Love Along The Paperclip novel Chapter 10

And then he's here, my car idling on the curb. He gets out and starts up the front walk.

I quickly grab my backpack and make sure to slowly make my way down the stairs.

"Good morning," I whisper to myself, trying to keep my voice level but still attractive. "Did you have a nice night? No, I was not just ogling your long legs as you walked up the sidewalk..."

The ring of the doorbell nearly gives me a heart attack and I clutch my chest, my heart beating furiously beneath my slightly damp fingers.

I tuck my fingers into the front pocket of my jeans and am reassured when they make contact with Colton's gift from last night. I stroke the snake's head and smile, saying quietly to the paperclip animal, "Here we go, Alec."

She opens the door, looking as beautiful and put-together as always. Her blue shirt is one of those ones that's tight at the top and loose at the bottom, with a string tied under the bust to accentuate her small waist.

I wonder, if I was to put my hands around her middle, if my fingertips would touch on the other side...? I quickly shake my head to clear my thoughts and paste a smile on my face.

"One nonfat caramel latte, as promised." I say, holding out a coffee.

She takes it with a sweet smile and starts down the steps. I follow her to the car, opening her door for her and putting her backpack in the trunk.

"Looks like you didn't do too much damage." She says, peering around in the car.

I roll my eyes and pull away from the curb.

I can feel the stares as Colton pulls my car into the school parking lot. It's a well-known fact around campus that I don't let anyone drive my car. Adrienna has never even been behind the wheel, despite us being best friends for years.

Colton finds a spot to park and then runs around the car to open my door for me. I smile; he's such a gentleman when he isn't annoying me.

"Nice one, man." Some guy gives Colton the thumbs-up as we walk to the front doors, my bag on Colton's shoulders and my coffee in my hand. His hand is at its usual place, on the small of my back.

Colton frowns at him and there's a slight increase of pressure on my lower back as he directs us into the school and to my locker. I catch sight of Adrienna making her way down the hall and we lock eyes. One eyebrow rises higher than the other. She glances down at Colton's hand on my back and smirks.

"Math, not chemistry." Colton's' voice says from beside me.

I realize I have my chemistry textbook in my hands and quickly exchange it for my math book.

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