Page 727 of One More Kiss

“Who says I don’t know anyone else?”

He gave me a dry look that said I was stupid for the words that just came out of my mouth.

“Fine,” I huffed. “I don’t know anyone. Including you.” I looked back to the front of the classroom and saw everyone was moving to the lab portion of the room. “Please tell me we’re not doing this today.”

“Not today. We’re just getting prepared for tomorrow. Don’t worry. If it makes you feel better, I’ll do all the work.”

My head frantically shook as I stood up and followed him to a table in the back. “Not really,” I said as I stared down at a diagram of a pig. “I can’t sit here and watch you cut into some poor piglet.”

His nose wrinkled up in disgust. “Are you a vegan?”

“Not a vegan, but a vegetarian.”

“Almost as bad. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Well, it’s pretty easy since I don’t like to think about eating the faces of animals that I like.”

“Oh my god, Harley, you don’t eat their faces.”

“I can assure you people do eat the cheeks of animals and other things. Still, it doesn’t matter. I won’t eat them.”

“That’s your choice, but don’t expect me to stop eating my favorite foods.”

I was sure I was looking at him like he was crazy—because I was. “I would never. Plus, we’ll only see each other at school.” It wasn’t like we were going to start hanging out all of a sudden.

“And runs.”

I ignored his comment.

“What do you expect from me?” I pointed to the sheets with our assignment for tomorrow.

“Absolutely nothing. Well,” he smirked, and his brown eyes twinkled at me. “Not throwing up would be good.” He leaned over the table, his face in mine. “If you do, I’ll retch all over this place.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Thanks,” he nodded and sat back down.

“What are we supposed to be doing?” Everyone was just talking. Did Mr. Brown think we needed a whole day to prepare?

“Planning,” he lifted one shoulder. “Now, why don’t you tell me why you really don’t want to be my partner?”

Like he was that clueless.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know.”

Leaning back further, he stared at me from across the table. “How would I know?”

“You’re so full of shit. Are you going to sit there and pretend like you don’t know the pull you have at this school? I walked down one hallway with you one time, and I saw you’re the big man on top. Every guy wants to be you or be your best friend, and every girl wants to fuck you.”

His face went completely blank.

Leaning forward on my elbows, I laid it out for him. “While I’m only planning to be here a short while, I don’t need the attention you attract.”

“Please,” he drew the word out as he rolled his eyes, the only expression on his otherwise blank face.

“Those girls wanted to claw my eyes out, all because you were walking down the hall with me. While I can take care of myself, I don’t need their bullshit.”

Pushing forward, he crossed his arms and laid his chin on his arm. “Oh, I have no doubt you can take care of yourself. What I want to know is why you’d let them win.”

“Win?” What the hell was he talking about?

“You’re giving them exactly what they want.” When I didn’t respond, he continued. “To stay away from me.”

“Listen, pretty boy. This might come as a shock to you, but not everyone wants to get dicked by you. I’ll be just fine living in the shadows until it’s my time to leave.”

“But you shouldn’t have to live in the shadows, Harley.”

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