The teacher stopped talking and everyone started for the museum entrance. I pushed through the crowd toward where Mackenzie was walking next to Jaz.
“Hey, Parker.” Vanessa’s alluring voice sounded beside me, and I turned to find her and Britt smiling brightly.
“Ness. Britt.”
The two girls giggled and batted their eyelashes up at me. Nowthiswas how girls were supposed to respond to me. I wasn’t used to them turning their nose up like I was something that got stuck on the bottom of their shoe. Still, I kept making my way toward Mackenzie. When I reached her, she sighed.
“Jaz,” I said. “Melancholy.”
“That’s not even a name,” Mackenzie hissed.
“You should probably take that up with your parents,” I agreed. “Oh, how’s my outfit today?” I held out my arms and looked down at myself. “Sorry, I know you prefer me without clothes…”
“I prefer when you leave me alone.”
“Leave you alone? Be honest, you’d miss me.”
Her eyes were flaring with irritation once again, and she quickly dragged Jaz away. It only seemed to make my heart pulse faster. I enjoyed messing with her, and I was smiling to myself as I continued inside the museum.
“I kind of thought you were going to start playing nice,” Seth said under his breath as he joined me.
“Don’t know what gave you that impression.”
“She’ll never agree to what you want if you keep annoying her.”
Since when was Seth the sensible one? It was becoming harder to argue with him, but I just wasn’t sure I had it in me to play nice. Especially not with Mackenzie Foster. Every time she looked my way, some deep instinctual part of me wanted to growl. Who was I to deny my inner wolf?
Although I hadn’t heard a word of our teacher’s introduction, I soon gathered that we had time to explore the museum before some sort of presentation, so Seth and I wandered through the exhibits. Most of them were interactive and probably would have been enjoyable if we were five. The place buzzed with energy as kids’ laughter mixed with the sounds of beeps, whooshes, and rushing water. Lights blinked and flashed on different displays and demonstrations. It felt like it was all trying a little too hard to make science fun.
I kept one eye on Mackenzie, from a safe distance, as I waited for inspiration to strike. When I left this place, I knew I wouldn’t remember a single exhibit. Iwouldremember that after chasing the bus, several strands of Mackenzie’s blonde hair had come loose from her ponytail. That her eyes lit with a sense of interest and amusement as she took in each display. That she laughed easily whenever Jaz leaned in close to talk to her. But her relaxed expression turned to irritation whenever she caught me watching.
“You’re being weird,” Seth said as we skirted to the side to make way for a couple of kids who were racing toward a station of vibrating strings.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I feigned interestin the nearest display—a barrel filled with foam balls and a tube pumping out a stream of air. I had no idea what it was supposed to be representing and couldn’t be bothered to read the description card beside it. This was why I stuck to hockey and art.
Seth waved a hand in Mackenzie’s direction. “You haven’t taken your eyes off her since we got here. You’re stalking her like a lion hunting his prey.”
“That girl is no one’s prey.She’sthe lion. Well, the lioness. And we all know they’re the true killers in the pack.”
He raised an eyebrow at me.
“What?”
“Mackenzie’s hot. It’s not surprising you’re attracted to her.”
“I amnotattracted to her”
“You kissed her the first time you met her.”
“She kissed me!”
He scoffed and shook his head with disbelief.
“It’s true,” I continued. “Besides, I would have kissed anyone who was willing back then. In fact, I’d still kiss pretty much anyone who’s willing—anyoneexcept her.”
“I don’t buy it.”
I grunted my frustration. “This is all about hockey, trust me. I’m just waiting for the perfect moment to test her reflexes.”
