Page 113 of If It's You

“I guess the city boy couldn’t take the pressure.” She winked then walked away.

The air whooshed from his lungs.

“You don’t play fair.” He shook his head and followed her to the kitchen.

She held the keys out to him. “I never said I would.” Her gaze held his.

Hope and excitement fought for space in his chest. What gamewasshe playing?

“You’d better get going. There’s blood here too. And cramps.”

His throat tightened, and he was nauseous again.

A grin split her face, and she laughed. “That was too easy. Have fun with my chores.” She walked away, slamming her bedroom door behind her.

What had she done to him?

* * *

Maizie tried notto cringe as she remembered what she had said to Christian earlier. She was trying to fluster him, like he always did to her. It had worked, and he was adorable when he was flustered. But now all she could think of was how she’d reminded the guy she liked that she was on her period.

She could still feel his rapid heartbeat beneath her fingertips and the anticipation dancing through her veins from just being near him. She shouldn’t have touched him like that, but it had been too tempting. Now she couldn’t stop thinking about the definition of his chest, even as she watched Moose and the rest of the Step Up cast dance in a Las Vegas casino while holding her stomach.

Her mom poked her head into the room.

“Your dad and I are going on a date. Do you need anything?”

“Some more Motrin?”

“Yeah, just a sec.” Her mom returned a moment later with two little orange pills.

“Thanks” She swallowed them with a swig of water.

Twenty more minutes before the pain would subside. She checked Instagram for a distraction but grew bored quickly. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the darkness take over.

“Hey.” Christian’s voice broke through the pitch black, and she threw her pillow at him.

“What are you doing?” she asked. “Couldn’t you tell I was sleeping?”

“Yeah, I saw that.” He flicked on the light.

“Ugh, you suck,” she moaned, covering her eyes.

“Thanks, princess.” He said, smiling his ridiculously attractive smile.

“It wasn’t a compliment,” she said, finally adjusting to the light.

“Here.” He stepped in front of her and held out a large stuffed animal.

“What is it?” She eyed him warily.

“It’s a heating pad.”

Maizie stared at him, then took it and tucked it against her stomach. It was the perfect

size.

“Thanks.” She looked away. Her heart swam with the desire to forgive him. To let him try