Fight (#0.5 Fierce Series) Read online

  “What happened?” she asks.

  “Oh … you know … a leaf blower … my hair … the usual crap.”

  She snorts. “Well, that’s just you being yourself.”

  I shake my head and smile. Evie nudges me with her shoulder and winks. “Oh, c’mon. It’s not like they’ll remember you for it. Who’d remember girls like us anyway? We’re the nobodies. The ‘invisible.’ Nobody’s going to blink at us.” She makes quotation marks with her fingers.

  I laugh. “You got a point there. ‘Not being anyone’ makes life a lot easier.”

  Evie lets her head rest on my shoulder and I sigh.

  “Dork for life and proud of it,” she muses.

  And then we both burst out into laughter. We fall flat down on the bed and Evie puts her arm around me like she usually does when it’s just the two of us. I don’t remember her any other way. We’ve always been this close. Ever since I met her in high school she’s been my best friend. Both teased, we sought comfort in each other’s presence. Dorks have to stick up for each other. That’s the only way to make it through that thing called puberty.

  I’m so glad we’re both past that now. I expect college life to be different. A lot better, maybe.

  Someone clears his throat, and I immediately push myself up on my elbows.

  “Am I interrupting you guys? I can come back later, no problem.”

  “Brody!” I scream, and jump up from the bed. He’s standing in the doorway. I run to him and wrap my arms around him.

  “I get that you’re happy to see me, but no need to crush my ribs,” he says, almost choking on a laugh.

  “Sorry,” I say, releasing him from my grip.

  “So, had a look around campus yet?” he asks.

  “Yeah, I did the tour yesterday. I can’t believe how huge it is!”

  “I know, right?”

  We look at each other, and I can’t help but squash him between my arms again. I haven’t seen him in such a long time. It feels like it’s been forever since we were at the same school together. I never liked that he was three years older than me, but when he left to go to college, I was even more distraught. Suddenly, my best friend was gone, and I had to fend for myself.

  Luckily, I met Evie not long after. She’s been my only friend since. I think I can safely say I have two best friends. Although I don’t really know if it’ll be the same now that I’m here. Brody looks so different now, I can hardly tell it’s him. I hope things will be the same like always, though.

  “Hmm …” he mutters. “Seems ages ago since I was last a newbie. Wasn’t the greatest experience.”

  When he sees my scaredy-cat face, he chuckles a little. “Relax. You’ve got me to back you up. I didn’t have anyone to show me around, to help me out when I needed it. But you two have me now.”

  Evie rolls her eyes when he looks at her. “Don’t go thinking you’re a mogul now.” She walks up to him and pinches his cheeks. “Still little Bro-bro to me.”

  He scowls at her, and she laughs.

  “And now for the formal introduction: Autumn Blakewood and Evie Carder, I hereby welcome you to campus.”

  “Why thank you, generous lord.” Evie makes a bow, and I muffle a laugh behind my hand.

  “It’s tradition. Well, it’s not like you understand any of that,” he says, snorting. “Evie Peeved.”

  She frowns and nudges him forward. “Okay, that’s it. Out.”

  “What? Can’t take a joke?”

  “I hate that name.”

  “Exactly. That’s why it suits you perfectly.”

  “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have other stuff to do besides talking to an annoying dork.” She storms out the door and walks through the hallway.

  “You’re a dork yourself, too!” Brody yells, laughing out loud.

  “I know. That’s why it’s even more pathetic!” she yells back, laughing too. Then she disappears through a door with a ‘ladies’ sign above it.

  “That’s what you get when you push her buttons,” I say when Brody directs his attention back to me.

  “No, you push her buttons.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I say, and I put my hands on my waist.

  “You know what I mean … cuddling up on the bed and all that.”

  I blush. “We’re just friends. It’s no big deal.”

  “To her it is.”

  I sigh. “I’m not into that kind of thing, and you know that.”

  “I know, but she won’t give up, and I can already tell this is headed toward disaster. Someone’s going to get hurt, and I know it won’t be you.”

  “Stop making such a huge deal out of a hug. She’s not … we’re not. It’s nothing. Forget about it.”

  Brody holds his hands in the air and closes his eyes. “Don’t come crying to me later when your friendship is on the line, because I’ll only say ‘I told you so.’ Don’t mess with chicks, that’s all I’m saying, and I know plenty about that.”

  I grimace. “Yeah … What do you know about relationships? Last time I saw you trying to hook up with a girl you got a milkshake in your face instead.”

  “Hey, I’m not that guy anymore. It’s been three years since then, Autumn; I’ve changed.”

  I purse my lips. “We’ll see about that.”

  Brody squints, a devilish smile creeping onto his face. “I guess so. See you around!”

  He walks through the hallway, and I hear him go downstairs before I turn around again and go back into my room. Staring at the clock, I pull up my sleeve so I can fiddle with the bracelet I got from Evie before summer. The only problem is, it’s not there.

  What? I stare at my wrist, but my bracelet is clearly missing. What happened to it? Did I take it off? I remember twiddling with it in the bus, so it can’t be at my parents’ place.

  I grab my suitcase and rummage inside, but it’s nowhere to be found. Oh God, I hope I didn’t lose it. What if that leaf blower blasted it away into the grass? What if someone else picked it up? I’d never find it again.

  Frantically I search my room, but can’t seem to find it anywhere.

  “Looking for this?” someone says.

  I turn around only to stare into those piercing gray eyes again. It’s him: the guy who was staring at me when I left the bus. The one who turned my cheeks redder than a beet. That guy.

  He leans against my doorpost, casually holding up his hand. Pinched between his index finger and thumb is my bracelet.

  My bracelet. He’s holding it. Him. The guy who caught my eye the moment I saw him.

  And he’s talking to me.

  Oh God, I can’t breathe.

  I swallow away the lump in my throat as I walk toward him, holding my breath.

  “This is yours, right?” he says. His voice is deep and husky, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything sexier.

  I nod, still staring at him. I’m only just close enough to be able to reach for the bracelet, but not nearly far enough away for my liking.

  My heart is beating like crazy as his eyes scan my face, while I try not to breathe. I feel like if I do, I might start panting.

  He looks so goddamn ridiculously handsome up close. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy this gorgeous before.

  His spiky hair all gelled up, the tan skin of his hands peeking out from underneath his leather jacket, his broad pectorals visible through his tight white tee. All of it is making my head explode.

  A hot guy is standing in my doorway, talking to me, giving me back my stuff. Stupid as it sounds, it feels like a dream.

  Things like this never happen to me. Hot guys don’t come so close to me.

  I never anticipated something like this happening. I don’t even know how to behave. I didn’t expect this at all.

  I catch myself staring at his amazing features so I raise my head to look up at him. His eyes follow mine, and then I know he knows exactly what I was looking at.

  Oh God. This is embarrassing.

  A cute smile curls up his lips. “You can’t talk?”

  My mouth feels like it’s stitched together, as if I’m unable to pull it open and say anything. I must look ridiculous.

  I push my glasses farther up my nose so they’re not askew anymore. Flushing, I force my lips to part. “Yeah,” I say. “I was so scared I lost it. Where’d you find it?”

  He cocks his head, and it shows me his muscular neck, making me blush even more. “Outside. Thought it was yours. It looked expensive.”

  I hold out my hand, but he doesn’t give it to me.

  “I think it’s important to be careful with stuff you think is valuable. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Besides, not everything can be replaced.”

  “I agree, but I lost it by accident. Can I have it back now?” I say. I’m not in the mood for a lecture. I try to snatch it from his hand, but he grasps my bracelet and pulls back his hand.

  “What kind of a ‘thank you’ is that?” he says, squinting, taunting me.

  Suddenly, he looks a lot less attractive. I cross my arms and say, “Thank you.”

  He smiles and tilts his head, dangling the bracelet in front of me. “That all?”

  “Yes. What else do you want from me?” I snap.

  “Your name.” He mimics my stance and crosses his arms, burying the bracelet deep within the socket of his elbow. His biceps bulge against his leather jacket, and I have trouble not gaping at them.

  “Autumn Blakewood. Yours?”

  “Autumn? What kind of name is that for a girl?”

  With furrowed brows, I say, “Well I like it.”

  He starts twirling my bracelet like it’s some kind of toy. I risk a chance and reach for it, but he pulls back again. Goddammit.

  “I don’t have time for games …” I say, sighing.

  “Oh … I’m not playing games, Leafy.”

  “Leafy?” I say, scowling.

  He points at my hair and immediately reminds me of the embarrassing scene outside. Now I have to fight off the heat rushing to my cheeks.

  “Here,” he says, and he tosses me the bracelet. “Name’s Hunter Bane,” he says.

  I barely manage to catch the bracelet before he saunters off again. Frowning, I watch him walk off.

  “See ya, Leafy.”

  “My name isn’t Leafy, it’s Autumn!” I yell after him, but he only waves as he walks into his room.

  Which is only five feet away from mine.

  ###

  Click here to read more of FIERCE!

  Want to get an email when my next book is released?

  Sign up here and receive a free story: http://eepurl.com/FdY71

  Visit Clarissa Wild’s blog for current titles.

  About the author:

  Clarissa Wild is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.

  Connect with Me Online!

  My blog: http://clarissawild.blogspot.com/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/WildClarissa

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarissaWildAuthor

  Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/clarissawild/

  Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110159060064239089141/

 

 

  Clarissa Wild, Fight (#0.5, Fierce Series)

 

 

  Thank you for reading books on Archive.BookFrom.Net
Share this book with friends