Page 81 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

“You think his face is funny?” Lorra didn’t seem to get the joke. “What’s so funny about it?”

This had been one of her downfalls, I remembered then with a sigh. She’d never been good at sarcasm. It was one of the reasons Colton had broken up with her if I wasn’t mistaken.

“Sadie was just kidding,” Colton said. “Being sarcastic.”

“Was I though?” I asked in just as innocent a tone. By the confused look on her face, that one sailed right over Lorra’s head as well. “Anyway, yeah, Colton’s been helping me out with a few things. I’m currently trying to convince him to do a dance with me. But he’s kind of being a jerk and refusing to cooperate.”

Lorra laughed/wheezed. “Dance? Colton?” she said then laughed again. “I can’t even picture it. When we were together, he flat-out refused to dance with me even when I begged him. And that was at my sister’s wedding!”

Hmm, I thought. That was interesting if only because I’d gotten him to dance once. At the club—the thought of which still made my skin tingle. I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind and vowed that I would do it again. Colton would be a part of this trio. I just had to find the right way to convince him.

“I can see why you’d want to break up,” I said to which Lorra’s mouth dropped and Colton frowned. “Girls love a guy who can dance, one who’s willing to stand up with them when it matters.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” Lorra shook her head. “But Sadie, you know, Colton broke up with me, right? If he was single now, I’d probably want him again. No offense. I mean, I know you two are together now. Anyway, I’ll see you guys later.”

She walked away as the warning bell rang, and I was stunned by her admission—and her assumption—while Colton just looked smug.

“A guilt trip, Sadie? That’s the best you’ve got?” Colton tsked. “I’m disappointed.”

“Well, what will work? I’ve already tried groveling and guilt.”

“The groveling was amusing,” he said, “but I think you can do better.”

Making my eyes soft, voice pleading, I said, “Please, Colton? Please say you’ll dance with me?”

“Nice.” Colton nodded. “But the answer’s still no.”

Crossing my arms, I frowned. “How about the truth?”

Colton held out his hand in a go-ahead gesture.

“You said so yourself,” I began, laying out my case, “I need something that’ll stand out, something hot. And what’s hotter than two guys fighting over the same girl? Not just two guys but twins? And not only twins but gorgeous ones dancing a tango.”

“Gorgeous?” Colton shook his head. “And I thought flattery was beneath you.”

“Nothing is beneath me at this point.” I held up my hands. “Seriously Colton, this is the biggest item on my list, and you and Kyle are my ace in the hole. This is my shot, my chance to finally be accepted toDancer’s Edge, not to mention it’s essential to you winning the bet.”

“You’ll just find someone else,” he said dismissively. “The idea will still work without me.”

“No,” I said. “Don’t you understand? I need you.”

He was silent a moment just looking at me as the final bell rang—and we ignored it, continued to stand right there in the middle of the hall. I was skipping again, and I didn’t even have it in me to care. This was that important.

Colton sneezed suddenly (twice) and then said, “You know, Sadie, I’ve been feeling off lately. I’ve also got work at the garage that runs late. Seriously, you’ll find someone else.”

I nodded, accepting defeat. Colton wasn’t going to help, and I would never be onDancer’s Edge. Thinking again of that night, the way we’d danced together, how natural it had been, all the amazing chemistry, I decided to go out on a limb and try one final thing. It was a longshot, but hey. Colton had already said no about a thousand different ways. What did I have to lose?

“You know, I think you’re right,” I said, pretending to think it over. “I could probably get another guy. It would have to be someone who can dance. Maybe Tim—but no, he won’t have time since he’s back in college.”

Colton sighed. “See? I told you—”

“Ash would probably do it, though,” I said, watching Colton’s back stiffen at the name.

“You mean that cocky guy from the club? The one who had his hands all over you?”

“Yeah,” I said. “That’s actually a great idea. You know, Ash is so good-looking—”

Colton grunted.

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