Jett came in closer, speaking just over my shoulder. “Both. And if you think you can turn him into some sort of Prince Charming, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
That got the heat going in my shoulders again. I turned in my seat to face him, ready to let loose, but was surprised by the expression on his face. It wasn’t the challenging sort of sneer I expected to see. He looked…concerned.
I pulled in a breath, lips parted, suddenly forgetting what I wanted to say. Jett always did have the perfect-looking face. Aside from his amazing tan skin, he had a chiseled jawline most guys would kill for. And those eyes. Deep brown with swirls of gold. They were like secret weapons or something. I scrambled for what I’d planned to say.
“You have no right to judge TJ,” I said. “In fact, didn’t you hear your dad in service last week? He said there’s onlyoneRighteous Judge, and you and I both know that’s not you.” That was the ticket—bring Pastor Bryant into it.
“I’m not judging,” Jett said with a shrug. “I just hate to see you waste your time on him, that’s all.”
Why didhecare who I spent my time with? We’d barely said two words to each other since the eighth grade. A million weak rebuttals shot to my mind at once, but I bit all of them back and forced myself to read the next statement on the board.
Romantic chemistry is a real thing.
I contemplated that for a moment, not sure how I’d answer. It didn’t strike a chord in me like the other one.
“I’d have to sayyesto that one,” Jett mumbled under his breath. He moved even closer, allowing his elbow to graze my bare arm. “What doyouthink?”
A zip of tingles rushed through me as I set my gaze back on him. I inched my arm away again because his touch was making my brain go soft. “No,” I said in a whisper.
A half grin pulled at one side of his lips. Oh, man, I’d forgotten about that dimple. “No, what?” he challenged.
I needed to get serious about my position here, even if I’d only said no for argument’s sake. “Well,” I started, careful not to raise my voice. “I do not think romantic chemistry is a real thing because it suggests that people who don’t evenlikeeach other could be attracted to one another.” Why did it suddenly feel like I was describing the very phenomenon that was taking place in that moment?
I kept up with my argument. “And since I think that’s impossible, I have to assume that this so-calledchemistrypeople are experiencing is based on respect and love and…you know, things that matter.”
“So does that mean you loved and respected me back in kindergarten when you—”
“Shhh,” I scolded, not wanting him to say it aloud, even if we were just whispering amongst ourselves. Geez, would he ever let go of that one? “I was curious when we were in kindergarten and you happened to be the slowest boy on the playground, which is the only reason I was able to catch you.”Lie.
“And kiss me,” he said.
Just hearing the wordskiss mecome from those lips while he was so close and yummy-smelling set me off balance in a major way.Come on, Harper. Snap out of it.
I pulled in a sharp breath and shifted in my seat. “You know, I’m starting to think that moment on the playground was the highlight of your life. And if it is, I feel sorry for you.”
A laugh sounded from deep in his throat. “Maybe it was.” His expression turned cryptic. “And we almost had a second chance at it. Until you chickened out.”
My skin came alive with all sorts of conflicting tingles. He remembered that night too. The party at Connor’s place. The one celebrating the end of middle school and the start of new adventures at Sweet Water High. Jett had made a fool of me in front of everyone, so I’d given it right back to him and basically hated him ever since. The thing was, his words seemed to be laced with regret.
At once, I pictured another offense: his ex-girlfriend, Tasha, smearing bright red lipstick over her pouty lips in the locker room a few months back.“I heard you used to chase my boyfriend down and kiss him on the playground,”she accused.
I hadn’t given her a response, only finished tying my shoes so I could get away from one of Sweet Water High’s top MG’s (code for mean girls).
“He says you still have a crush on him even now,”she’d added. A cluster of her cronies laughed in the corner, whispering over high-pitched giggles.
My mom had always taught me that adamant denials made the accused appear guilty—the whole protesting too much sort of thing. And as much as I’d wanted to protest, as much as I’d wanted to say something likein his dreamsoryour boyfriend is delusional,I hadn’t said a thing. Only snatched my gym bag off the ground, hiked it over my shoulder, and hurried into the hall.
Needless to say, Tasha had gotten the info from Jett, which reminded me of why I wasn’t exactly a fan of his. A reminder I sort of needed with all the feels of attraction simmering through my body.
I managed to keep quiet the remainder of class, mainly because my mind was stuck trying to figure out how I would deal with being Jett’s partner. I hated that I was attracted to him, and I didn’t know what to do about all the tingles that zipped through me at his touch and his scent and even the low, raspy sound of his voice.
“Is it true that most of the rings you wear are from the plays you’ve been in?” Jett traced over the ring I wore on my pinky finger, causing a fresh bolt of electricity to course through me.
I couldn’t help but wonder who he’d heard that from. Had he been talking about me? Asking about me, maybe? With just three minutes left of class, I dropped my gaze to look at the other rings I wore today. Three on my right hand and two on my left, each sterling silver. “Yeah,” I answered. “A lot of them are. My granddad buys them for me. The tiny cat ears on this one is for…well you probably don’t remember, but when I was inTheAristocatsback in the third grade.”
“I remember,” he said. “And this one’s for when you were Ariel?” He tapped the tiny mermaid on my pointer finger.
“Yes,” I said, secretly loving how he remembered.
