Page 164

I’d forced him to come super early because I wanted to be here when Adonis showed up. Originally I’d wanted to sit on the front steps of Empire High, but a light coating of snow was starting to cover the ground.

I’d just have to strike a sexy pose by my locker instead. “You’ll live,” I said to RJ and unbuckled my seatbelt.

“I’m gonna take a nap.” He hit a button to lower the seat backward. “Wake me in like thirty minutes.”

“Set an alarm.”

He ignored me and closed his eyes.

I grabbed his phone and put an alarm on it for him. I tossed his phone on his chest.

“Ow.” He opened one eye and glared at me.

I ignored him and hopped out of the car. My feet slid on the icy ground, but luckily I didn’t fall. I slowly made my way up the steps and into the warm school.

I wondered how Adonis would greet me. I smiled thinking of how Axel always greeted Scarlett. With a searing kiss that usually wound up with a scolding from Uncle James. I wanted my kiss with Adonis to be so sinful that it got me a stern talking from my uncle too.

Time ticked by slowly. I glanced toward Mr. Halifax’s classroom. And I actually smiled. His loss. I was officially off the market.

“You know...I was always Team Adonis,” Scarlett said as she and Axel walked up to me. His arm was slung around her shoulders.

I smiled. “I know.”

“I was not,” Axel said. “I’m still not.”

I shook my head. “You weren’t Team Mr. Halifax either,” I said.

“Exactly,” Axel said. “Maybe you should trust my judgement on this.”

“Would you stop it,” Scarlett said. “Adonis and Soph are so cute together. And look how happy she is.”

Axel sighed. And then he slowly smiled. “I’ve missed your face.”

I laughed. “Thanks, Axel.” I knew what he meant. He was used to seeing me smile. And I was smiling pretty hard right now. “What do you think of this pose for when Adonis walks in?” I adjusted Adonis’ varsity jacket on my shoulders and then lifted one foot and pressed it against the lockers behind me. I pressed my shoulders against the locker too and arched my back slightly. I glanced at Axel’s sneakers and slowly lifted my gaze to his. And then I bit my lip.

“Jesus, Soph,” Axel said. “Don’t look at him like that. Don’t look at anyone like that.”

Scarlett fanned her face. “You’re going to give him a heart attack.”

I smiled. “Nailed it.”

“Ahem,” Uncle James said. “Sophie, why are you posing like a stripper?”

I dropped my foot.

Liam laughed as he walked by.

“And pull your skirt down,” Uncle James said. “And fix the buttons on your shirt. You missed a few.”

“You missed a few,” I said and pointed to where he’d left a few buttons unbuttoned near his collar.

He shook his head. “You’ve missed double. Button up. See you kids in class.” He shook his head again and walked into Mr. Halifax’s old room.

Scarlett laughed. “I prefer you getting scolded over me.”

“Everyone loves a good scolding from Daddy James.”

“Ew.” She scrunched up his nose. “Why would you say that?”