Page 76 of The Jack*ss in Class

I was so, incredibly, stupidly, wrong.

Because I was falling in love with the cocky, arrogant, sweet Flynn Kingman. And I was scared out of my mind, and maybe the happiest I’d ever been at the same time.

He wrapped a stray strand of hair from my carefully done party do, and tucked it behind my ear. “I really wish I didn’t have to leave right now.”

“Do you? Have to leave?” The questions slipped out before I could stop them.

He smiled, and this time, it wasn’t that same flirty grin I’d grown so used to. He took a breath and shook his head but then leaned in and kissed me again, briefer this time but no less intense. “I do. But I’ll call you from the combine. And text. Probably too much.”

“I don’t want to be a distraction.” Why did I say that? Because my defenses still weren’t sure this was real. “But if you really want to... I’ll, you know, make sure to have my phone handy.”

God, I sounded so dumb. Did kissing kill brain cells? Probably.

Flynn stepped back reluctantly, his hand sliding down my arm to squeeze my fingers before letting go. “I’ll see you in a week, my queen.”

There was a promise in his eyes that sent those sparks inside burning again.

I watched him walk away, touching my still-tingling lips in wonder. Was this how all first kisses felt, or was it just Flynn?

“Tempeeeeeeeeest,” Freddie’s voice carried from inside the house. “Abuela wants to know if you’re staying the night.”

Reality crashed back. I was standing on my family’s porch, all of them just meters away, feeling like I’d just been fundamentally altered by Flynn Kingman’s kiss.

“Coming,” I called, taking a moment to compose myself before heading inside.

But I couldn’t stop smiling. “Sorry, Abuela, I can’t stay. I’ve got sorority business I need to get done tonight.”

By business, I meant examining every millisecond of what just happened with Parker and a whole lot of leftover dulce de leche cake. I went home and prepared for a deep dig on my feelings.

“Spill it, Navarro.”

Parker blocked the doorway to our room, arms crossed, expression determined. I’d barely gotten my foot in the door before she ambushed me.

“Spill what?” I tried to keep my face neutral, but Parker could read me like a romance book.

“Whatever has you looking like that.” She gestured vaguely at my face. “You’ve got this weird glow thing happening, and you’re rarely smiling when you come back from your family’s place.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I edged past her into our room, dropping my bag on the bed.

“Oh my god.” Parker’s eyes widened with realization. “He kissed you, didn’t he? Flynn Kingman kissed you.”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but what came out instead was, “How did you know?”

“HA!” She slammed the door and did a little victorydance. “I knew it! You’ve got that just-been-thoroughly-kissed face.”

“That’s not a thing,” I protested, but I couldn’t hide the smile.

“It is absolutely a thing, and you are wearing it like a billboard.” She plopped down on my bed, eyes gleaming. “So? How was it? Is he as good as he looks like he’d be? Did he use tongue? Wait, hang on.”

Parker pulled out her phone, thumbs flying.

“What are you doing?” I asked, suddenly nervous.

“Emergency meeting of the Baby Donkey Sitters Club,” she announced. “This is big news.”

“Parker, no?—”

“Too late.” She grinned unrepentantly. “And... sent.”

---