Page 54 of The Devastation You Reap

I toss and turn for hours, most of my body out of the sheets because it’s burning up with the memories and it's long past my usual bedtime when I finally do fall asleep.

* * *

The first thing I do the next morning is reach for my cell. I immediately chastise myself for it, but equally, I can't help it.

I also can't help my stomach sinking in disappointment when I don't find anything from Leon.

I don't know what I was expecting, he's probably not even awake yet but still…

Unable to stop myself, I open our chat from last night and scroll back through our messages. As I read each one, I wonder again who this girl is he's turning me into.

I barely message anyone, let alone flirt with them.

I shake my head at myself and throw the covers off to get ready for the day.

I can't allow him to consume all my thoughts. He might be changing me in ways I never thought possible, but I refuse to lose myself to him or any guy.

I am not that kind of girl.

I make quick work of getting ready and grabbing everything I'm going to need for a day of classes and my study session in the library tonight.

I battle with myself the whole time as to whether I should message and wish him a good morning, but in the end, I manage to stop myself.

I don't want him to think I'm too eager, mainly because I shouldn't be this eager.

He's a football player, MacieI remind myself.

You shouldn’t want him.

It doesn't matter what the little voice in my head says, my body seems to be getting more and more insistent because it knows exactly what it wants… more of last night.

"Morning, Mace," Nathan says when I make my way to the kitchen.

"Hey." I can't help the embarrassment that still floods me knowing what he saw last night.

"You okay?"

"Y-yeah. You?"

"Yeah."

He stares at me, his brow creased in concern. I know he probably wants to say a million and one things to me about the situation but he knows as well as I do that it'll be a waste of energy. I already know them all and I'm doing the total opposite.

"I'm ready, I'm ready," Jace says, running down the hallway still getting dressed.

"Jesus," Nathan mutters. "Have a good day, Mace. You know where I am if you need me."

"Thank you." I smile at him and watch the pair of them leave before making myself a coffee and following their footsteps not long after.

The morning drags as I sit in class waiting for my cell to buzz. But I get nothing until just before I head out for lunch.

Your King: I wish it was Friday already.

Macie: You should be in class.

Your King: I am. It's boring. Would rather be in yours.

Macie: I'm a dedicated student with serious classes. I hope you're not insinuating you'd be doing anything but working hard.