Page 21 of The Overdue Kiss

“Des, I thought you left. Honest. I even looked for you before I left with Julia.”

“You did?” He sighs. “I was worried and didn’t have a way to check to see if you were safe.”

“Ask her for her number.” A whispered suggestion drifts from his classroom.

He whips his head behind him and back to me, startled. “Uh... sorry about that.”

Laughing, I pull out my phone in a bold move. “What’s your number? I’ll text you so there isn’t any confusion next time.”

As soon as I type it in, I send him a quick text saying it’s me.

“Done.”

“Perfect.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “I should probably head back. Work and all that. Teens get into trouble if you leave them alone too long.”

“Oh, I believe it. I have a few cousins that fit that description.”

“Yeah? You can tell me about them tonight.”

I raise a brow. “Tonight?”

His whole body stiffens. “Reese didn’t tell you she invited me... did she?”

“Um, no,” I say just as his face takes on an ashen color like he’s about to faint. “But I’m fine with you joining us. I’m probably more comfortable around you than her anyway.”

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t have just invited myself without you knowing.”

“Des.” I reach out and place a hand on his arm, his muscles bunching beneath my fingers. “I want—nay—Idemandyou join us.”

His eyes crinkle at the corners as a charming smile spreads across his face. “How do I say no to that?”

What was meant to be playful morphs into something else. Butterflies spring to life inside me in distracting flutters. The air is electric, the hairs lifting on my arms. Before I realize it, I’m leaning closer to him, lost in his eyes.

“You can’t,” I say, my voice not sounding like my own.

It’s only a split second, but his eyes dip to my lips.

“Then I won’t,” he says, his words like a caress.

A cheer erupts from his classroom, and we jump apart, both blinking at each other in a daze.

Goodness, Maya, you’re at school.

Clearing his throat, he walks backward down the hall, unable to break eye contact. “See you tonight.”

When my mouth doesn’t function, I settle on a wave.

The rest of the day is a slog of Monday meetings. First an hour-long conference with the assistant principal, Adam Monroe, who thinks he hung the moon. Then two virtual meetings, one with the Golden library staff and one I’d been dreading, to update Ms. Anderson on the bookmobile’s out-of-commission state. Then a ride with a friendly local who helps me transport my suitcase to Julia’s.

But even through all the mundane, my thoughts keep returning to Des.

I shouldn’t be this excited about seeing him again. I absolutely didn’t need to change my outfit three times or reapply my makeup. The fact that I’m wearing my luckyPride and Prejudicebook earrings means nothing. It’s just a friendly hangout with Des and his sister.

My eyes dart to the door when it opens, and I slink in my chair when a stranger walks through.

This is not a date, I remind myself.So stop acting like it is.

As if on cue, I hear Felipe’s voice echo through the bar’s speaker, souring my good mood. Did other people have this much trouble when they broke up with a boyfriend? It seems like he is everywhere I go, filtered in through a loudspeaker, screaming, “You weren’t good enough for me.”

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