Are You Trying To Bribe Me?

° Amy's POV °

I guess Jake wasn't the all-nice guy after all. Here he sat opposite me at the small cafe table we picked, my Coke still half-finished, urging me to date his best friend.

I scoffed, leaning back in my chair, my annoyance bubbling just beneath the surface.

Pfft. Unbelievable jerk.

“He's really into you, Amy. You just have to give him a chance,” Jake insisted, peering into my eyes as if trying to cast some sort of spell over me.

I fluttered my lashes in disbelief, searching for any sign that he was joking.

“Are you crazy? Jeremy has literally slept with almost every girl in school—he's not into me, Jake, he’s into my panties,” I said bluntly, putting a full stop to my point by downing the remaining Coke in one go, as I crumpled the empty container in my fist.

“Trust me on this,” he pressed.

“And why should I? Because you're a nice guy? No, I'm not falling for your tricks,” I replied firmly, nodding in disagreement.

“This isn’t a trick, Amy. Unlike everyone else, Jeremy actually seems to like you, and besides,” he added, raising his brows as if he knew something I didn’t, “he's a wolf too, remember?”

“All I can remember is that he's a devil in disguise, and I’m not falling for his stupid attempts to charm me away,” I retorted, my voice tightening with each word. Searching through my handbag, I pulled out twenty bucks, tossing it in his direction. “Tell him I appreciate the Coke offer.”

I pushed my chair back and stood up, eager to leave this conversation. As I tucked a stray hair behind my ear, I felt a surge of relief.

And then I bumped into a wall.

Not just any wall—this wall had shape and warmth.

“Easyyy, girl,” a deep voice rumbled, gently pushing me back. It was the kind of voice that wrapped itself around you like a thick blanket on a chilly night, and, honestly, it was the only thing that could possibly make me wet, even more than the steamy scenes from my favorite movies.

I hated how much I hated him, and yet couldn't deny liking his voice.

“Look at who it is! Amy,” he said, his golden eyes sparkling with excitement as he smiled ear to ear, showcasing a mix of mischief and charm that used to make my heart skip a beat.

Jeremy. I groaned mentally, as I bit a part of my flesh in my mouth.

“Fancy running into you here,” he continued, his tone casual yet teasing, as if he knew my struggle. “Didn’t think you’d be out on a soda run.”

“Yeah, well, surprise, surprise. I’m sure you only drink overpriced protein shakes, right?” I shot back, folding my arms defensively, attempting to hide the way his presence shook me.

He laughed.

“You’ve got me all wrong. I enjoy a good classic soda every now and then, you know, for the nostalgia,” he replied, leaning back against the wall as if he owned the place.

I rolled my eyes, trying to suppress a smile that threatened to break through my tough exterior. “Right. You and your devil-may-care lifestyle,” I muttered, determined to maintain my distance.

“You know, Jake is right about one thing,” he began, taking a step closer, his gaze steady as he held my attention against my will. “You put up walls, but I know there’s a softer side to you, Amy. You're just afraid to let it out.”

“You don't know anything about me, Jeremy,” I countered, my heart racing. “You just think you can charm your way into my life like you do with everyone else. But trust me, I see through your facade.” I said through clenched teeth.

“And what do you see?” he challenged, his eyes narrowing down at me.

“Just a player hiding behind a pretty face,” I shot back, stubbornly clinging to my resolve, even though a part of me wanted to unravel and get lost in his eyes.

He chuckled softly, and the sound sent shivers down my spine. “You have no idea, Amy. There’s so much more to me than meets the eye.”

“Yeah? Like what? Your extensive collection of broken hearts?” I asked, as I arched an eyebrow.

“Come on. Let me show you.” His voice low and soft.