a desk, but since I can’t do either, I turn halfway around and look at Mrs. Wright, who’s tapping that pencil against her hand now. She motions to the newly open seat. Her anger’s apparent, as is her inability to stop whatever is in motion.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I whisper to Liam, slinking down into the chair in front of him, ridiculously embarrassed.
But it’s Grey that motions for me to come closer, so I do, shivering as he whispers into my ear.
“Ensuring I get to watch you apply that lip gloss, Cherry.”
His voice is far too seductive for his age, which means he knows what kind of effect it has on girls. And it’s affecting me in all the right places.
“Let’s refocus. Mr. McCallister, Mr. Brooks, Miss Kennedy. I’d like to get back to teaching now. With your permission, of course.”
“Yes, ma’am. Of course. I’m so sorry,” I answer quickly, but Grey and Liam don’t utter a word. It seems I’m the only one overly aware of the irritation dripping from her expression.
It’s not just from her either. I feel the staring—the curiosity. Eyes are on me, burning into me, and it’s something I try desperately to ignore as I pull out my notebook and pencil. The minute the lecture restarts, the attention dissipates from the class, except for two sets of eyes.
My boys.
I came here to escape trouble, and I’m already knee-deep in it. These two are making my head swim. My pen scribbles tiny circles on the paper, as I try not to smile because moments like this are the ones I remember fondly. It’s the bar all men are measured by. Every girl has one—the crush who set the standard.
I just have two.
A quiet “Ahem” comes from behind, but I keep my eyes straight ahead. Don’t look at him. Don’t turn around.
Despite my thoughts, I steal a glance at Liam, turning back over my shoulder, and find he’s staring back at me as he winds a lock of my hair around his finger. I shake my head slightly, chewing the end of my pen, urging him to stop, not really wanting him to. Instead of listening, he blows me a kiss, so I stick my tongue out at him.
I’m flirting again. Dammit.
But, Jesus, if it’s not one, it’s the other. These two are going to be a handful. No matter how amazing they are, they can look, but there won’t be any touching. It’s the friendzone for them. They might think they know me, but I’ve lived more life in the last five years than most people do in a lifetime. If they knew the “me” I am now, it wouldn’t be love they’d feel—it’d be fear.
My head turns to take in Grey, my thoughts rumbling in my mind, and his expression stills me. Because it’s not love, and it’s not fear.
It’s patient expectation.
He gives me a jut of his chin, from where he’s leaned back in his chair, staring at my mouth. Despite all my internal grandstanding, I give him exactly what he wants, without hesitation, because that’s what I’ve always done for him, even if the stakes feel higher and more dangerous for us now.
Rubbing my lips together, I reach into the pocket of my school blazer, pulling out my cherry lip gloss and plucking the metal top off the round tin. The smooth balm runs over my finger as I circle it slowly on top of the mixture before bringing it to my bottom lip, pausing only for a moment. I let my eyes drift to his appreciative face, then back to the front as I reapply Grey’s new favorite flavor all over again.
Grey
THE MOMENT THE BELL RINGS, Liam dives over the top of Donovan, kissing her cheeks as she squeals and laughs over being attacked.
“Stop!” she laughs, breathless, and swatting him away playfully, but he doesn’t stop smothering her.
“All right, Romeo, that’s enough,” I growl, gripping his shoulder and pulling him back into his seat forcefully. “You’re going to break her.”
“Shut up.” He laughs, waving me off.
The three of us stand to grab our bags, and I watch as she turns, looking at him with happiness written all over her gorgeous face. That’s still my favorite expression from her.
“So?” Liam questions to her bright face.
“So, what?” she answers, reaching down for her bag, but I swipe it up, tilting my head toward the door for her to walk.
Liam pushes past me, taking Donovan by the hand and tugging her along, “This