Her breath came heavy, eyes opening slowly to meet mine. “That was?—”
“Uncalled for, I shouldn’t have done it.”
“I was going to say genius.”
She was smiling again.
Damn her.
“She’ll definitely leave you alone now.”
“Did you call herJenny?”
“I did!” She laughed, untangling herself from me with another soft smile. “Oh, yousoowe me, Ansel Barlowe.”
“I’m sure I’ll think of some way to pay you back, little fish.” With my lips moving close to her ear, my voice dropped as I spoke.
I relished the way her cheeks lit up again, the blood rushing to her face with the laughable nickname I’d written on the napkin a few nights ago.
I really never thought I’d see her again.
But here she was. And for somestupidreason, I wasn’tupset about it.
“A selfie, then.” She just smiled, still flushed. “My friends will never believe that I hung out withtheAnsel Barlowe.”
“You might need better friends if they even care.”
“Excuse you. I might beoutof fandom, but it hasn’t negated the friends I madebecauseof fandom.” She was scowling, poking me in the chest with that damned finger of hers.
Whipping out her phone, I leaned forward, hands settling on either side of her hips. Her breath hitched, just a little, as we appeared on the screen in front of her. She pressed thecamerabutton once, twice, three times.
“That should do it.”
“One more, I think I blinked.” I shrugged, leaning back in.
When she readied herself, finger hovering over the capture button, I pressed my lips to her cheeks. She gasped, and all I could do was pray that shealsocaptured that moment.
CHAPTER 5
How I stayed calm afterthathappened, I had no earthly idea. Did I still have some sort of schoolgirl crush on Ansel Barlowe, even after all this time?
Sure, who wouldn’t?
Was a warmth pooling low in my stomach and causing my heart to flip around in my chest.
It wasn’t a bad kiss!
This was stupid.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.
If I could travel back in time and tell fourteen-year-old Juniper that I’d be sucking face withAnsel Fucking Barlowe, I probably would have dropped dead.
I’d said goodbye, dismissed myself from his gaze and his scrutiny and presence. As I exited the convention center, my fingers grazed over my lips, tryingso hardnot to relive that kiss.
It was fake. It was just a little scam to get some ex off of his back.
Butgod, it was good.
