Page 22 of The Penalty Box

Swiping our surroundings to confirm we’re indeed alone, I lean a bit closer before I whisper in a hurry: “LiamwaitedformeathomeonFridaywefoughtandthenhekissedmesenselessandthenIthrewhimout.”

After all the words are out of my mouth I inhale sharply, the lack of oxygen making me dizzy. Or maybe it’s the confession. I’m not sure.

Even days later I can still feel his hard yet soft lips pressed against mine. The way my mouth opened at the slightest nudge to let his velvety tongue slide inside.

“He what?!” Jessy’s shriek is so loud it makes more than a handful of heads turn in our direction.

“Shhh!” I hiss, covering her mouth with my hand. “Keep it down, will ya?”

Jessy pushes my hand away but thankfully speaks in a lower voice. “Excuse me, but did you just say that your best friend and a life-long crush finally kissed you?”

My cheeks burn under her stupefied gaze. The memories I tried so hard to push back all weekend come back to the surface.

“It’s not like it’s a big deal,” I mutter. Avoiding her gaze, I switch my attention to the stack in my hand to make sure I have everything I need before closing my locker.

“Ummm, hell, yes, it is!” Her hand grips mine, stopping me from leaving. “How was it?”

The excitement overtakes surprise, making her brown irises twinkle.

Shame I’ll have to crush it. “Humiliating.”

“What?” Yup, I’m sure she didn’t see that one coming. “Isn’t that what you wanted since likeforever?”

“Not like this!” How is it that she doesn’t see it? “He did it to prove a point, Jessy! I don’t know why he doesn’t like Noah, but for some reason, that’s the case. I guess he feels threatened by him or something and now it’s like he’s trying to mark his territory.”

I shake my head, letting the words sink in. This isn’t the first time they crossed my mind, obviously, but it’s the first time I uttered them out loud. It’s like saying it makes it more real.

“What if you’re wrong?” Jessy tilts her head to the side, her lips pressed in a tight line. “What if he actually realized—”

“I’m not,” I interrupt her, done with this conversation. “He’s acting like a baby when somebody takes away his favorite toy. I’m not in the mood to play games with him. Or anybody else for that matter.”

I can see Jessy wants to say something but holds her tongue. “What now?”

Softly, I let out the breath I didn’t even realize I’ve been holding. “Noah asked me on a date. He wants to take me skating and then to Andrew’s party and I said yes.”

Jessy’s eyes narrow and even before she opens her mouth I know I won’t like whatever she has to say. “Was this before or after the kiss with Liam?”

I swallow hard before pushing the words out. “Before. We had fun, and when he asked me out, I said yes. I really do like him, Jessy.”

As a friend, a little voice reminds me.

“Then go for it.” Jessy nods, but I can tell she isn’t happy with the turn of events. “If he makes you happy then you should do it.”

It shouldn’t bother me, but it does. Not that I need her approval or anything like it, but I want somebody to understand me. She was the one who thought I should give up my silly crush on my best friend and give Noah a chance, and now she changed her mind? A part of me wants to lash out at her and get some answers, but the bigger part just wants to be done with the subject.

Switching topics, I ask her something about the Biology assignment as we walk toward our classroom.

However, the ache I was feeling before doesn’t go away no matter how hard I try to push it back and I can’t help but notice, I told her about Liam’s kiss, but I never mentioned Noah’s.

Chapter Ten

LIAM

“Bro, I’m serious, you have to stop scowling, you’re scaring people.”

I can feel the frown deepen between my brows as I narrow my eyes at Mike. The fucker glares right back at me. We stay like that for a while, eyes glued in a battle of wills until finally, Jake comes between the two of us.

“Oh, leave him be. He’s pissed Evie won’t talk to him.”

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