Page 11 of The Kiss List

“Point still stands,” Denton says.

“Oh, does it?” I mock.

That’s what he’s been planning?7 Minutes in Heaven? How lame can he be? Then again, this is exactly what I’ve wanted from the beginning. And two of the guys on the list are present. Who knows when I’m going to get this chance again? I have to, at least, see where this is going.

“Okay, I’m in,” I announce.

“Of course, you are, Perry.” Denton taps my nose, making me scowl.

“I’m not playing,” Iris says. “But I’m definitely watching. Something tells me this is going to be entertaining.”

Conrad chuckles. “I think I’m going to do the same.”

I exchange a panicked look with Denton. What now?

“Hey, that’s crazy talk,” Denton protests. “No one’s exempted. We’re all playing.”

“Seriously?” Jason groans. “Man, you owe me for this.”

“You’ll manage,” Denton chuckles, patting his friend on the back. “Let’s gather everyone.”

“Wow. He’s really serious about helping you,” Iris mutters as we watch the boys round up everyone in the living room. “Maybe you should just kiss him.”

I whip my head to her so fast I almost get dizzy. “You’re joking, right?”

“I don’t know why he’s not included in the list anyway. Honestly, he’s the most good-looking one among his friends. His name should be on your kiss list. Heck, he should be on top, not Conrad.”

“Maybeyoushould kiss him,” I grumble. But why does the idea of my best friend kissing Denton bother me a lot?

Because if anyone’s kissing Denton Chase, it’s me.

Now, wait a minute. Where did that thought come from?

I shake my head to clear it. I must be losing my mind. Must be the desperation to kiss someone before my seventeenth birthday.

Yeah, I'm fully admitting that now.

I'm desperate. No shame in that anymore.

"Okay, everyone. Find your seats, uh, anywhere." Denton waves a hand in the direction of the couches. "And then we'll start."

"What is this? Middle school?" someone asks loudly.

Laughter follows.

Denton narrows his eyes in their direction. "No one's forcing you to be here, O'Malley. Door's open. You can leave."

Greg O'Malley and his friends stay still, not even moving an inch. While they look properly chastised, no one dares to talk back.

They're on the swim team, and they clearly don't want to piss off their captain.

Conrad clears his throat. "Okay, let's do this."

Denton nods. "I'll pick the couples."

"Why do you get to pick?" Jason protests, shoving his fingers through his thick black hair. "Can't we just draw out names or something?"

"That would take a lot of time. This will be a lot faster." Denton pauses, then smirks. "I choose Maisie and Conrad for the first couple. Go and enjoy the privacy of Jason's room for seven minutes." When Jason starts to protest again, he says, "You want us to use your parents' bedroom?"

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