Page 93 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

And his was the one rejection I couldn’t risk.

Colton was sick for three more days.

Turned out he actually did have the flu. His mom kept him on quarantine, no school, no visitors (except Kyle, of course), no strenuous activity until the fever was gone. The twins thought she was taking extra-good care of him to make up for being away that first night. Kyle called it “babying” and told me Colton was “dying to escape.”

This meant I hadn’t seen or spoken to Colton in a while. I used the time to take stock.

My feelings were all over the place.

The one thing I knew for sure: I was totally falling for Colton Bishop.

Had fallen.

Fell hard.

As much as I tried to remember my old feelings of dislike and disgust, they just wouldn’t come. I didn’t see him the same as I used to. He wasn’t my arch nemesis anymore. Colton Bishop was now the guy I couldn’t get out of my mind, the one I imagined kissing a hundred different ways (in addition to the ones we’d already tried), the one I wanted to talk to about a million different things.

This was totally inconvenient because:

1) He was my best friend’s brother. I knew Kyle wouldn’t appreciate me crushing on his twin. It’d be weird for him, and he’d already warned me off once before.

2) I was beginning to realize this was so much more than a crush. I could tell it was more because…even when I’d thought I was in love with Kyle, it never felt like this. When I thought of Colton, something inside my chest would ache then start to soar like a bird terrified of flying but unable to cage itself. I couldn’t stop my feelings for him any more than I could make my heart stop beating.

3) Colton was my coach. He was supposed to be guiding the whole life makeover, helping me complete my list—which meant there was no way I could avoid him without it looking totally suspicious.

4) He was only helping me to win the bet and beat Kyle.

5) I was totally aware of this fact, and it still didn’t stop me from falling for the guy.

6) There was no way Colton felt the same. He’d probably just grin and shake his head if I told him—which I’d never have the lady balls to do anyway.

7) I had no idea how to hide my feelings.

And that was the real problem.

Unrequited love was nothing new for me (sad but true). With Kyle, disguising my feelings had been easy. He’d never suspected a thing, and maybe part of it was that while I loved Kyle, I’d never really beenin lovewith him.

But I was at least a little bit in love with Colton.

I’d just have to fake it, I thought. Shouldn’t be hard, right? If he noticed anything, I could pretend it was all in his head. It was the best plan I had. Colton’s quarantine was ending today, and Kyle had texted to let me know they were on their way over to the studio. They’d be here any minute.

At five o’clock on the dot, the twins sauntered into Corner Street Ballroom.

“Hi guys,” I said, acting as if everything was normal while trying not to look at Colton. “How’s it going?”

“Good,” Kyle said. He tilted his head toward his brother. “Busted this guy out of the house, and he’s eager to do some dancing. Isn’t that right, Colt?”

Colton shrugged. “Eager might be a stretch, but I am feeling a hell of a lot better.”

“You are?” I said, still avoiding eye contact. “Well, that’s good. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

“I had a good nurse,” he said.

I nodded. “Your mom is pretty awesome.”

“She is, but I didn’t mean her.”

I looked at him then. How could I not? Colton was staring back at me, his eyes clear, lip piercing glinting as his mouth tilted up in a grin. Colton looked good, better than anyone recovering from the flu had a right to. My eyes ate him up like they were starved, savoring the sight of him. But after a moment, I forced myself to look away.

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