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“Yes, I can’t stand him. Everything he does is for an audience. He’s so fake. Have you seen that stupid poll he put up?”
I try not to smile, but I fail. He’s jealous. Over me.
“Will you go to the game with me tomorrow?” he asks.
Thank goodness for the conversation at dinner last night, or I would have no idea what he’s talking about. I look into Jaron’s pleading eyes. They normally shine with brightness, but I can see a cloud of darkness there. I try and put myself in his shoes. It’s one of our biggest games of the year, and he doesn’t get to play. Because of me.
“Are you sure you want to go?” I ask.
“Yeah, I may not be able to help my team win, but I want to be there to cheer them on.” He leans his head against thebookcase. “Please, Emma? I don’t want to sit alone. And you can even bring Stephanie.”
I laugh. “Stephanie? At a baseball game? That is going to take a lot of bribery and pleading on my part.”
Jaron smiles. He takes both my hands in his. “Please? It would mean a lot.”
I bite my bottom lip. I try and weigh out the pros and cons in my mind.
Jaron brings one hand to his lips and gently presses a kiss to my palm. Goosebumps appear up my arm. The good kind.
“Alright, I’ll go.”
Jaron takes a step closer, hovering just over my head. I can feel his warm breath on my cheek. “Thank you,” he whispers. Jaron runs his calloused palm slowly up and down my arm, landing in my hand. He laces his fingers with mine. My skin tingles beneath his touch. My mouth feels dry and my face grows warm. I look down at his tan fingers sandwiching my pale ones. My hair falls in my face and I push it back, tucking it behind my ear. Jaron reaches up with his other hand and gently caresses my cheek with two of his knuckles. I tremble as happy chills dance down my neck.
“I’ve missed you,” he says. “If you’d just get rid of the other two, we could have progressed a lot further by now.”
“Oh yeah?” I say quietly. My lips tremble with anticipation.
“Yeah,” he whispers, inching ever closer. “We could have been right about here.”
His lips barely brush mine.
“Mr. Patel and Ms. Carpenter, if I find the two of you hiding in my library again, I’ll be calling both your parents.” The librarian’s voice causes us to jump and Jaron releases me. I feel cold as soon as his touch drops away.
He smiles broadly. “Yes, ma’am,” he says.
We both speed-walk out of the library. Jaron hands me my backpack as soon as we reach the hall. I didn’t even realize I’d dropped it. Our hands brush as I take it from him and my heart leaps.
“Meet me at the game,” he says.
“I will.”
Jaron leaves in the opposite direction and I watch him walk away.
“I can walk away too, if you want to check me out next.” Ethan appears by my side.
“I wasn’t watching him,” I say quietly. Who am I kidding? I was.
Ethan steps in front of me and walks away, swinging his hips dramatically.
I laugh. “Very nice,” I say, when he returns.
“I knew you’d like it.”
Ethan throws his arm around my shoulder. “When are we going out again, Prom Queen?”
“Again?” I ask.
“Yeah, I picked you up and drove you to Taylor’s house. That totally counts as a date. But as of this morning, nerd boy somehow pulled ahead. We need to make another appearance together. And soon. I don’t want to lose momentum.”
