Page 24 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

“Okay, deal.”

“Deal.”

I felt like I was watching a car crash in slow motion as the two reached out to shake on it. Their grins were identical, the shake a pact, and as both pairs of those ocean eyes came to rest on me, I thought I might faint.

“I’ll need a copy of your list by fourth period,” Colton said.

“Dream on,” I said back, but he leaned in so that we were almost chest to chest.

“Sadie, let me explain something to you,” Colton said. “I’ve never lost a bet. Ever. I’m not about to start now, so from this moment forward, you’ll do as I say when I say it.”

“But—”

“Shhh,” he said, cutting me off with a finger to my lips. I was so surprised by that touch, that one unfamiliar point of contact, I froze instantly, though if eyes could kill, he’d be dust. “One month. You’re mine for a month or until we get that list of yours finished. Get used to it.”

The warning bell rang, and he was gone before I could recover.

Kyle stepped in front of me next, put his hands on my shoulders. I should’ve shrugged him off; I would’ve, but my mind was still on Colton, the words he’d just said, and for some reason, my lips felt unreasonably warm where his finger had pressed against them.

“I know you’re mad,” Kyle said, “but I did that for you. Now, you’ll get your list done…or at least some of it. I don’t like to lose either, Sadie, so if you could maybe abandon ship before the last item, I’d appreciate it.”

“Kyle,” I said finally, “I can’t believe…I mean, why would you do that? Enlisting the help of your twin, the bane of my existence? I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive you for this.”

“Yeah, you will. You’re angry now, but just remember I’m your best friend. We’ve made Rice Krispie treats, discovered the love of lip gloss and Benedict Cumberbatch together. Plus, just think how you’ll feel after you’ve Carpe’d the hell out of that Diem list.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. As Kyle started walking away, I was still frozen to the spot, mind completely blown by all that had just transpired. Did Colton freaking Bishop just agree to be my coach? To guide me through the items of my list…and did he actually think I’d just do whatever he said for an entire month? Ha!

“One more thing, Sadie,” Kyle said.

I looked up, noticing he’d turned back around. He frowned at me before completing his thought, and when he did…man, it was a doozy.

“ I love Colt and everything. He’s the best brother I could’ve ever asked for, but…just don’t be one of those girls who buys into his crap. Okay? Promise me you won’t fall for my brother?”

I nodded too shocked to speak.

He was gone as the second bell rang, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the hall, late for third period study hall and totally off kilter.

Don’t fall for his brother? Colton Bishop?

That was one promise I was sure I’d have no trouble keeping.

Istill couldn’t believe Kyle and Colton had seen my list.

And what was I thinking, showing it to Colton like that, practically daring him to read it? I mean, yeah, I’d been feeling a mixture of anger, stubbornness and frustration at the time, a trifecta of emotion that only seemed to hit me when Colton Bishop was around. But gah! What the heck had possessed me to do something so stupid?

I had no answer to that one—but I did know that Kyle was wrong. I didn’t have guts. It had taken absolutely no bravery on my part to write any of my list because I’d thought it was for my eyes alone. That tiny fact, the thought that no one else would see it, had left me free to write whatever I’d wanted. My dreams no matter how silly, my goals no matter how embarrassing.

And I did.

My heart was poured onto this one little piece of paper. It included my deepest desires. Now Colton wanted me to make a copy, so he could read it again? Yeah, I’d been stupid the one time, but that was so not happening.

My eyes shifted to the list spread flat on the small table in front of me. I’d been reading and re-reading it all throughout study hall, sitting in my favorite chair, hidden between the stacks in the back of the library. No one would find me here. It was my secret spot.

CARPE DIEM LIST

1) Fall in love with someone who will love me back.

2) Roll down a hill in Ireland.

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