Page 100 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

“So…you heard everything?” I asked, voice little more than a whisper.

“Yeah,” Colton said. “It was kind of hard not to. You were rambling for a while.”

I wanted to die.

“Listen Colton,” I said, “I didn’t mean—”

“You sounded like you meant it,” he said and took a step closer.

Shaking my head, tears of shame pooling in my eyes, I said, “Why couldn’t you just be gay?”

“What was that?” Colton stopped short, looking confused by the question, but it made perfect sense to me.

“If you were,” I said, “at least then I’d know there was a reason you couldn’t feel the same.”

Colton exhaled then took another step and another until he was right in front of me.

“If you were, then maybe it would hurt less, knowing you can never love me back,” I said, my breath coming short because of his nearness. “God, I wish you were gay.”

“Sorry,” he said, hands coming up to cup my cheeks. “Definitely not gay.”

Colton leaned down until I could feel his breath fanning against my lips.

“But who said I could never love you back?” he said before taking my mouth in a kiss. This one was soul-deep, his mouth moving with a purpose against mine, trying to tell me something I couldn’t even begin to fathom, his hands slipping into my hair.

“Wait,” I said, breaking away and breathing fast. “I thought you said I wasn’t your type.”

Colton shook his head and kissed me again. “That was bullshit, Sadie. I’ve wanted you ever since we met, ever since my brother claimed you as his best friend and got all your attention before I could even say a word. God, I was so jealous of him back then.”

“You were?” I asked in surprise.

“Yeah,” he said, pressing his forehead against mine. “You’re so smart, beautiful, freaking fearless. You know, twin or not, I could kill Kyle for telling you to stay away from me.”

“But you did too, remember?” I said. “In the contract before you agreed to be my coach?”

Colton laughed. “That was more for my protection than yours. I knew if you showed the slightest interest, I’d be done for. I’ve always been gone over you, Sadie. I’m surprised you never knew.”

“I didn’t,” I said, smiling so much my face hurt. “It was too hard to believe. You’re Colton Bishop, for goodness sake. Every girl’s dream and my best friend’s brother.”

“Yeah,” he said, pulling back enough so he could look me in the eye. “And you’re Sadie Day, the one girl I always wanted but never thought I could have.”

“Until now,” I said.

“Until now,” he repeated.

Before he could kiss me again, there was a knock at the door. It was Tim telling us we had five minutes to get to the set. Everyone was ready; they were just waiting on us.

“You ready to do this thing and complete your list?” Colton asked, taking my hand, laying a kiss on the daisy inside my wrist as we walked to the door. It made my breath catch—but who was I kidding? Everything Colton did affected me.

“Yeah,” I said, “I’m ready. But what if we don’t get accepted toDancer’s Edgeor get a million views? Will you be disappointed if you lose the bet?”

“Screw the bet,” Colton said. “I’ve already won.”

And I could tell by the look he gave me that he meant it.

Betty didn’t react when she saw the state of my lipstick, just touched me up without comment. But I could tell she wanted to say something by the knowing smile she wore. We shot the dance in a few takes. Colton, Kyle and I moved like we’d been dancing together for years—at least that’s what my parents said. Big Tim asked for my account info so he could upload the video when it was ready. He said he and Little Tim wanted to make some edits to make sure the video was the best it could be, so I gave it to them with my thanks. They also promised to submit it toDancer’s Edge.

I didn’t know if anything would come of it.

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