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This answer seems to please him. The smile on his face makes my heart kick out of rhythm, and yeah, I really need to leave now.
“Okay, well… um, thanks for the day. You’re awesome… and I’m gonna go.”
“Let me at least walk you.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t need an escort.”
“What if I want to escort you?” He grins.
I smile right back. “What if I need a minute to call my girl in Cali and tell her about this super-hot guy I’ve been hanging with today?”
He saunters across the room with this cocky grin and stops right in front of me. Cupping my cheeks, he gazes down at me like I’m special, and even that’s enough to turn my weak insides to goo.
And then he kisses me.
It’s hot and searing and over too fast.
It turns my legs to sticks of chewed gum, making my walk down the stairs hard work. Liam notices me in the entrance and gives me a worried frown before spotting Ethan behind me.
I wonder what that look means, but then he’s grinning. “Hey, Mick.”
“Hey, Padre,” I murmur, glancing over my shoulder at Ethan.
His smile is extra bright, making me wonder what he must have signaled to his friend behind my back. I want to ask him about it, but then I don’t because I really should get out of here. I’ve gotta call Rachel. I need to unpack this stuff with the only person in this world I 100 percent trust.
“See ya.”
“Definitely.” Ethan leans against the doorframe, watching me walk down the path. “You’re still coming to the exhibition game, right?”
I spin and smile at him. “You know it!” This answer makes him happy, and that goo in my chest goes all warm and soft and… yeah, I really need to call Ray-Ray.
Pulling out my phone, I touch Rachel’s name on my screen.
She answers after four rings, sounding kind of breathless.
“Hey, bestie.”
“Hey.” I squint against the sunshine, wishing I had my shades. “What’s up? Why are you out of breath?”
She giggles, and I groan.
“Ugh. Do I even want to know?”
She laughs again. “I was just doing a workout.”
“Really? Since when? You haven’t turned into a gym bunny since I’ve been away, have you?”
“No, I’m just doing these Zumba classes online. In my room.”
“Wow.” I raise my eyebrows, kind of impressed. Rachel’s always been allergic to exercise. That’s basically the one thing we don’t have in common. I’d run track and she’d watch from the bleachers. I’d jump in on a basketball game while she cheered me on from the sidelines. In middle school, I’d actually get involved during PE classes and she’d linger in the background, avoiding the ball at all costs. She even tried theI’m allergic to sweatline once with our PE teacher but was made to run two extra laps for lying.
She quickly learned that her best defense was theI have my periodcard, and she served that up once a month like clockwork.
And now she’s doing Zumba in her room.
“That’s awesome. I’m proud of you.” I grin. “You’ve always been a great dancer. Zumba is the perfect exercise for you.”
“I know it.” She laughs. “It was actually Theo’s idea. He’s into the gym and wants me to be fit and healthy too.”
