When It Hooks You (It #1) Read Online Free

too hard for you.”
    Her eyes flicked up from her stained water. “I’m not sorry we broke up, Kurt. It took me by surprise, but I’ve had time to cool down and think about it. I’m pretty certain we never would’ve ended up together, anyway. Yanking off the Band-Aid was the best thing for both of us.”
    “You think our relationship was just a Band-Aid?”
    “Not all of it. But looking back, I can see that getting back together last year was a mistake. Neither of us was ready to be single again so we covered up our issues and fell back into what was comfortable.”
    He nodded, extracting the teabag from his mug with a spoon. “You’re probably right.”
    Trish’s head bobbed in time with his. She thought about how ridiculous they must look, like two bobbleheads at high tea, and let out a nervous laugh. He responded with an uncertain smile. She shrugged. “At least it was fun while it lasted.”
    His smile warmed to something more natural—and something more fitting for his strong, handsome features. Trish had a small twinge of regret when she considered how spectacular they’d have looked together on top of a wedding cake.
    “I’d really like to stay friends, Trish.”
    She scrunched her nose, slipping her bottom lip between her teeth. Despite his recent assholishness, she knew Kurt was a good guy, the kind of person she didn’t want to dismiss from her life altogether. “I don’t see us hanging out at the bars together or Snapchatting on a regular basis, but I think I can manage friendly acquaintances.”

Chapter 3
    T RISH F LIPPED R OB O NTO H IS B ACK , fully intending to cool things off, but when the impact of the floor brought forth a tiger-like growl from his throat, she re-plastered herself against him.
    The revirginated plan is stupid , she told herself. This was only her third date with Rob, so it wasn’t as if she’d sleep with him tonight even without her arbitrary rules, but how could she suck on those warm, delicious lips and run her hands over that firm, powerful chest without hoping to one day get herself some of that?
    His hot mouth moved across her face and down her neck. “Oh, baby,” he murmured between bites. “I could do this forever.”
    Forever . Not her favorite word. She knew he spoke in hyperbole, so she tried to keep her mind on the tender trail of his kisses…but she couldn’t—not until she’d straightened some things out. “Well, not forever,” she said. “A few months maybe, right?”
    The back of his head dropped to the floor while he looked at her from under a creased brow.
    “Don’t stop,” she whined. “I meant, you know, we only met a few weeks ago, so it’s ridiculous to think we’d be kissing each other forever.”
    “It’s just an expression.” His hand slipped out from under her shirt.
    “Right. I know.” She pecked at his lips. “Forget I said anything.” She pelted him again, but his magnificent mouth had gone rigid. His torso angled upward as he lifted onto his elbows, sending Trish sliding off him to the blanket they’d spread on his living room floor. He’d invited her over for a romantic, late-winter picnic.
    “Are you saying you know for a fact after only three dates that this definitely couldn’t last forever?” he asked.
    “I…well…I guess it’s a good thing this came up.” She moved to sit on bended legs while she straightened her shirt. “I’m in sort of a noncommittal phase right now. I’m not looking for forever with anybody.”
    “How long are you looking for?”
    “Uh. Three dates, actually.”
    “Are you for real?” He sat straight up. “You’re kicking me to the curb already? I thought we were having fun.”
    She leaned forward to rub her hands over his forearms. “We are having fun! The three dates thing is negotiable. I’m sort of making this up as I go. I’d definitely be up for going out with you a few more times.”
    “And then?”
    “I don’t want to think about the and then . That’s where