“What do you mean? I was there!”
He grunts. “Well, I wanted to score.”
“Exactly. I learned why they gave him the ‘C’ today.”
“Why?”
“He’s the school president’s son.”
“Nepo baby. Ha! Makes sense.”
“It’s not like he has anything to nepo about. Not like you or Mason Drake. His dad’s a hall-of-famer, and yours might be an asshole but he won gold for Canada at the Olympics!” I scoff. “Okay, so what does theNeccobaby want?”
“For me to film a video with you.”
When I lock eyes with him, he does the damnedest thing—he swallows. His Adam’s apple even bobs.
“What kind of film? A porno?”
He jerks his hand away from mine, unsettling the nail polish so it totters off my lap and crashes to the ground. “WHAT?!”
“Jeez, Zach!” I snag the bottle before it can make too much of a mess. “Calm down. I was only teasing.”
“Are you for real?”
“Obviously not.” I scowl at him. “Is this shit with Alec why you’ve been acting weird lately? Now that I think about it, Pecan mentioned he’s forcing you all to do interviews with him.”
“He wants to go viral.”
I retch. “God, I’m so sick of that word. I miss when it just meant you had a cold or was puking in bed.” Then, I heave a sigh. “Okay, if it’ll get Alec off your back—”And stop you from being such a moody asshole.“—then fine. Let’s do it.”
“Now?”
“Sure. What do you need me to do?”
With eagerness that surprises me considering how grumpy this whole endeavor has made him, he stands and movesaroundthe bench. Then, grabbing his phone, he looms over me. I rear back and watch out for a noogieorbunny fingers, but he simply taps the screen a couple times then rests his hand on my shoulder. I blink when he nudges me until I’m leaning on the rest, then he shuffles closer still.
Expecting to have to sing along to some dumb song, I only watch as he ambles deeper into my space, his breath brushing my cheek—that’s how close he is.
A strange warmth curls through me and I start to regret agreeing to this.
Then, he hits record, and just as the sound declares, “Kiss your best friend and see how they react,” his lips find mine.
For a second, I freeze.
This is the favor.
The pressure of his lips against mine is something I never figured I’d experience.
And here I am.
Experiencing it.
FOR A FUCKING TREND.
As that humiliation settles in me, what follows is a snapshot of howwonderfulit feels to have his mouth on mine.
To luxuriate in his scent.
