Page 5 of The Charade

"I think I've found my study spot." I plopped myself down on the couch.

"You sure you don't mean your make-out spot?" Elyse turned back to me with a teasing smile on her lips.

I ran my fingers along the cushion and bit my lip as I considered kissing in here with a guy we'd already met today. Mack had such an enigmatic energy to him that I had no doubt he'd be a lot of fun to kiss—probably a lot of fun to date, too.

And he was tall.

Mmmm. I loved tall guys. There was just something so nice about feeling petite and small next to a guy. Being five-foot-nine myself, there weren't many guys at my last school who had been tall enough to do that for me.

But then there was also Carter. He wasn't as tall as Mack, probably more like six-foot two or three. But that was still a great height. And dang, he was attractive.

That jawline.

Those tightly corded muscles that had been visible under his tight blue T-shirt.

And those striking eyes against his warm tan skin.

Sigh.

Even if he had barely given me the time of day when we were introduced, I had a shallow enough side to me that I knew I'd still totally kiss him if the opportunity arose.

And since my imagination was really great with things like that, I found myself picturing what it would be like to kiss Carter. To have those aqua-blue eyes of his focused only on me. Have him scoot close enough on this couch that I could run my fingers through his dirty-blond hair. Have him tilt his face toward mine so I could see if he tasted as good as he looked.

Being as regimented as he was, he was probably a fantastic kisser. People who were perfectionists usually had the determination to excel at everything.

"Are you coming?" Scarlett's expectant voice broke into my thoughts.

"Earth to Ava," Elyse added.

I startled and looked behind me to find Elyse and Scarlett waiting at the bottom of a wide staircase, their expressions concerned.

Had I totally just zoned out?

Yikes, one look at a super cute guy and I was already fantasizing about making out with him.

I shook my head, realizing just how ridiculous my daydreaming had been.

Obviously, I was feeling deprived when it came to my love life.

How long had it been since I'd even kissed a guy?

Probably since last winter when my ex-boyfriend, Jameson, and I had made out in the library stacks when we were supposed to be studying for a math test.

Yeah, no wonder my math grade had suffered so much.

But our fling fizzled out once winter break came, and he started dating someone else. And sadly for my bruised ego, no one had even interested me since then.

Until now, apparently.

"Sorry. I'm coming." I stood up, deciding that maybe studying wouldn't work so well on this couch if my mind was already drifting away to other places.

When I reached them, Scarlett led us up the long staircase. "I should have warned you before you sat down that that couch is famous for way more kissing sessions than the headmistress would ever want our parents to know about."

"It is?" Elyse asked, peeking over at me. "Does that mean you and one of those guys we met in the weight room have put it to good use?"

Scarlett's cheeks colored. "Maybe once or twice."

"You and Mack?" I guessed.

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