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We lean into each other, fully making out now, even though we shouldn’t be. There are lots of teachers around and I don’t need to explain to my parents why I got a lunch detention for kissing this boy.
But kissing him feels damn good.
I’m surprised when he’s the one that pulls back, but so is he. Surprised by me.
“Damn, Rae, that was a hell of a kiss.”
I smile flirtatiously, then lick my lower lip and tug at it with my teeth as I shrug. “I’m not as innocent as I seem.”
He inhales sharply. “Go out with me this weekend.”
I narrow my gaze at him. “Look, just because I’m not innocent when it comes to kissing doesn’t mean I’m not stillinnocentin other ways. And I’m not looking for that to change any time soon, if that’s the only reason you’re asking,” I say, staring him down because it seems awfully convenient that he only asked me after I kissed him like that.
His eyes go wide, his cheeks turn pink, and he looks flustered. He sputters for words.
“I—I—that’s not what I meant. Shit, I can see where you’d think that, but… I’ve noticed you a lot lately and I thought you were cute. Then I thought you were hot, and I was going to ask you out, but then I saw you here and—what I’m saying is, it’s not about that. That’s not what I was thinking. I’m not that guy.”
I roll my eyes a little.
“I’ve heard about your reputation. The way you talk about girls or play them. That’s not who I am. I’m not a conquest. I’m the kind of girl you have to earn,” I say, feeling strong and sassy.
He looks taken aback by how I’m talking to him, but he seems to recover and calmly says, “I can tell that.” He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “Shit, you make me nervous.”
My eyes go wide.
“Imakeyounervous?”
“Yeah, you’re strong and not easily intimidated.”
“By you?” I ask, still trying to figure out if he’s as much of a jackass as the guys seem to think.
“No!” he quickly sputters. “No, by anything. You’ll walk up to anyone. You’ll tell off your friends in the lunchroom, you’ll come out and practice with us and go toe to toe with some of the best guys on the team, and it doesn’t even faze you. You’re badass,” he says, almost admiringly.
I stare at him. I don’t think he’s lying to me. He seems sincere. I was never concerned that he was abadguy. But that doesn’t mean some of the stuff he’s done is okay. And it sure as hell isn’t stuff I’d let him get away with if he were with me.
Do I want that?
“Look, can I tell you the truth?” he asks.
“Please,” I say. “I don’t do games.”
“I’ve noticed you a lot lately. How strong and sure of yourself you are. Most girls aren’t like that. It’s sexy. And, like I said, I noticed. And I thought I’d ask you to homecoming next weekend. No hidden agenda. I have a crush on you. But you might’ve knocked it up a few levels with that kiss. So, I don’t want to wait for homecoming, go out with me this weekend. I think we’ll have a lot of fun even if we don’t kiss at all.” He looks at me tentatively and gives me a soft smile.
I narrow my eyes at him but smile.
“I’m not looking to be your girl for the week. I’m not looking to be one of many. And I am definitely not a girl whose name you toss around with the guys. Not because my best friends will kick your ass—which they will—but because I deserve better than that. Honestly, all girls do,” I say pointedly.
He nods. “You’re right. I never thought much about it because all guys talk—” he stops when I raise my eyebrows because I know for sure that Aaron and Joel do not and even if Miles does, he doesn’t name names. Not even to us. “Fine,mostguys talk.”
“Not all of them name names.”
He looks like I sucker punched him.
“Does that mean you’re saying no?”
“No,” I say simply. “It means I’m setting the expectations for how I deserve to be treated.”
He smiles at me.
