Page 49 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

I felt my cheeks heat up. “There’s a lot of passion.”

“Passion’s good, too. I watched all the dances they pick, and do you know the one thing they have in common?”

I shook my head.

“Sex,” he said simply. “They’re all sexy and have a unique angle. What makes your dance unique?”

“It’s ballroom,” I said, trying not to get flustered by all the questions, “which they’ve never featured before—which is just crazy since it’s been around since the 16th century. Ballroom actually comes from the Latinballarewhich, of course, means ‘to dance’ and—”

Colton groaned. “That’s so boring.”

I sat up straighter. He hadn’t even let me get to the two guys/one girl aspect of my new piece, but that was beside the point now. “Excuse me, but ballroom isnotboring.”

He didn’t look convinced. “There wasn’t anything hot about the 16th Century, Sadie.”

“The Latin styles are some of the hottest around,” I retorted. “And you would know that if you weren’t so dance educationally challenged. That’s why my piece forDancer’s Edgeis going to be a tango.”

“Tango,” Colton repeated. “Really?”

“Yeah. Tim, my old dance partner, is supposed to be here this weekend. We used to compete together. Maybe you should come by Shady Grove tomorrow and check it out. We’re performing for the residents.”

“Maybe I will,” he said.

“Fine,” I said.

“Fine.” Colton licked his lips, and my eyes shot right to his lip ring. I hadn’t realized how close our faces had gotten until that moment. “Tim, huh? Maybe he could be your new kissing partner.”

“Maybe,” I said, though I knew it was impossible. Tim would rather kiss Colton than me. The thought had me grinning before Eric Greene came over and squeezed between the two of us. He smelled like a six-pack mixed with the grapefruit bubblegum he always chewed.

“Hey, Colt,” he said, throwing his arms over the couch. “You about ready to go? It’s prank time, my brother.”

“Yeah,” Colton said, “are you riding with me? Gotta warn you, there’s not much room in the back.”

Eric scoffed. “My trunk’s filled with toilet paper, man, and Henry’s driving it with the rest of the boys, all six of them. So yeah, I’m riding with you.”

“Sadie?” Colton asked.

“I’m in,” I said, meeting Colton’s questioning stare. If he thought I was going to chicken out now, he didn’t know me at all.

Eric turned to me and squinted. “Do I know you?”

“Yeah, Eric,” I said, trying to be nice because he was obviously drunk as a skunk. “We’ve gone to school together since sixth grade.”

“Are you sure?”

Colton was being no help whatsoever, but I smiled. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

“What’s your name again?”

“Sadie Day.”

“Ooh!” Eric said, pointing a finger too close to my face. “Sister Sadie! The nun, right? How the hell are you, girl?”

“Not bad,” I sighed.

Colton laughed and pushed Eric’s finger away. “Alright, now that everyone’s acquainted, let’s go.”

Eric whooped and jumped to his feet while Colton and I followed close behind. Once we were in the car, trailing Eric’s black SUV, it took us about 10 minutes to get to Principal Wexler’s house. We parked a street away, but as we walked closer, I could see the lights were off in the house. There were several trees in the front yard that would make it perfect to TP. The excitement was almost too much, and Colton turned to me, stopping me with a hand on my wrist.

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