Page 8 of Bookworm
I nearly gave myself away by laughing but smothered the sound just in time.Addison groaned in exasperation, not getting the joke, but Bo's head jerked my way as if he'dheard. Iprayed he wouldn't see me peering through the gap in books—but Addison put her fingers on his chin, turning his head and attention back to her.
"You know, Bo, I don't get it," she said. "You're so cold and unfeeling. You're like a freaking robot."
Bo stared at her impassively.
"You're also selfish. All you seem to care about is soccer and working at that dumb flowershop."
"It's not dumb," he muttered.
Addison simply shook her head, sighed, and then took a step back. "We could've had a good time, you and me."
Bo said nothing as she took another step back.
"Just so you know, there's an ongoing bet at schoolto see who can get you to break that icy façade," she said and tossed her hair back. "It's the only reason I'm here. I wanted to win so bad, rub it in the other girls' faces. But no one's that hot."
Addison waited a beat then delivered her last parting shot.
"You're a heartless jerk, Bo Stryker. I doubt any girl will ever want you for real."
Oof, I thought. Even I felt that one, but Bo didn't flinch.
With a huff, Addison walked away, passing my hiding spot without ever noticing me. Bo was still standing there when I looked back. He was looking to where Addison had just disappeared. I was about to go when suddenly there was movement.
Bo's face changed. The iciness melted away, cracks appearing, brow drooping until he just looked tired…and hurt.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
A deep sigh escaped his lips. He lifted a hand to rub at the back of his neck as he shook his head, tilted it back, and closed his eyes.
It was a very vulnerable position.
A captivating moment.
I must've leaned forward, drawn to this show of real emotion, because somehow, I dislodged a book with my hip.
As it thudded against the floor, Bo's eyes opened.
And landed right on me.
My own eyes widened, heart thumping wildly in my chest, as our gazes caught and held. I was so busted. Fight or flight kicked in, and I did the only thing I could.
I ran.
Hiding in the staff room probably wasn't the most mature way to handle the situation. But it saved me from having toface Bo again rightafter witnessing his moment of weakness.A moment I had no business being a part of. I should've left. I shouldn't have listened to his and Addison's conversation. Jeez, what was wrong with me? So what if now I knew the iceman had feelings.It was wrong, and I knew it.I didn't come out until the girls assured me he was gone.
But if I thought that would be the end of it, I was wrong.
So wrong.
#
"You enjoy spying on people, Kent?"
I nearly jumped at the sound of his voice.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly closed my locker door—and looked up into the eyes of Bo Stryker.
I hadn't even heard him approach. He was obviously light on his feet—which was saying something because Bo was a big guy.I'd been avoiding him all day. Literally, this morning when I was leaving the house, I pretended not to hear him callmy name from next door and sped out before he could flag me down. I could've been listening to earbuds, right? Then at school, I'd surreptitiously checked around corners before walking the halls, hoping to avoidexactly this. But now, Bo was standing with one shoulder pressed against the locker beside mine, his brow furrowed.
