Page 4 of Forbidden Heart

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I reply and lick a wayward piece of blueberry off my front teeth.

The door to the suite closes, and JJ and I are suddenly alone.

“So...” he says slyly. He licks his purple lips in an obvious attempt at seduction. “What do you want to do now?”

Chapter 2

“I should brush my teeth! I mean, my lips! I mean, to get out all the purple.” I blurt, and practically run from the room.

My heart hammers in my chest and my palms feel sweaty, all because I’m in the dorm apartment alone with JJ.

Unlike the first time the guys had left me alone with him, I’m no longer afraid. This time, I’m nervous and excited, and I don’t know why.

When I come back, my lips scrubbed pink and my teeth shining, I find JJ cleaning the kitchen. He gives me a purple smile and a flirtatious wink, making my heart leap, and I have to remind myself that he doesn’t mean anything by it. He’s not into me, and I’m not into him. I can’t be when I’m having a hard enough time deciding which of his roommates I like best.

When the dishes have been put away and the counters look spotless, JJ brushes his own teeth and lips and then joins me on the couch. He pulls up some a cappella videos for us to watch—recordings of past winners and other competitions—and we spend the afternoon critiquing each of them. And occasionally even singing along!

We order regular burgers for lunch—normal ones, not the fancy, fancy stuff Tate and Charles like—and I grab us some mint chocolate chip ice cream from the freezer for dessert.

When JJ finally shuts off the videos, I turn to him with a huge smile... and realize how close we’re sitting. I can practically feel the warmth from his skin. I inhale, and the fresh scent of his body wash envelops me, reminding me of curling up amidst his blankets and falling asleep to a scent that’s uniquely JJ.

I suddenly feel nervous, and the silence only makes it worse.

“So... um... what made you choose to go to LUV Academy?” I help myself to one of the throw pillows and hug it to my chest.

JJ shrugs. “I like music.”

“Me too.” I feel another wave of nerves as we lapse into silence.

JJ’s fingers tap against the back of the couch, and I hug the pillow closer.

“I guess I also like the straightforwardness of it all,” he finally says. “Like, we get to be creative, but it’s not all artsy-fartsy.”

“Artsy-fartsy?” I giggle.

JJ shrugs. “That’s what I call my parents. Artsy-fartsy. And it’s nice to go to a school where everything is, like, clear and direct. You know?”

“Your parents sing?”

“Nope. That’s just me.” JJ shrugs. “Dad draws and Mom puts fruit hats on sculptures of prominent political figures.”

“She... what?” I pause, wondering if I’ve somehow misheard.

“It’s a lot more lucrative than it sounds.” JJ shrugs.

“Do you not get along?” Something about his tone tells me they don’t.

“No, we do.” JJ sighs. He runs his fingers through his hair, seemingly lost in thought, and finally adds, “I guess they just don’t understand.”

“Understand what?” I hold my breath, wanting to learn more about JJ.

“Why I would want to sing and not be famous.”

“What do you mean?”

JJ chuckles. “That’s what I like about you, Roonie. That you’re passionate about singing and you’re not just doing it for the fame. You sing for the sake of singing.”

I smile. “You do, too. So do Tate and Charles... and Silas.” Especially Silas. The way the Dark Prince poured his whole heart into his song, the way he played the piano, there is zero chance he was singing for anyone but himself.