Page 42 of Scarlett and the Kiss Thief

“It’s time to take your seats! The show is about to begin!”

I had no idea what he was talking about. But I spotted Sophie climbing into the stands. I quickly hurried over to her and plopped down on the bleachers beside her.

“Have you seen Jacob?” I asked.

“No, he got a call a couple minutes ago and disappeared.”

Huh.Axel had gotten a random call too. I shook the thought away.Stop thinking about Axel.“I need to tell Jacob all about Operation Too Hot to Handle and Phase Incest. Just come clean so he doesn’t accidentally find out about it later and think the worst.”

“To get him on board?”

“No, Operation Too Hot to Handle is officially terminated. I’m done pining over Axel.”

Sophie handed me the bag of popcorn she was holding. She always knew when I needed comfort food.

“Thanks.” I ate a bit of the buttery goodness. I’d finally told Axel the truth and he’d just stared at me. Like he always just stared at me. I was pretty sure he thought I was nuts. Which was fine. Hell, maybe I was crazy.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Sophie asked.

“Axel? No.” I was done talking about Axel. “But Jacob?” I nodded. “I’m going to kiss him tonight. And I don’t ever want him to think I did it because of some stupid operation.”

Sophie squealed. “Yeah?”

I nodded.

“Technically it is still Operation First Kiss though.”

“Yeah, but that sounds loads better. I’m going to do it. I’m going to have my first kiss.”

Sophie sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh.” She laughed. “Nothing. I’m so excited for you. I’m just bummed because I was hoping to have my first kiss with Mr. Halifax tonight. I left him a note on his desk inviting him to the party. It was actually a dual Operation First Kiss.”

“You what?”

“Don’t freak out. And I know it was a dumb idea. Obviously. I mean…he didn’t come.”

“You’re as bad as those girls that invited my dad tonight.”

Sophie gagged. “Sorry, still not over it. I’m glad he didn’t let me come over last night. Aunt Penny would have been so confused about why I was dry heaving all over the place.”

“Mhm.”

“But back to your thing. You’re really going to kiss Jacob?”

“If I can find him. And explain the whole incest plan thing. Not that I ever really did it anyway. Everything that’s happened between me and Jacob has felt so normal.” I thought I wanted Axel to see how much I’d changed over the summer. But maybe it had been Jacob all along. And it wasn’t just me who had changed. He had too.

“I really love you two together. I’m totally team Jacob. I mean in this case. Obviously in Twilight I was team Edward. But where do you think Jacob is?”

“I don’t know…”

We both started looking around the stands.

“I don’t see Axel either,” Sophie said.

“Or Liam or RJ,” I added. Actually I didn’t see anyone from the football team…

---