“Absolutely positive.” I move the highlighter that got knocked askew back to where it belongs. “I know that’s a shock since everyone else seems to fall at your feet, but you don’t have me fooled.”
“Fooled? Who says I’m trying to fool anyone?” He grins, and dammit, it’s ridiculously hot. “I’m just being myself.”
“Right,” I mutter.
Talia pokes her head around me. “Hi, Keller.”
His grin falls. “Tallulah.”
“It’s Talia, but close enough,” she murmurs, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “How’s the hockey season going?”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes yet again. She knows exactly how his season is going considering we’ve gone to all the games this year. They’re currently sitting in second place, and word on the street is they’ll be one of the teams in the finals.
A lot of that is thanks to Callum. Though he’s not scoring every night, he’s still making plays, and it isn’t going unnoticed by anyone, including me, a casual hockey fan at best.
“Good,” he answers in a tone that says he’s not really interested in carrying on this conversation.
It doesn’t deter my best friend. She sits up straighter, leaning across my seat even more. “Good? More like great. Chloe and I have been going to all your games, and you guys are killing it.”
Thisperks him right back up, and he swings a cocky grin my way.
“So you go to all my games, huh, Clover?”
I groan inwardly, shooting a dirty look Talia’s way. She smiles at me unapologetically, and I get the sense she might realize I don’t hate Callum as much as I pretend to. Damn her for being so perceptive.
I turn back to the hockey player, who is showing off the fact that he still has all his teeth.
“Not on purpose.”
He laughs. “Right. Sure. I bet you justhappenedto stumble into the arena, right?”
“What can I say? There was a crowd, and I’m a follower.”
“Oh,” he says, his voice dropping an octave, which seems impossible since it’s already so low. “I highly doubt that’s true.”
“She’s on the school paper,” Talia says with a grin that could rival a proud parent. “She’s going to be a writer one day.”
“I never said that.” I look at Callum. “I never said that.”
He looks like he’s fighting off a laugh. “Duly noted, Clover.”
The professor walks into the room, and Callum holds his finger over his lips and turns toward the front of the room, pretending to be engaged. He’s not, and I’m not either. All I can think about is how hot his voice just was, and how good his hair looks today, and his lips that arejustpouty enough.
I wish I hated him more than I pretend to.
It’s Talia who finally gets me to stop staring at him, elbowing me hard and widening her eyes while nodding toward the front where the professor is already prattling on about…well, I’m not exactly sure. I was too distracted.
Focus on class, Chloe. Not some boy who is so far out of your league it’s not even funny. Besides, think about how your parents would feel if they knew you were daydreaming instead of studying.
After my pep talk, I try my hardest to tune in to class, but it’s nearly impossible with Callum’s leg still pressed up against mine and his cologne tickling my nose.
I don’t know how long it takes before I feel him move. I hold my breath.
“You know,” he whispers after a while, and I jump because he’s close.Tooclose. So much so that I canfeelhis warm breathtickling my ear. I want to lean into it just as much as I don’t. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately, Clover.”
“Really? That’s a big step for you, Callum.”
He ignores me, just like I ignore how good he smells.
