Page 30

My phone buzzed again.

Axel had texted: “This is a whole lot of soup. But I’m willing to share. Want to come over?”

“It’s the middle of the school day, Axel.”

“Right. Well, I’m excited to see you tomorrow.”

Tomorrow. Because he wasn’t coming to my room again tonight. Which was good. It’s what I wanted. I stared at his text. He said he was excited to see me. Normally, I’d be overanalyzing every word in that sentence. But I had a boyfriend now. Speaking of which, I could feel Jacob staring at me.

I went to put my phone back in my pocket, but Axel texted again: “Because I have some fun news to share. I can’t wait to tell everyone tomorrow.”

What fun news did he have? I shook my head and put my phone away.

“Did you send him soup?” Jacob asked.

He didn’t sound upset or anything. He was just asking.

I nodded. “For the last time. Old habits die hard.”

“Does that mean I get soup on sick days now?” He smiled at me.

“I’ll send you soup whenever you want.” I lightly nudged him with my shoulder.

Jacob looked so...content. And I wondered if maybe Sophie had a point. I could just...not tell him that Axel had been spending the night. And not tell him that I went to third base with my kiss thief. I mean, Jacob knowing wouldn’t make him happy. So...

I shook my head. I had to tell him. As soon as we were alone. I’d do it right after school while Sophie was flirting with Mr. Halifax.

Wait, Mr. Halifax. I stared at RJ.

He’d answered my question about the kiss thief not being a drifter. And my question about him being one of my suspects. But he hadn’t answered the question about Mr. Halifax being the kiss thief.

I thought about the A on my quiz that I didn’t deserve. And Liam was so shocked by my kiss thief’s identity that he thought it was a joke.

RJ smiled at me like he could read my thoughts.

No. It couldn’t be. But Mr. Halifax had been the right height when I’d seen him on his knees... Ah! No! Please!

“Meet me after school,” RJ said. “And all shall be revealed.”

Chapter 7 – I Don’t Want Your Sloppy Seconds

Monday

I knew that Jacob didn’t think I needed to know my kiss thief’s identity. He wanted me to just let this go. But I didn’t know how. This mystery had been occupying my whole senior year. I had to unmask him once and for all.

Jacob was standing by my locker and I didn’t know what to say. I’d wanted to come clean to him about everything after school. But all I could think about was not missing RJ before practice. I’d have to talk to Jacob tomorrow instead.

I peered around him to see RJ down the hall at his locker.

Jacob sighed. “Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”

“I’m sorry, but I really need to know who the kiss thief was.”

“Why?” he asked. “It doesn’t change anything. We’re together now.”

“Of course it doesn’t change anything.” Is that why he didn’t want me to know? He was worried I’d leave him for the kiss thief. “I’m just curious. I don’t like him or anything. I promise. I like being loved out loud, remember?” I smiled up at him.

“And don’t you forget it.” He put his hand on my waist and leaned forward.