Page 24 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
“The plan is for your sake, not mine.”
“Are you upset with me?”
Ginny sighs and looks away. “Geez, now it really does feel like we’re dating.”
I place my hands on her shoulders and square off with her, looking into her eyes. I’m pretty sure everyone is staring at us right now. “And what’s wrong with that?”
I look down at Ginny’s pink lips, reminded of how amazing they felt when we kissed for the first time. There’s nothing I want more than to kiss her again. It’s all I’ve thought about for the past three days. Except in my fantasies, we’ve been alone.
Ginny blinks, and I admire her eyelashes. “Listen, I do have to protect myself, you know.”
“Why?”
She huffs and looks away. “I don’t want to get too wrapped up in all this.”
“Because you have real feelings or something?” I can’t believe I say this.
Ginny knits her brow like she’s angry. “No. Why would you ask that?”
“Just making sure.”
Ginny’s eyes soften, and my instincts tell me she’s lying through her teeth. Could it actually be possible that she has feelings for me like I do for her?
I slide my hands off her shoulders and down her arms. As I step in, Ginny doesn’t pull away. Heat is building in my stomach and rising into my chest, and I feel like if I don’t kiss her right now I might die.
As she leans into me, I can smell her hair again. She’s breathtaking. I move my hands from her wrists to her waist and gently pull her into me. Touching my lips to hers, I want the moment to never end. I taste her strawberry chapstick and close my eyes.
For a moment, it’s like time stands still. I’ve never felt this way for a girl before. I don’t just want to kiss Ginny, I want to hold her. I even want to protect her.
“What on earth is going on?”
Both Ginny and I pull away quickly and turn. Standing in the doorway is Jolene standing beside Principal Gray.
Chapter Thirteen
Ginny
I feel faint.My knees want to buckle. Is it from the kiss or the image of my scowling mom standing there next to Dixie’s mom?
“Imogene Gray, get over here right now.” Mom’s hands are crossed in front of her chest.
Kaleb must know I’m on shaky ground because he’s holding me up. “It’s not Ginny’s fault.”
Jolene Jones places a hand on my mom’s shoulder. “It looks innocent to me.”
Mom brushes her off. “Not in my book. Come on, Imogene.”
I relent. “Okay.” Turning to Kaleb before I pull away from him, I see compassion in his bright blue eyes. I still can’t believe he kissed me in public like that, but maybe he couldn’t hold back. I definitely couldn’t.
As I walk to where my mom stands, she shakes her head in judgment. Everything is too confusing. I can’t even tell Ronnie how messed up this whole situation is getting. I’m going along with a plan thatmy mothercreated, and now I’m made to feel shame because of it. It’s so unfair.
Mom speaks to Jolene coldly. “I’ll see you at the PTA meeting, Mrs. Jones.”
Jolene’s response is biting but in a charming Texas sorta way. “Okay, Ms. Gray.”
There’s fire coming out of Mom’s ears, and I’m surprised she doesn’t lead me out of that glass house by the nape of my neck. All my friends stare, and I’m completely mortified. The plan is not going to plan. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
I hop into my mom’s Ford Focus and look out the window. Dixie is standing in the doorway. No doubt there will be an endless text session between us tonight. I have to be careful, though, because if I tell Dixie the truth, I’m afraid it will spread like wildfire.
