Read Online All In by Marta Brown - Free Book Online Page B

I’m so sorry.” I shake my head, embarrassed
Lane thought Gregory and I were a couple and even more embarrassed
by the things Gregory said about me in front of Lane.
    “Don’t apologize for him. No girl
should be spoken to like that, or grabbed in that way. Ever.” The
fire in his eyes is so intense it makes my stomach
flutter.
    “I slapped him, by the way.
Hard.”
    The intensity in Lane’s eyes changes
from burning fury to amusement. “Really?”
    “I did,” I say with a laugh even
though the events that followed were anything but funny. “Right
before he grabbed me, I slapped him so hard it left a welt on his
face.”
    “Atta girl,” Lane says. “That guy
deserves a whole lot more than a slap by a pretty girl and an ass
kicking from me…but it’s a start.” He chuckles.
    Pretty girl?
    I feel my cheeks warm. Was Andrew
right? Is it possible Lane might like me? And was Gregory right
when he accused me of liking Lane?
    He really is unlike any guy I’ve ever
met before. In the last day I’ve seen him show more character than
I’ve ever seen Gregory Chase or any of the other guys I know,
except for my brother, ever show. I’d come here with the excuse to
give Lane the ice pack, but deep down, I really just want to get to
know him more.
    “Do you want to hang out?” I blurt out
before I can stop myself and I’m shocked by my own boldness. What
is this boy doing to me?
    Lane looks around the small room then
walks over to an old wooden desk and chair that’s in the corner and
gestures for me to sit down. “Uh, yeah. Sure,” he says. “Sorry
there’s not much to do up here though. I usually just read or
listen to music.”
    Oh. He thinks I mean right now. I
shake my head at myself. I’m so bad at this. I should change my
mind, so I don’t make a fool out of myself, but I don’t want too. I
really want to see him again.
    “Ahh, no. Not now,” I say, taking a
deep breath because I’ve never done this before. “I mean…like
tomorrow… night?” I’m hopeful that he’ll understand what I’m
asking, and I won’t have to spell it out.
    I’m quickly losing my nerve as he
stares at me, saying nothing. What if I’ve misconstrued everything
and he’s just a do-gooder who’s not at all interested in me? Before
I can change my mind, run down the stairs and never look back, his
voice breaks through the uncertain chatter in my mind.
    “Oh.” His eyes widen minutely in
understanding. “No.”
    “No?” I repeat, my voice cracking. Why
didn’t I run? My face is on fire, and there is no hiding my
embarrassment.
    “No.” He shakes his head. “I mean,
yes. I would love to hang out, but no, I can’t tomorrow. I have to
work.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, looking momentarily shy
before nearly knocking me over with a lopsided smile. “How about
this weekend? I’m off on Saturday. We could have
dinner?”
    My heart begins to slow down as the
butterflies in my stomach start to speed up. “Then it’s a
date?”
    He flashes me a smile that makes me
feel dizzy all over again.
    “It’s a date.”
     

Chapter 9
    Lane
     
    “Settle down and come here,” Grandpa
says, getting out of his recliner. He’s been watching me with a
fair amount of amusement over the last hour while I’ve run around
the house getting ready for my date.
    I glance in the mirror then throw my
hands in the air in frustration. I’m wearing my black work pants
and white button down shirt, but the only neck tie I own is the one
that completes the club uniform, which I refuse to wear on a date,
to the club no less. But even without the club’s tie on, I still
look like I’m about to wait tables, instead of going on a date with
Ashley Whitmore.
    I follow Grandpa down the small
hallway, lined with years of pictures of my mom and me growing up
and into his bedroom. “Now, I know I’m just an old man, but I do
know a thing or two about how to dress for a date. I still think
you should wear a sports coat,” he says,