Chapter 19: Fleur

FLEUR

Chapter

Nineteen

"Did you get some good ones?" I ask Molly as she drops the camera memory card into my hand.

"I think so. I tried to clean some out so there aren't a million for you to go through."

"Thanks." I slide the card into my laptop. It's hard to write anything today. All I keep thinking about is last night. Well, that and this morning when I woke up wrapped in Van's arms. I believe that was the best night of sleep I've had in a long time. It was kind of unnerving, to be honest. I enjoyed it far too much. So much so, I think I need to cut things off with him, but I'm not sure how. What I do know without a doubt is that he won't make it easy for me.

The pictures pop up on the screen, and I begin flipping through them. Molly has tons from the game and then from that day in school showing people dressed up in spirit wear. Even the hallways of the school were decorated. Football had taken over the whole school.

As I continue to go through the pics, something catches my eye in one of them. I zoom into the background to get a better look. Well, well, well, what do we have here? "Molly, do you have a copy of these pictures saved somewhere?"

"No." She starts to get up from her chair. "Is the card not working?"

"No, I got it." I close the pictures and pull the card out, slipping it into my pocket. I check the time. I might as well wrap up at this point. I collect my stuff and tell everyone bye. When I walk out the front of the school, Van is leaning up against his vehicle playing on his phone. Why does he have to be so damn handsome? It only makes what I know I have to do harder.

When he spots me, a sexy smile pulls at his lip. He tucks his phone into his pocket, making his way toward me.

"How'd it go?" He leans down, brushing his mouth against mine as he slides my bag off my shoulder to take it for me.

"I'm not sure." Van lifts a brow in question. "Let's speak in the car." He opens the door for me.

"Don't leave me in suspense," he says when he slips into the driver's seat.

"Miles Bleu."

"Smurf?"

"Yep."

"What about him?"

"Remember our deal, Van? I pretend to be your girlfriend and you give me inside information." I steel my nerves, knowing that I need to stay strong.

"Okay." The one word comes out uneasy. I don't think he was ever planning on telling me anything. He used that to get close to me.

"So, Smurf and Ms. Funnel?" His whole body tenses, but he doesn't say a word. "Got nothing? Cat got your tongue?"

"He's got a crush on her." He shrugs it off. "Isn't that a normal thing?" It's normal when it's one-sided, but based on the pic I saw, it's not.

"You got a crush on Ms. Funnel?" I can't stop the flash of jealousy. It always happens with Van. I'm getting way too attached.

"Come on, Red. You know I've only got eyes for you." He winks over at me, trying to sway our conversation to be more playful. It takes everything I have to stay on course. To not allow his charm to sway me from my goal.

"I have pictures." I put that out there. No use in delaying this any longer.

"Wait!" He pulls the car over right before he was about to exit the parking lot.

"So?" I wait. He runs a hand down his face. I swear it's one of the first times I've ever seen Van nervous. He's always so damn put together.

"Like I said. He's got a crush. I've caught her watching him when she thinks no one is paying attention, but Smurf hasn't said shit." He shakes his head. "So much for no-nut November," Van mutters.

"No-nut November?" I'm not sure I even want to know what that is. It's not even November.

"You really got pictures?"

"They aren't really doing anything in them. It's the background of one of the pictures. It caught part of the classroom. Smurf is way closer to her than he should be. Practically got her cornered against the wall. She doesn't look like she minds one bit."

"That's it?" he shrugs. "You tried to get me to spill more."

"Kinda my job."

"Red."

"I know." I cut him off. "I made sure only I have the pictures. I'll delete it."

"Really?"

"I'm not here to ruin anyone's life. Plus, Miles Bleu is good people." I can't say that about the whole football team. He's always been kind to me. A bit of a goofball at times.

"You like him?"

"Seriously?" I roll my eyes at him.

"Not an answer, Red."

"Hey, don't you try to turn this around on me. You were withholding information from me. You broke our deal."

I feel myself getting agitated. Not because this is even a story I would ever put out but because I'm not getting anything out of this. Unless you count the orgasm. Sure, that was mind-blowing, but really, all it's done is made me fall more for him.

With every second I spend with him, I fall deeper. I'm going to end up with nothing but a broken heart because he wants to use me as a shield to ward off females. I don't think that's even working. Bubbles didn't care. Rose didn't either.

I keep forgetting this isn't real. The urge to run rides me hard. I didn't think I was a runner, but Van has me running scared.

"What kind of story do you need?"

"That's not the point, Van. You're using me." I snap, my own anger with myself bleeding off onto him.

"Using you." He lets out a humorless laugh.

"Just take me home." I fold my arms over my chest.

Van throws the car into drive, taking off out of the parking lot. I peek over at him. That was way too easy—or maybe he is done with me and our deal.