My Perfect Reject

Chapter Four

A week went by and things had not gotten any better, but they also hadn't gotten any worse. I was slowly growing used to the jeers and jaunts coming my direction. I was used to the people who I previously believed to be my friends laugh and whisper at me behind my back. Wilder hadn't tried to talk to me since that day and for that I was grateful. I was even more grateful that it was Friday and I would have two entire days away from these people. 

When I pulled into my parking spot. I was surprised to find that Wilder was already here. Leaning against a shiny red car. I recognized the symbol on the front, but I had no idea what kind of Honda that actually was. There was, as always, a girl standing beside him. She was animatedly talking to him. Waving one hand around as she told her story. The other hand resting on his arm. He was looking anywhere but at the girl that was beside him. 

I checked my phone to make sure I wasn't actually late somehow. I wasn't. I was thirty minutes early. Kassie wouldn't be here for another ten to fifteen minutes at the least. 

I did my best to ignore the couple beside me and pulled my book out of my bag. I had finished The Wicked King days ago and I was dying for the final book to be released. This time I was reading Long May She Regin. Most of the time I read series because I fall in love with characters so easily. But every now and then a stand-alone was exactly what a girl needed. 

I was absorbed in my book and jumped when the passenger door opened. A dark-haired boy climbed in. 

"Were you ever going to get out of the car?" Wilder's dark voice said. His breath hit my face, smelling faintly of mint and smoke. The girl leaned in to look through my window.

"What are you doing?" I asked bewildered. What the hell was he doing in my car? The girl started knocking on the window. 

"Sitting, talking, breathing... Why? What are you doing?" He leaned the seat back and propped his boots on my dash.  I pulled them down. Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Wilder!" The girl's voice was muffled. I was surprised that she was still here. 

"Keep your feet off my dash." I hissed. "Get out. The girlfriend of the day is waiting for you." I seethed, nodding in the poor girl's direction. His eyebrows and his smiled one of his earth-shattering smiles. He looks at the girl, pointedly locks the door, and turns back to me. Her mouth dropped in shock, but she dropped her hand. 

"Easily replaceable." He smirked.

"God, you are sick." 

"You're just jealous it's not you pumpkin." He popped the P and I resisted to pop him. 

"As if. I have more respect for myself." 

"Clearly not." 

"What the fuck does that mean?" I snapped and glared at him. I could see the girl was still there. Just standing there. Watching us. Actually watching him. His green eyes met mine. 

"You know exactly what I mean. If you had any respect for yourself in the slightest. You would not let Jaz and Mandie walk all over you like a doormat. I thought you were better than that." He was leaning in towards me. Old spice filled my nose and I wanted to drink him in. Did he always smell that good? His eyes held something I couldn't read. What did he know? He didn't know who I was. We are not friends. We've never held a decent conversation. What did he know? 

I felt myself lean into him. He smelled so good. 

"What do you know Duke Wilder?" I reached out and started running my fingers up and down his muscular arm.  He stiffened under my touch. I wondered if he could feel the tingles like I could. The pulse between us. An electric current running from him to me. I gently moved my hand up his arm and across his chest. He sucked in a breath and peeked at him through my lashes. He was unbelievable beautiful. He was also rude, arrogant, and an all-around asshole. He liked trouble. He liked girls. He changed girls as often as he changed his boxers. If there was a fight on the football field you could bet your left leg that Wilder will be in it. The nickname on his jersey is accurate. Duke 'Wild' Wilder. I leaned into him even further. A smile playing on my lips.