Playing With Fire (Sweet Secrets #3) Read Online Free

eventually I looked up to see what he was doing. I was surprised to see that he was just staring at me, regarding me quietly. His face seemed calculating. He reached for my hands and held them in my lap. “Ella, I told you this the other night, and I’ll tell you again. I really like you. I don’t understand what part of that you don’t understand, but I’m completely serious.”
    I bit my lip as he squeezed my hands in his.
    “Now we have to leave or we’ll be late.”
    I frowned at him. “Since when do you care about being late?”
    Shane shrugged and looked embarrassed. “I actually don’t mind being at school.”
    “Aw, that’s cute. Shane Quinn, one of the most popular guys in school, is also a secret nerd.”
    He chuckled as he let go of my hands and proceeded to back out of the driveway. The ride to school was filled with short conversations and Shane changing the station multiple times. When we finally arrived, he pulled into the student parking lot and parked in the first spot he saw.
    Once he cut the ignition, I leaned over the center console and turned his face toward mine. He was caught off guard by my action, but then his gaze lowered to my lips and he raised his hand to cup my cheek as our mouths connected. The kiss was rough and passionate, lasting for just a few seconds. I was the one who broke it, pulling away before it could deepen.
    Shane didn’t drop his hand from my cheek as he asked, “What was that for?” He looked slightly amused.
    “I wanted to be the last person you kissed,” I answered honestly.
    He smiled, leaning in to give me a soft peck on the lips. “I really am sorry.”
    “I know.”
    “Okay, I was just making sure,” he replied as he opened his car door.
    I opened my door and climbed out, ignoring the stares from my peers that filled the parking lot. When school had first started, it had been awkward to come in with Shane and have everyone staring at us, but now I was beginning to ignore it. Shane was so used to it that he just carried on with what he was doing. He was like a freaking celebrity at this place.
    Shane came around the car and tossed his arm over my shoulder as we headed toward the school building. I spotted Carter standing near his car in a spot closer to the main entrance. He was surrounded by a group of friends, a lot of whom were girls who could undoubtedly double as supermodels. In Virginia girls would either go natural or wear makeup. Here, everything was different. There were girls my age who’d already had work done on their bodies. Appearance was everything. I still wasn’t used to all of the stunning girls that hung around Shane, and I had to admit that sometimes I wished they were a lot less attractive. It was easy to feel replaceable with all of them around constantly. Especially since Shane and I had yet to define our relationship.
    I felt like an outsider as we approached Shane’s friend group, and only spoke to him and Carter. Finally, I excused myself and headed into the building, feeling like I was inadequate, even though I knew that I wasn’t. I just couldn’t help but wonder which of the girls in Shane’s friend group he had slept with. That thought alone made me groan audibly, causing people in the hallway to stare at me quizzically.
    Man, this is going to be a long year.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
     
    The cafeteria was filled with laughter and conversation as I entered. School had been in session for weeks now, and yet I still wasn’t accustomed to how modern the cafeteria was. The cafeteria was renovated during the summer before I moved to Virginia, so I’d never gotten to see it until this year. There were regular lines for cafeteria food, as well as a salad bar, and areas that offered food from different fast-food restaurants in our area. My favorite was the burrito line where I could get a burrito bigger than my head. Today I was in the mood for pizza, so I went to stand in the long line to get a