Page 32 of Becoming His

“Yeah, it crossed my mind.”

“Fuck that,” he said, bringing his lips to mine. This time I didn’t push him away; I responded to him the way I wanted.

I love kissing him.

“Jesus Bailey, she was a fuckingbet.”

Bailey tensed as he moved away to find Chase and some other guys grinning at us.

“She’snota fucking bet,” he growled, his hand still on mine.

“Chill, you haven’t got any competition for her. There aremuchhotter girls here.” Chase snorted.

I closed my eyes as embarrassment washed over me.

“Yeah? Where?” Bailey replied calmly.

I want to die. Hide me, God.

“Come on, bro-”

“Don’t fuckingbrome.”

Chase and Bailey stood head to head, Bailey was broader, but Chase was slightly taller.

“Fine. When you’ve got over it, get back to me. She’llneverbe one of us.” Chase spat, glaring at me over Bailey’s shoulder.

Why does he hate me so much?

Bailey turned back to me, pulling me towards his car wordlessly. I followed him, his anger coming off him like smoke. We sat in his car for a minute as he stared ahead, tapping his hand on the steering wheel.

“Bailey. He’s right, you know. I won’t ever be one of you.”

He turned to look at me with a look of disgust on his face.

“I’d rather be one of whatever you are than anythingtheyare. There’s something about you, Annabelle; I’m drawn to you. I had no intention to, well. Feel how I feel about you.” His voice was hoarse as he stared at me, his hand on mine.

“How do you feel about me?!” I squeaked out as he laughed softly.

“Let’s get some food. I’m starving,” he smirked, and I rolled my eyes.

He started the car and drove to a diner not far from school, which had more students in from school than our cafeteria probably had.

“Want to go somewhere else?” he asked, taking in my anxious expression.

“Elena will make my lifehellBailey.”

“Look,nothingis going on with Elena and me, butsomethingis happening with you and me. I couldn’t care less what people say; let them talk.”

I felt tingles when he spoke about us that way. “Or, we can go to mine, and I can look at that outfit in more detail.”

I opened the car door, and he laughed and followed me to the diner. When I walked in, it was like the diner took a deep breath, all eyes on us. “Are you going to walk in or stand here waiting for an invitation?” Bailey murmured as his hands slipped around my waist, pushing me forward playfully.

I flushed scarlet as I moved forward, feeling nauseous as everyone stared at us in disbelief.

“The cliché is alive and well,” I muttered, and he laughed.

We found an empty booth, and I sat before him, shaking my head.