Page 11 of Faking It with her Crush

She scoffs. “Yeah, right.”

“It’s true.” Christ, I wish she’d believe me on this. Because, okay, Iknowwhat I look like. I’m not an idiot: I know the effect I can have. My ruined, useless heart has an appealing wrapper. But does that mean I should be rude and dismissive with every person I meet? Shouldn’t I still be friendly and kind?

I’m not Leo, damn it. My face isn’t set in a permanent glower. My natural inclination is to smile, to make people feel comfortable, but that’s not an invitation to more.

“You’d know if I was flirting, Luce.”

Another scowl at my shirt collar. “Would I?”

“Yes. Because it would only ever be aimed at you.”

There’s a long, loaded pause between us, and we fill it by dancing in silence, spinning beneath the stars. String lights glitter all around us, and the band breaks into another slow song. After a while, Lucy puffs out a strained breath, then slipsmore of her fingertip beneath my shirt, pressing harder against my heated chest.

Yes.

“Lesson three,” I grate out, heart thumping against that small point of contact. “Kissing.”

Lucy jolts, that blush flooding her cheeks, and the look she gives me is so wary. “You haven’t said anything about kissing.”

“Haven’t I?” Cupping her cheek slowly, I give her time to move away. “Maybe it’s better if I show you.”

The world tilts as I lower my head. And I’m going slowly, so slowly, dreading the inevitable moment when Lucy shoves me away, but then our lips brush—and my heart stops.

One second.

Two.

There’s nothing but stunned silence in my chest.

Then finally, as I kiss her again, deeper this time, my poor heart jolts back to life, racing extra fast to catch up.

“Mmph,” Lucy says against my lips, gripping the lapels of my jacket, tugging me closer.

Her lips are warm and plush, and her mouth tastes like the berry-flavored cocktail I brought her thirty minutes ago. Lucy opens for me on a sigh, her tongue nudging mine, and heat crackles down my spine.

My gut is clenched, and I’m harder than granite.

More.

I need more of this woman. Something tells me I’ll never get enough.

Lucy’s breath hitches when I deepen the kiss even further, our tongues sliding together. She’s pressed completely against me now. Sealed tight, kissing me back, even as whispers drift around us on the dance floor.

…Darius Amin…

…Isn’t that the girl from Accounts?…

…Lily or something…

This isn’t right. It’s Lucy’s first kiss. She deserves privacy, not a bunch of gossips misremembering her name.

Gut swooping, I tear my mouth away, straighten up and stare blindly out at the crowd. Lucy’s breathing hard too, still squeezing my lapels in her hands, and it takes a moment for my brain to come back online. For me to register what I’m seeing.

Leo leans against the band’s gazebo, his arms folded and expression stony.

Leo Corbin watches me. Judges me as I break my promise.

“…need some air?”

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