“But seriously, we have to present as a couple after everything that happened tonight. In case Lana does run her mouth.” Shit, he has a point.
“All right, but I too have never had a boyfriend, so this is new-ish to me too.” I’m not sure about all the ins and outs of being exclusive with someone. Sure, I’ve seen it. I’m sure I can wing it.
“What about Nick?” He keeps bringing him up. It’s kind of adorable.
“That wasn’t a boyfriend. Just a couple of dates.”
“More than I’ve ever done!” he tosses back.
“You know that only makes it worse. You didn’t even go on dates, just random hookups.” My stomach sours at the thought.
“Hate to burst your bubble, Buttercup, but I’ve never hooked up with anyone.” I open and then close my mouth. He lets out a low chuckle. “Glad I can still surprise you.”
“Yeah,” I agree, my insides screaming with happiness.
“So we’re each other’s first.” Oh, shit. He put words to what I was thinking.
“It’s fake,” I remind him.
“Oh, I promise you won’t be faking with me.”
“Oh my God.” I can’t help but laugh.
The knock comes sharp and sudden, three raps that make me jump.
Luke’s jaw tightens. He doesn’t move from where he’s standing, blocking the space between me and the door.
“Luke.” Bennett’s voice is muffled through the wood, controlled but edged with a hint of something else I can’t decipher. “I need to talk to you.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
Luke looks at me, and I see the calculation in his eyes. How much does Bennett know? How much can he guess? What story are we supposed to be telling?
“Stay here,” Luke says quietly. “Don’t say anything.”
He crosses to the door, unlocks it, and opens it just wide enough to block the view of me with his body. “What?”
I can’t see Bennett, but I can hear him. “The officer left. He wants us to call if we remember anything about Coach Murphy being at the game last night.”
“Okay.”
“And Luke?” A pause. “She’s Paislee’s sister.” What does that mean?
Luke doesn’t flinch. “So?”
“So I did her sister a favor getting her into this school.” Bennett’s voice drops lower, almost a warning. “I didn’t do it so you could fuck around with her.”
“Noted.”
“Don’t be an asshole. This is serious.” Bennett’s tone shifts, something almost pleading underneath the authority. “I let a lot go, but on this…”
“Got it,” Luke clips back, cutting him off from saying more.
The door closes. Luke stands there for a moment, his back to me, his shoulders tight.
“What was that?”
