Page 61 of Playing with the Heartbreaker

“Wait. If you do that, you won’t hear this very important message.” The creak of the beanbag tells me he vacated his seated position.

I don’t turn around, even as he enters my space, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Citrus and cedar cut through the smell of coffee in the air. “Go on. Get it over with.”

“This is really better received face-to-face.” He touches my elbow, and I spin in my chair.

My face has to be a zillion shades of vermillion. Vermillion? Now I think in SAT vocab. Perfect.

“I think they’re more Colombian roast than French, don’t you? I mean, just look at them.” He leans down, opening his eyes as wide as he can and fluttering his long lashes.

As much as I want to break his gaze, I can’t. His warm hand cups my jaw. Ignoring the voice in my head that says this is a very, very bad idea, I don’t retreat into the comfort of my chair. Instead, when Rhoads leans in, I do, too.

Don’t think, just do.

Before our lips can touch, a voice breaks the moment.

“Chloe Baker, you have got some serious explaining to do.”

Rhoads jumps back, hitting his head on the low ceiling. A short blond figure stands in the doorway. We should have heard her climbing the stairs. But nothing about my senses are functioning like they should at the moment. It takes another breath, but I finally find my voice.

“Hey, bestie.”

“Umm. I’ll just give you guys a minute.” Rhoads moves to the doorway, then turns back. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Baker. At school.”

“Right. Sounds good. Bye.”

When Rhoads has descended, Charlotte plops into the chair next to me. “Okay, spill.”

I cover my face with my hands and groan. My pulse jumps from my palms into my scalding hot cheeks.

“You kissed him!” Charlotte squeals. “I knew it!”

“Well, not exactly.” My words come out muffled, but Charlotte catches my meaning.

She gasps. “Oh, no, I ruined it, didn’t I? Rhoads! Come back!” Charlotte shouts out the Tree House door, but thankfully Rhoads is already gone. “I’m so sorry, Chloe. I’ll go get him if you want. I totally forgive you for ignoring my texts.”

I wave her off, finally removing my hands and facing the situation. “It’s fine. We almost kissed. I think. But maybe you did me a favor. Can I really get caught up like this so close to Regionals?” Rhoads has been good for my soccer skills. At least I think he has. I’ll know for sure at our next game. But what if getting romantically involved ruins all the progress we’ve made?

* * *

“I can’t believe you stayed out past curfew with Hotty McStriker, finally!”

“Shh, Anita, keep your voice down,” I scold her. I point across the cafeteria, but keep my hand low so only my friends can see. “He’s right over there, you know.”

Charlotte told Anita everything I told her at Coffee Jungle, so now, Monday afternoon, we’re all on the same page.

“Well, it’s not like it’s a secret from him.” Anita steals a peek at him through her bouncy dark curls, scooping her taco salad with a fork.

“It’s a secret that you call him Hotty McStriker.”

Rhoads catches my eye across the room and smiles. His dimple sends a shock through my body. I lift a hand and wave.

“Looks like it’s getting warm in here,” Charlotte says. “Play it cool. Turn down the blush.”

I throw a piece of Anita’s blueberry Pop-Tart at her. “Shut up.” I turn back to Anita. “So you’re not mad I ditched?”

“Nah. The party was trite anyway.”

Charlotte takes a bite of her salad. “Anyway, Chloe, I don’t blame you for wanting to leave. Especially after the thing with you know who.”