Page 53 of The Substitute

With my stomach full, I want to sleep. This was a mistake. I should have waited until I was done studying to eat. Knowing my bed is right on the other side of the wall isn’t helping either.

Something Savage said earlier keeps circling my head, though.

You didn’t have to. That’s the point.

“What is the point?”

He looks up from his laptop. “What?”

“Earlier you said, I didn’t have to ask, and that’s the point.” I drop my eyes to my lap. “What’s the point?”

“Look at me.”

I do before I’ve even thought about it, and I find him dragging his teeth over his lip. A lip I desperately want to feel pressed to my own.

“Does it bother you that I showed up without you asking?”

I start to shake my head but stop to think about it. Does it bother me? No. It makes me feel like he cares which makes me question, what he really wants. Even though he said it’s not just to piss off Ambrose, I can’t help but think that’s the real motivation, which means it’s not really about me, and he doesn’t really care. That means it’s an act which does bother me…

“I don’t think so,” I say instead of unloading all that bullshit.

“Explain.” He sits back and gives me his full attention.

I should have just kept my mouth shut. Fuck. How do I say anything without sounding pathetic and like I’m overthinking everything?

I shove my hands in my hoodie pocket and look over his shoulder instead of at him. “I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.”

“You’re really annoying,” I bite out, and he grins.

“Yeah, I can be, but stop changing the subject.”

“People typically change subjects when they are no longer interested in the current one.”

“Or they’re embarrassed to admit something about the current subject, so they’re hoping for a distraction that they aren’t going to get.”

I huff out a breath instead of throwing my textbook at him. “Just because you’re hot doesn't mean you get to be an ass.”

He laughs and drops his head back for a second. “It does actually. Being hot means I get away with a lot more asshole behavior.” The fucker winks at me. “But it’s good to know you think I’m hot.”

“I didn’t actually say that.” My face is on fire. I’m going to spontaneously combust.

“You did.”

“Was this new information? Have you never seen a mirror before?”

“And now we’re bratty.” He leans forward, resting his forearms on the coffee table between us. “I’m learning all kinds of things today.”

“I’m not a brat,” I grumble.

“Oh, you absolutely are, but it’s not a bad thing. I happen to enjoy brats.”

“I’m not a child.”

“I didn’t say you were a child, and the situation in my pants would be extremely concerning if I were to find out you were.”

What did he just say? The situation in his pants? Is he turned on right now? Why? What the hell is happening?