“Then I’ll help.”
I cleared my throat, averting my eyes from his. “Like, right now or…?”
“One thing I need to do first.” He pulled my face toward his as our lips connected once again.
I ran my fingers through his hair as our tongues collided in a heated battle. It was more tender this time.More passionate. I clawed at his shirt, pulling him closer. I felt like putty when I was wrapped in his embrace. He squeezed my waist before separating us.
“W-what…” I stuttered apprehensively, swallowing to regain control of my mouth. “What was that for? Did you see Ryan?”
“Nope.”
I shivered as he swiped his thumb along my lower lip, then took the stack of posters that had just been printed and left.
Fifteen
To say I was excited about returning to school after winter break would be an understatement.
The first day back, Elliot and I strolled through the hall, our fingers clasped as the posters he created decorated almost every surface, not only in the hallways but also in the classrooms. The teachers were furious. Everyone tried to point the finger at me, but they had no proof. It was laughable, really. Maybe Elliot’s rebellion was starting to rub off on me.
Or maybe I was just sick of letting Meredith control the narrative of my life.
Most people stared in awe, some out of bewilderment, and others in disgust. It was worth it either way. I finally felt like this was my way of saying—I’m not ashamed. Still, the attention was a bit…much.
“People are staring,” Elliot whispered as he ducked his head next to my ear.
“Yep.”
“I hate this.”
“Yep.”
“Why did I let you talk me into this?”
“Technically, you’re the one who offered.”
“Semantics,”he groaned.
I laughed, pulling his arm down the hall as he huffed out a dramatic sigh.
“Don’t be a baby, Abercrombie.”
“I’m used to attention,” he justified with a shrug. “When you get detention every week, it’s hard for people not to notice you, but this feels…weird.”
“Well…” I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “Now, you’re getting noticed for something else.”
“Bleh.”
“Seriously.” I poked him with my finger, jabbing his side, causing him to let out a high-pitched yelp. “Your art is amazing, so own it.”
The electric spark that shot from my fingertips to my core was hard to ignore as he grabbed my hand again to keep me from poking him. Spontaneous ripples bubbled in my chest.
My mind flashed, the image of his face inching closer to mine as his hand snaked across my waist burned into my brain.
I could still remember the feeling of his lips on mine, so gentle yet feverish, I could almost taste it. It was nothing like kissing Ryan. It was nothing like kissing anyone I’d ever been with before. And it was all I could think about since.
As the day crept forward, my thoughts of Elliot only blossomed more.Three times a day. That’s how many times I would see him this semester—once before class started, once during lunch, and once at the end of the day during AP Lang—but three times didn’t feel like enough.
My eyes glazed over while listening to my anatomy teacher ramble on about her failed nursing career. Staring up at the clock, I counted down the minutes until I could see Elliot again. When lunch finally arrived, I walked with a gentle spring in mystep as I bounded to our small circular table in the far corner of the room. I sat across from Andrew and Dani, smiling brightly as I plopped down my tray.
