Page 47 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

“It’s my hair,” I said and crossed my arms. “I can do what I want with it.”

“Yeah,” Athena said. “And to be honest, I like your hair.”

“Thanks, Athena,” I said. “I like yours, too.”

“No problem.” She smiled at me then looked to Colton. “I’m glad you brought her. If you need anything else done, Sadie, piercings or tattoos, let me know.”

I smiled. “I may take you up on that.”

“Sounds good,” she said. “I’ll see you guys later. And Colton, try not to be such a dick, would you?”

“Hey!” Colton shook his head as she walked away. “I take it you girls bonded while I was gone?”

I shrugged, moving past him and into the living room. Athena had gotten it right. How could he be so nice one minute and such a jerk the next? It literally gave me whiplash. His comment about my hair made my chest hurt, and I didn’t want to examine that too closely.

Taking a seat on the couch, I hoped Colton wouldn’t follow—but of course, he did. There was a couple making out at the other end, so Colton ended up sitting much closer to me than I would’ve preferred. Someone must’ve turned down the music, too, because it wasn’t as loud as it had been when we first arrived.

“What’d you two talk about all that time?” he asked. “What a douche I was? That seems like something you could both agree on.”

“We didn’t talk about you much at all,” I said. “Athena just told me how to take care of my piercings.”

“We can leave, you know,” he said after a beat. “If your ears hurt.”

“What do you care?” I said.

“Hey, I care.”

I snorted.

“What’s that about?” he said and had the audacity to sound offended. “All I’ve done tonight is be the best coach ever. We marked three things off your list. You should be happy right now.”

I rolled my eyes then looked at him. “Seriously? You insult me in front of your ex-girlfriend, who’s beautiful and cool and way too amazing for you by the way, and I should be happy about it? Yeah, no.”

“I thought you didn’t care what I think.”

“Well, apparently, I care a little bit,” I said, throwing up my hands. “What is so wrong with my hair?” He opened his mouth, but I wasn’t done. “I mean, I know my curls are big and poufy—and that’s on a good day. And I know, guys prefer straight, sleek hair like Athena’s. But why do you always have to be so dang rude about it?”

“Sadie, I think your hair is great.”

“Yeah,” I laughed, “that’s good. Tell me another one, liar.”

“I’m serious,” Colton said.

I stared at him.

“And just so you know, most guys would like it, too.”

“Colton, don’t mess with me,” I said.

“I’m not.” I sucked in a breath as Colton threaded a hand into my curls, being careful of my newly pierced ears, looking like he was deep in thought. “It’s the kind of hair you want to grip onto, run your fingers through, gives men wild thoughts.”

“Does it do that to you?” I asked, stunned by his serious tone.

“Oh yeah, all the time.”

“But…all these years you’ve made fun of me for it. And when Athena was here, you said—”

Colton shook his head. “Didn’t mean it.”

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