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I look at the screen. His contact is just Daniel. I should probably add a last name, but I don’t know his last name. That’s something I should know about a friend. And the person I’m going to kiss tonight. We are going to kiss tonight, right? That’s basic…isn’t it?

I put the phone back into my pocket and ignore the questions. I’ll find out later.

“Have a good practice,” I say.

“Have a good class.” He grins. “Text me what you want.”

“I will.”

He splits off toward the rink, and I stand on the lawn for a second longer than I need to. Then I head for the Language Arts building. By the time I’m in my seat in the classroom, my heart rate is back to normal.

Lincoln drops down next to me with a smile. “Who were you walking with just now?”

I swallow and look over at him. “Uh, my roommate.”

His eyebrows go up. “Yeah? He’s not a complete asshole like most hockey players?”

“He’s friendly. You’d like him.”

He rolls his eyes. “He plays hockey with my step-brother. I highly doubt that.”

I shrug because I really don’t have anything to combat that. His step-brother has always been terrible. And I know he bullied him while we were in high school, so badly that Lincoln wouldn’t even talk to me about it.

Lincoln sighs. “I’m sorry, I trust your judgement. You wouldn’t say he’s okay if he wasn’t.”

I give him a tight lipped smile, and we pull out our stuff in relative silence as other students filter in.

“So, why were you walking with him?” Lincoln finally asks. “Are you friends?”

Crap. We didn’t talk about this in the rules. I find myself nodding and shaking my head at once like a bobblehead that was wacked with a little too much strength.

“Sort of. We live in the same space, and he’s persistent.”

He laughs. “Persistent? Is he bothering you?”

“Nooo—no. Not at all.” I stumble over my words. I don’t want to give Lincoln the wrong idea. “I’m tutoring him.”

Crap. I don’t think I was supposed to say that.

“I mean, he’s not dumb or anything. He’s really smart actually…”

Lincoln burst out laughing. “Are you crushing on your roommate?”

“What? No.” I pull out my pens and start lining them up next to my notebook just so I don’t have to look at him. But I can feel my face heat up. It's been doing that a lot. I might be getting sick.

“Okay,” he chuckles. And before I can add anything, the teacher comes into class and French takes over for the next two hours.

I’m full of nervous energy by time six comes around. Daniel’s text said he’d be back around now. I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans and sit down on the edge of my bed before standing right back up to continue pacing.

I’ve chewed off all my nails and started on my cuticles when the door swings open, revealing Daniel holding a drink carrier and a bag from Subway. I rush over to help him, and he hands over the carrier before shutting the door.

“Thanks.”

I set the drinks on my desk and hear him moving around behind me. The rustle of the bag. His backpack hitting the floor. The scent of freshly baked bread floats over to me, making my mouth water. Then him. Musky. Sweat.

I know he had a shower this morning, but he might need another one. Getting close enough to kiss him, it will be stronger.

“Are you going to take a shower after we eat?”