Chapter 2
Halbert probably hadn't expected me to actually say yes.
His face darkened in an instant; he shot me a cold look and sneered.
He said, "Really, Virginia? You're so desperate to piss me off you don't even care about your pride anymore?
"Even if you're willing to chase after Ferris, you really think he'd give you the time of day?"
"Sure," Ferris replied coolly.
His words landed like a bolt from the blue.
Everyone's eyes snapped toward the far end of the room, stunned.
The soft light outlined Ferris's sharp profile, making his features look even more intense.
He curved his lips at me, a meaningful glint in his eyes.
"How many minutes do you want to kiss, Virginia?" he asked.
That sultry dream scene slammed into my mind out of nowhere.
Steam hung thick in the air, the water in the tub rippling and surging around us.
Ferris had me wrapped up in his arms, my fingers clutching desperately at the edge of the bathtub.
Through the lingering ache, Ferris's deep, tempting laugh brushed right against my ear.
"Still hungry? How much longer does my Virginia want to keep going?" he murmured.
The commotion in the room shattered my memories.
I met Ferris's shadowy gaze, and my ears flushed hot.
Ferris walked up to me, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
Before I could react, his big hand landed on the back of my head.
I froze, my breath caught in my throat.
Right then, a glass smashed nearby with a deafening crash!
"Enough!" Halbert shouted.
"You like to mess around, huh? Fine." Halbert's face was dark as he looked us both over, his gaze lingering on me and Ferris.
He pulled out his phone and showed off his five-star hotel booking.
He said, "How about we make it even crazier? Tonight, Holly and I book a room, you and Ferris book one too, and we share pics in the group chat. Deal?
"You got the guts for that, Virginia?"
I stared at Halbert's confrontational face, and it felt like I'd been dropped into an ice bath.
Two years ago, I got followed by a bunch of thugs just off campus.
Right when I was about to get knocked out and dragged off, Halbert showed up out of nowhere and pulled me out of it.
That was the day I started catching feelings for him.
I brought him breakfast, bought him coffee, and handed him water at basketball games.
His buddies would tease me for being so hopelessly crushing, but I didn't care. They didn't know the real story.
But just when I finally managed to win Halbert over, his childhood sweetheart, Holly Ford, transferred in as an exchange student at Crestmore University.
He started going to class with her, traveling together, and partying at bars.
On Halbert's birthday, I waited for three hours in a fancy club I'd decorated myself before he finally showed up.
He said he got stuck in a traffic accident on the way.
But that night, Holly posted a photo on her social media.
In the picture, two hands were tightly clasped together, watching the city lights from the mountaintop.
Her caption read: [Who's this amazing guy who ditches his girlfriend to climb a mountain with me?]
Halbert's like stood out, impossible to miss.
I cried, I threw fits.
But bit by bit, all that love just faded away.
Now, I was just tired inside.
Seeing Halbert refusing to back down, Holly slipped her arm through his and tried to reason with him.
She said, "Come on, Halbert, us bunking together is no big deal. We've done it before on trips.
"But Virginia's a girl. Making her share a room with Ferris is really not cool."
Holly batted her big, innocent eyes, as if what she said was just common sense.
Something in my head just snapped for good.
So, they'd been sharing a bed all along.
I gave a bitter chuckle and grabbed Ferris's hand.
"Alright. Whoever doesn't post a pic tonight is doomed to stay broke forever!" Without looking back, I left Halbert yelling behind me.
As I slid into the taxi, my mind was still spinning.
Ferris drawled beside me, sounding way too casual.
He grinned, "So, how long are you gonna keep holding my hand?"
I snapped out of it and let go fast.
I mumbled, "Sorry."
Ferris twisted his wrist where I'd grabbed him, shooting me a look full of teasing and unspoken meaning.
He smirked, "So, are we really going to a hotel now?"
I was just going along with the flow back in the room.
Now that the bet was actually sinking in, my nerves were starting to get the better of me.
I figured Ferris probably wasn't into it either.
But if I said that out loud, I'd just look like a total wimp, so I tried to play it cool and asked him instead, "Do you want to go?"