I just wanted to um, talk to you about it.” she mumbles shyly.

Fuck. I really want to kiss her again. There’s just something so hot about how embarrassed she is.

I throw her a wide grin and raise an eyebrow.

“If you want me to take my shirt off again, just ask.” I tell her with a smirk.

She blushes again, biting her lip and I find myself grinning even more.

“No, I – I – I,” she stammers, before breaking off to bite her lip again.

I stare at those lips as she starts to speak again but I don’t hear anything. All I can focus on is her mouth and before I realise what I’m doing, I lean in and kiss her.

Ah fuck, what is wrong with me?

***

Temperance

Oh. My. God.

All coherent thoughts leave me as Priestly continues his assault on my lips.

My brain is in mush and the only thing I can think is that Priestly Sawyer sure can kiss! This is what a kiss is supposed to feel like … and it almost erases the memory of my vile first kiss with Nixon.

I wrap my arms around his neck as I feel my legs turn to jelly.

I breathe in his distinctive clean, woodsy smell and savour the moment.

However, it doesn’t take long for my brain to wake up and ruin everything.

Hello? Is this a good idea
? I don’t think so!

I push him away, breaking the kiss and stare at him.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, a lazy smile forming on his lips.

Oh those lips …

I shake my head in a bid to clear my thoughts and say, “Um, we needed to talk, remember?”

He jolts a little at that and the lazy smile disappears. “Yeah, right.”

I nod. “Yeah, so um, what –”

I don’t get to finish since Priestly cuts me off.

“Um, yeah.” he starts to babble, rubbing the back of his neck as he paces the hall. “So about earlier … and um, there now. Maybe it would be best if we could just forget this ever happened. I mean we live together, you’re going to be my tutor, things could get … complicated. It was a stupid decision and I think it would be easier if we pretend it didn’t happened, yeah? Besides, it never would’ve worked.”

Ouch.

Even though I agree with him, it still hurts to be rejected … especially by someone like Priestly. Sure, it’s fun to fantasise about what could have been but, at the end of the day, I have to accept that someone like him is never going to be interested in someone like me.

“Yeah,” I say, attempting to inject enthusiasm into my voice and block out the soundtrack in my head.
“You’re right.”

“
Somebody’s gonna hurt someone …”

“It never happened.” I agree, throwing him a strained smile.

“Before the night is through …”

“Great!” Priestly says with a wide grin. “Friends?”

“Friends.” I reply with a nod and watch as he makes his way back into the party.

“
There's gonna be a heartache tonight 
A heartache tonight, I know …”