Page 63 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

“Yeah well, not everyone thinks so,” he said.

I didn’t really understand what he meant, but Tim nodded like he got it. To Colton, he said, “Was it the ballet belt, the classical music, or all the crap you caught from other guys that turned you off?”

“It was everything,” Colton said deadpan. “Those were dark times.”

“Ah well,” Tim said, “kids can be jerks. That’s why no one at my school knew I did ballroom. But at least the teacher said you can move.”

“I’ll believe that when I see it,” I mumbled.

I’d made the comment mostly under my breath, but from the way Colton’s eyes narrowed, he must’ve heard. Wonderful.

“Hey, Sadie,” Tim said, which gave me an excuse to look away from Colton. Bless Tim and his perfect timing.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Don’t you always say there’s nothing more attractive than a guy who can dance?”

If Tim’s tone was innocent, his eyes were anything but. They were shining with mirth as my mouth fell open. I take it back. My ex-dance partner had the most awful timing imaginable.

“I—well I…did say that,” I sputtered. Of course, I had said that. And yes, I truly believed it. When a guy knew how to move his body, there was nothing more appealing—except maybe a guy who loved to read. The truth was I’d take a man who could move over a football jock any day of the week. I just didn’t necessarily want to own up to it in the presence of certain bad boys with already humongous egos.

“While you two talk, Kyle and I will be just over here going through the finer points of ballroom,” Tim said as he whisked my best friend away. Kyle followed all-too-willingly, and I was suddenly left alone with Colton. He was looking at me with this calculating gleam in his eye that I didn’t trust for a second.

“So, dancing,” Colton said finally. “That’s what does it for you?”

“It might,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

My eyes widened, my brain grinding to a halt. Did he really just say…? Before I could think too long on it, Colton’s next words stunned me again.

“By the way, have you given any more thought to the kissing?”

“What?” I squeaked, my eyes shooting to Tim. Had he said something to Colton when I wasn’t looking? Timhadbeen the one who was all gung-ho about me kissing Colton again…but no, he couldn’t have. I’d been here the whole time, and it hadn’t come up.

“Kissing,” Colton said again. “Have you thought any more about it?”

“Not really,” I said, the lie tripping easily from my tongue, but I was pretty sure my blush gave me away. The library, his lips, my lips. Meeting in a first kiss to end all first kisses. Was he crazy?Of course, I’d thought about it.

Colton frowned, the metal in his lip catching the light. “Listen, Sadie, I can’t be the only one thinking about these things. You’ve got to do your part, too.”

“Y-you’ve thought about it?” I asked in disbelief. “The kissing?”

“Well yeah, only like every day.”

“Wait, wait…what exactly are you saying?”

Colton stared at me a beat then said slowly, “We need to find you a new kissing partner. There’s no way we can complete your list without one. I thought we were on the same page about this.”

I exhaled a laugh. “Oh, of course! Yes, I completely agree. Couldn’t agree more actually.”

“What did you think I was talking about?” he asked.

“The kissing partner thing,” I said, my tone bright. “I was just making sure you knew what we were talking about. You know, sometimes I like to test you Colton just to make sure you’re paying attention.”

“Trust me,” he said, “with you, I’m always paying attention.”

“Well that’s…nice.”

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