Page 68 of Wallflower

Easy for him to say, I thought. My hand wasn't on any part of his body but his neck. I had the strangest urge to plunge my fingers into his hair. My fingers itched to move, but I wasn't that daring.

"You can do what you want," he said as if reading my mind.

God, I hoped he couldn't.

As I glided my hands up into his dark hair, feeling the smooth strands fall through my fingers, I paused there a moment.

"This okay?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said. "You're good."

I allowed one hand to drift down past his shoulders, chest and finally ending on his abs. The material of his t-shirt was still between us, but as I ran my fingers over the hard ridges there, Dare huffed.

"Who's the one playing with fire now?" he said and then did something I didn't expect.

In the next breath, he'd closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against mine. It made me feel delicate and protected—but I also felt powerful for getting that kind of reaction from him. Talk about swoon. Foreheads kissing was one of the things I'd always dreamed of doing with a guy. But never thought I'd get the chance.

"Maybe you do know something about romance," I said softly.

"Oh yeah?" he said.

"You're really good at this."

Dare gave a slow shake of his head, and I felt it all the way to my bones.

"Nah, you're just easy to please."

Before he could say more, I heard the distinct sound of a car pulling into the driveway. That was followed by a door opening and closing.

"Hey, you guys," Dad said, coming up next to us. Dare stepped away then, and we both looked to him. "I didn't expect to see you two out here. Viola, did you give Dare a ride home?"

"Yeah," I said.

My father put his hands on his hips as his eyes traveled to Dare. "And you guys have been hanging out all this time?"

"We have," was Dare's response.

We waited to see what my father would do. He'd seen us together for a second time. Our foreheads had been together when he drove up for goodness sakes. Neither of us offered any explanation other than the brief answers to his questions. Dad had to be at least a little suspicious…right?

His reaction was less than satisfying.

"Awesome," he said. "I love that you two are hanging out now."

Hanging out? Gracious was he blind? Dare's hand had been resting against my face, and mine had definitely stayed on his stomach for an almost indecent amount of time. We were pressed against each other. He could've been about to kiss me for all Dad knew.

My father elbowed Dare. "And I understand I have you to thank for finally getting my Viola out to a game. Thanks for that."

"Uh, no problem," Dare said.

"I'll see you kids later," Dad said and walked by us. "Frost, you can stay for dinner if you want. My wife requested pizza, so that's what I'm cooking."

"No, that's okay, Coach. I should be getting home."

"Okay, good seeing you."

And with that he went inside.

I couldn't contain my frown.

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