Unwrapped Read Online Free Page B

start light and then delve…further in.” He cringed. He’d specifically avoided the word deep , but anything he said made him feel the need to adjust. Eye on the prize, eye on the prize. He had to keep reminding himself of that.
    “Sounds good. Nothing’s ever really superficial anyway. Okay, easy one—I’m a sophomore and I just declared my major.”
    “Which is?”
    “Speech pathology.”
    “Nice.” Really, he knew nothing about speech pathology. He racked his mind to come up with a suitable comment without sounding like a moron. “UNC has a good program for that, don’t they?”
    “Yep. Nationally renowned.” She seemed impressed that he’d known that. “Your turn.”
    “I just transferred in as a junior. I got my Associate’s Degree last spring in English at SDCC.”
    “SDCC?”
    He kept forgetting he was in a place where the acronym wasn’t familiar. “San Diego City College. Now I’m going for an education degree.”
    She nodded, her hair catching the light as it bounced on her shoulder. “UNC’s also known for their education program.”
    “That’s why I’m here.” And, at that moment, he couldn’t be happier about it.
    Chase reluctantly let go of Kira’s hand to hold the door open at The Blue Mug. Inside was less crowded than it had been on the weeknight that he’d come. Then, study groups had dominated the scene and it was hard to find an empty table. Now, there were still a few books cracked open, but there were several places to sit.
    After they’d ordered their drinks and a couple items from the bakery, they settled in at a table on the patio.
    This time it was easy to pick the conversation back up. “Do you like it here?” Chase asked.
    “At The Blue Mug or UNC?”
    He shrugged. “Either.”
    “I love The Blue Mug. Best place ever. Especially on Open Mic Night.”
    His mind wandered momentarily as he imagined going to an Open Mic Night with Kira. They’d hold hands across the table, sharing a plate of scones like they were now. Maybe he’d even get up and recite some poetry for her.
    He caught himself mid-fantasy. What the fuck was that about? He barely knew the woman. Why was he creating some make-believe future for them? He had to cut it out.
    Didn’t he?
    If he was serious about this article, then yeah, he did. He slid his finger absentmindedly down the spiral of his notebook.
    “What’s with the notebook?”
    He froze, feeling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. It was silly, too, since he hadn’t even written anything about Kira yet. But he planned to.
    Who the hell was he kidding? He wasn’t writing an exposé about Kira Larson. He was too into her. He’d write a recap of the Cherry Savers rally like he’d originally intended. And if it wasn’t enough to get him on the paper, then fuck it. He’d rather miss out on being a reporter than miss out on her.
    “It’s nothing,” he said, tossing the notebook to the chair next to him. “I had this silly idea that I was going to get an assignment done today.”
    Her brows creased. “Do you need to work on it?”
    “Nah.” He didn’t want to say much about it, but at the same time he wanted to tell her about himself. Especially when she looked up at him with such interest in her expression. “I was thinking about trying out for the school paper and the editor needs an audition article. So I was fiddling around with some ideas. I didn’t get anywhere though.”
    “Do you want me to help you brainstorm?”
    She was adorable the way she seemed all concerned. It made him feel guilty for ever thinking he would “out” her. It also strengthened his decision to abandon the piece. “No way. Homework on a Saturday in a new town? I’d much rather see the sights.”
    “That’s a laugh.” Kira nibbled on a corner of a scone. “Besides this place, there is not a single sight in this town worth seeing.”
    He met her eyes as she licked honey off her thumb. She was so beautiful to look at—sensual