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“Oddly specific,” I say, stuffing my laptop into my bag. “Maybe you should join Lexie in the writing club.”
“Did you have breakfast?”
I roll my eyes as I stand. “Two whole eggs.”
“From disgusting coffee grounds and energy drinks to actual meals.” Theo nudges me as we walk. “I’m so proud.”
“Next thing you know I’ll drink all the water in the gallon bottle you got me.” I refer to the giant container lying on my desk that I can barely drink half of without feeling sick.
“It’s your daily intake for the day,” he says, walking me to my final class.
“You know how much time I waste studying because I have to go to the bathroom all the time? I hate that thing.”
“The minute you lose is not a big deal,” he says, tapping a finger on my forehead, “and here I thought we were making progress on your unhealthy work ethic.”
I slap his finger away. “Baby steps. I am just a girl.”
“The prettiest one I know, too,” he says, pausing right before we get to my class.
I trip, metaphorically and physically, at his words. Theo has been doing things like this more often. Sliding in compliments, sweet things, or heated looks, stolen touches like brushing the backs of our hands together, fixing my hair, or grazing his fingers along my arm.
“What is this?” I ask, moving away so the students rushing in have space to enter.
“What is what?” he asks, innocent big eyes and stupid, handsome grin.
“Are you trying to butter me up because your case is next week?” I say, finally, for the first time not feeling too guilty about it. Maybe one day I can tell Theo about it. But our friendship, our—whatever the thing blooming between us—is fragile, fresh, and I’m not sure how he’d react.
I’m also scared of how he’ll think of me. That he’ll take back all the nice characteristics he listed off about me before. That I’ll just be a bad person, and I know Theo would never want to be around someone like that.
“Maybe,” he says as the hallway clears out and the door to the room shuts. Theo leans down so his lips are right by my ear, his words warm against my skin. “Or maybe I just like spending time with you.”
“Or maybe you like that I keep bringing you my dad’s extra cookies.”
“I do like that too,” he says, his finger trailing my arm. Even though I’m wearing my blazer, his fingers leave behind a hot path as he moves up to my shoulder. “You should invite me over to try them fresh.”
My hands go clammy. “You mean to meet him? My dad?”
“Yeah, why not? We’ll have plenty of time. Thanksgiving break is the week after the case, and we can have a celebratory meal. He taps my nose with his finger. I think he’s hypnotizing me. I think it’s working. “You can meet my mom. She can’t cook cereal, but she’ll order from wherever you want.”
“Right,” I say. “Friends meet friends’ parents all the time.”
He brushes a lock of my hair behind my ear, his hand lingering, and it takes everything in me not to lean into the movement. “Friends, huh?”
I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say to that, so I nod.
Theo’s fingers still at the back of my neck. “Any other words you’d use to describe us?”
Us.
“I’m finding words a little difficult at the moment,” I admit, and his chuckle makes my throat dry.
“You know, Lopez, you’re so busy with your friend, you’re late to class.”
“Oh my God.” I shove him away. “You’re the worst.”
“See you after school,” he calls as I grab the doorknob. “We’re going over the notes for the trial, right?”
“Unfortunately,” I say, ignoring his answering smile when I let myself in.
