Blindsided : Part 2 of the Intended Series by Abigail Grant (good books to read for adults txt) 📕

this morning with a dreadful fear that my best friend had left me forever.

Thankfully, Kassy didn't run away from me as I slept through the night. She actually still drove me to school this morning with the same old smile on her face. It seemed a little awkward trying to just be normal with her after everything I finally revealed last night. I know a lot has changed between us and that’s for the best. I just hope we can still be silly now and again without the unspoken tension.

Today has been almost too quiet, which I normally would have absolutely no problem with, but I still haven't seen Gavin since Sunday night. It doesn’t make sense considering the fact that we just met, but my body physically aches from being absent from him, which scares me because I can’t risk changing my mind about us.

I sit at the usual lunch table outside the cafeteria, feeling like we might need to find a different spot with the fall chill coming earlier than I thought it would. I can see Liam out of the corner of my eye as he sneaks up behind me and shouts "boo!" trying to make me jump, but failing horribly.

I just turn to him with one eyebrow raised in amusement. "Good try, pretty boy, but I have to be looking at your face to be truly scared." I laugh at my own joke, earning a scowl from Liam.

He shakes his head at me. "Ha ha, you're so funny." He takes a seat across from me and throws a hot French fry in my direction.

23

I snatch it off the table and plop it in my mouth, savoring in the salty heat. "Thanks, Liam. It could use a little ketchup, but I love fries."

His glowering intensifies. "You know, if you’re not nice, I'm going to tell Kassy on you!"

He sticks his tongue out at me which only makes me laugh harder and unwittingly release an embarrassing snort.

Kassy sits next to Liam with her plate of messy nachos and kisses him on the cheek.

"What's so funny that El is in snort mode?"

Liam turns toward her with his bottom lip sticking out. "El is being mean to me." He says, sounding like a four-year-old.

I gasp and cover my mouth in mock surprise. "Who, me? I would never."

Kassy rolls her eyes at the two of us. "Do I have to tie your hands together for the rest of the day, so you guys can learn to get along?" Kassy says, sounding like a mother to toddlers.

“That’s going to make bathroom breaks really awkward, you know.”

"Ew!” Liam and I both shout at the same time.

She shrugs. “Hey, I’m not the jealous type so I’d do it!”

“Okay, okay. I'll be nice," I say and reach my hand out to Liam. "Truce, before mommy sends us to our rooms?"

He chuckles and shakes my hand. "For now, pipsqueak," he says with mischief in his eyes, and then throws another fry at me for good measure.

I just shake my head and continue rubbing my arms for warmth.

Kassy does the same and shivers. "Maybe we should start eating inside. I think winter is coming before fall," she says, frowning at the thought of her least favorite season.

"Agreed," I say and drape my long hair around my shoulders like a blanket.

"So, are you working out today with your, uh...personal trainer?" Kassy asks, trying to keep my secret from Liam.

He turns to me with wide eyes. "You got a personal trainer? Cool. You are like ten pounds though, so why do you need one?"

I raise one shoulder. "Maybe I just want to be healthier and stronger. Exercise is good for everyone," I say truthfully.

24

Kassy nods nearly too emphatically, her ponytail whipping back and forth. "Yeah, I was actually thinking about it and maybe I could go with you today and see what it's like. It sounds like fun."

I clap my hands together in excitement. "Sounds good to me, then you can meet Lex!" I say, grinning now at the thought of finally being able to be completely open and honest with her.

Liam slouches. "I guess I'll have to just go to my dorm and do homework today then," he says, sounding disappointed. "You know, isn't having a girlfriend supposed to make you cool and slack in school?"

Kassy “awww”s at him. "It'll be good for you to get some schoolwork done, babe. I like smart guys." She rubs his arm.

"Yeah, yeah," he says, defeated and nudges her playfully with his elbow.

We sit in comfortable silence as we finish our lunches and then head to our separate classes. On the way to my literature class, I feel someone watching me, but I try to just ignore it and get to class. I can’t shake the feeling, so I turn and scan the surrounding buildings. I catch a quick glimpse of short messy brown hair disappearing around a corner of the library and my stomach twists with need. I don't understand why I feel so sick without him near me, but I sincerely hope it doesn't last.

***

"Hey there, cuties! You guys ready to sweat and wish you were dead?" Alexa says with a wicked gleam in her golden eyes, inviting Kassy and I inside Gavin’s house.

I instantly feel tired just thinking about what lies ahead as she wraps me in an excited hug. My whole body is still sore from the last workout. "Yay, I can't wait," I say with absolutely no enthusiasm. They both laugh at my sarcasm. "Lex, this is my lifelong best friend, Kassy.

Kass, this is the woman I will be hating in a few hours, Alexa."

Alexa releases an amused chortle. "Hey, you came to me first, so you can't really hate me." She turns to Kassy. "Nice to meet you. Are you working out with El, or watching?" She gestures for us to follow her as she asks the question.

We head toward the back of the house and Kassy marvels at her surroundings on