Private School Playboys novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Dress

"What pot?" I said.

Jude took his hand off the phone.

He didn't hide the screen this time.

He looked at me with grey eyes that were very steady and very tired.

"Give me until the Formal ends," he said. "Then I'll tell you everything. Every word."

"That's the second time you've said that."

"I know."

"What if I don't want to wait?"

"Then ask me now, and I'll tell you now."

He held my gaze.

"But it's going to cost me something I don't want to lose before Friday."

I thought about that for a long time.

I thought about the boathouse, and the shower, and the way he'd kept his wrists on the blanket.

"Saturday morning," I said. "First thing."

"First thing."

"And if it's something terrible?"

His mouth curved without any humor.

"It'll be exactly as terrible as you think it is."

I should have walked out.

I stayed.

On Thursday, I went to the library to return a book and found Brooks waiting at my table.

He had no entourage, no coffee, no roses.

His jacket was wrinkled, and he hadn't shaved.

"Bobbie," he said. "Five minutes. Please."

"Say it fast."

He stood up.

"I loved you," he said. "I know you don't believe me."

"I didn't know how to say it, and Sheridan was..."

His voice cracked.

"I got scared."

"You were not scared. You were bored."

"I was both."

He laughed brokenly and rubbed his face.

"I'm going to London on Saturday. The day after the Formal."

"I wanted to go there with you in my head. I wanted one good night."

"With me on your arm."

"Yes."

"That's what you've wanted since I walked in on you."

He didn't answer.

Then he did something that made me step back.

His hand shot out and closed around my wrist.

"You don't understand what you're costing me."

His fingers were tight.

His voice had dropped, and it was no longer sweet at all.

"Let go," I said.

"Just come to the Formal. Be my date for one night and then go back to your boyfriend. One night. That's all I'm asking."

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