Say what?
“Blue?” I’m not one hundred percent sure that’s what he was referring to until the word leaves my lips and his face lights up like a Christmas tree.
“Fuck, that is so much hotter than it should be.” He shakes his head, rubbing our noses together before he presses his lips to mine again, and I can’t help but melt into him.
“Get a room,” Titus grumbles, making me pull back at the reminder that there are people around.
One of which is Julian’s boyfriend.
“Ignore him. He’s just jealous.” He doesn’t let go of his hold on my face as he pulls back enough to look at Titus over my head. “Aren’t you, Snookums?”
I hear Titus groan and don’t need to see him to imagine the way he’s rolling his eyes. I don’t even try to fight the chuckle that bursts past my lips at his own ridiculous nickname.
“Come on, Pookie, I have something fun for us to do today.” He doesn’t wait for me to answer before he laces his fingers through mine and pulls me with him right out of the lunchroom.
I hadn’t realized how much I want this; even with the bumps in the road and assholes like Gavin and Rose, this is the most I’ve ever felt like I belonged anywhere, and it has nothing to do with the school.
Before we can duel, Julian actually has to practice, which gives me time to study, though I admittedly spend a lot of it watching him.
It’s a problem, one that I’m more than happy to fall victim to because, well, there are worse things.
When their coach finally calls it a wrap on practice, everyone files out quickly enough, leaving just the two of us, and suddenly the room feels too big.
“Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet.”
I look up from my bag that I’d been stuffing my books in to find Julian at my feet, giving me a knowing look.
How he does that, reads me so effortlessly, is beyond me. Nobody ever got me; not even Jordan understood me all the time, but with Julian, it’s like he can read my mind or something.
I look him over, seeing the way his muscles bulge and the sweat drips from his brow after a good workout, and suddenly I hope that’s not the case. If he can read my mind, he probably thinks I’m a creep, and for damn good reason.
Extending a hand, he offers to help me up, and I don’t hesitate to take it, giggling when he yanks me up and into his arms so fast my head spins.
“Get your cute little butt on the mat. I have a wager for you.” He smacks said butt, and I let out a squeak of surprise, but I do as he says. Apparently, listening to him boss me around has an effect on him, though, because when I glance back over my shoulder at him, he’s not only got his lower lip trapped between his teeth, but he’s also adjusting himself.
I quickly look away as my face heats.
I’ve never done more than I did that night with D, and even that wasn’t much. I actually might have already passed it up with our little make-out session on his bed the other day. But I know someone like Julian has to have loads of experience, probably with both guys and girls.
Shit, what have I gotten myself into?
Before I can chicken out, Julian tosses me a saber, and I just barely manage to catch it.
“Look alive.” He wiggles his brows at me, and I get myself into position.
“What’s the wager?” I ask in an attempt to distract myself from everything that is Julian. If I keep it up, I might very well dosomething to embarrass myself, and honestly, I do that enough as is.
“First to five wins. Loser has to dye their hair purple.”
My grip falters, and I nearly drop my saber. “What?”
It takes all of two seconds for the panic to choke me and all traces of fun and happiness to seep away.
How can I be happy when all I can think about is how disappointed Auntie would be if she saw that?
Purple hair!
Auntie had beaten me with a metal spatula when I was in the fifth grade, and I let some girl in class paint my nails red. She’d told me I looked like a cheap whore, just like my mother, and she’d teach me a lesson that would save my soul so I didn’t end up like her.
