face. “I’m sorry about that. My parents got divorced a few years back. It was awful. If you ever need someone to talk to about it…”
He doesn’t finish the thought. He doesn’t have to. Sophia understands loud and clear what he’s saying. Which is why she blushes and bows her head a little, murmuring, “Thanks. You’re really sweet.”
Tristan playfully brushes off the compliment. “Well, I do eat a lot of sugar.”
Sophia giggles.
Wait. What is happening here?
Is he flirting with her?
I can’t believe this. I try to do a good deed and Tristan goes and hits on it. I know, he’s probably only sucking up because of the connection to Capitol Records, but still! Does he have to do this right in front of me? It’s like that Snapchat conversation from Sunday night all over again. He didn’t have to read his thirty Snapchat messages from cute girls while we were trying to watch a movie together. And he doesn’t have to do this whole “I’m here for you, baby” routine while I’m trying to eat.
Who does this Sophia chick think she is? I do her a huge favor, save her from becoming a social pariah for life, and she repays me by giggling at my boyfriend’s lame joke?
Well, I do eat a lot of sugar.
Har har har. How flipping original.
I’m suddenly wishing I had another garden gnome to throw at his face.
No, I scold myself. Calm down. It’s that same irrational, emotion-driven thinking that got you into this mess in the first place. Take deep breaths. Rein it in. You got this.
I exhale and snap back into character. I give my hair a sultry toss and slowly begin to move my left boot up the inside of Tristan’s leg. He jolts to attention, his gaze whipping back to me. I tilt my head as a flirtatious smile dances across my lips.
“I should probably go practice my speech. You know, somewhere quiet and maybe a little secluded.” I run my tongue over my teeth. Slowly so that Tristan has time to pick up on my innuendo.
Oh, he picks up on it all right. He leaps up from the bench faster than a rocket blasting into space. “You probably need help.”
I let out an exaggerated sigh. “I do.” I flash Sophia a smile. “It was nice to meet you. I hope your first day goes well.”
She looks slightly disappointed at our sudden departure but quickly returns the pleasantry. “Thanks for inviting me to sit here.”
“We would stay longer,” I add quickly, “but I’m running for junior class VP and I have to give a speech in ten minutes, so…”
“Oh, no, that’s fine!” she rushes to say. “I totally understand. Maybe I’ll see you around?”
“Definitely.”
“My band plays around town,” Tristan puts in. “You should come to one of our gigs.”
“I’d love that,” Sophia says quietly, looking completely harmless in that moment. I suddenly feel guilty for thinking badly of her. She really is sweet, and maybe she didn’t even realize we were together.
“Okay, see ya,” I say, and head for the cafeteria doors. I don’t have to look back to check that Tristan is following behind me or that he’s watching me walk with all the interest of a scholar.
Some things a girl just knows.
And Then He Kissed Me
There’s really only one thing that should be on your mind when a six-foot, blond-haired rock ’n’ roll sex god is sticking his tongue down your throat. I’m just not quite sure what that one thing is. Maybe something along the lines of …
Great!
Heavenly!
Mind-blowing!
I’ve been trying out words for the past seven minutes while Tristan and I have been locked in the recording booth on the second floor of the library in a marathon make-out session, but I can’t wrap my head around the perfect descriptive phrase. My mind keeps wandering back to the cafeteria. The way Tristan’s eyes lingered on that poor new girl while I was sitting right there.
What’s the matter with him? Does he think she’s hotter than me?
No. Those are not the things you’re supposed to be thinking about right this minute. How about …
Hot?
Reckless?
Scandalous!
Yes, scandalous is definitely a good one. After all, we are on school grounds. And right outside this door, people are going about their daily lives—checking out books, researching papers, sending out emails—with absolutely no idea that Tristan and I are rounding second base in this tiny, soundproof room.
It is pretty tiny, too.
My elbow has bumped against the wall like five times already.
But it was during the