I pulled into the garage at top speed, almost bumping into a car I didn’t recognize parked by our curb. My mind was racing after that kiss. I’d imagined this moment in my head, fantasized about my first kiss, but then when it had happened, I’d completely freaked out. Especially because it had been with Jake and his hands had been touching my body like that. I jumped out of the car just as my phone beeped.

JAKE: Are you okay?

My fingers shook as I typed back.

LORI: Fine. Sorry. Had to go

JAKE: Are you sure?

LORI: Yup. Sure.

JAKE: I’m sorry about what happened. I hope I didn’t offend you or . . .

JAKE: Actually, what did just happen?

Oh crap. I didn’t know what to say to him. I’d wanted Jake to kiss me, and then it had happened and it had felt so damn good, until those voices started gnawing away at me, poking the fires of self-doubt until they raged so big and bright inside me. He must think I was absolutely mad. I was just about to start typing when a message from him came in.

JAKE: I’m sorry

JAKE: I shouldn’t have done that

JAKE: You made it VERY clear you weren’t interested in me in that way, and I shouldn’t have done that

JAKE: Sorry

JAKE: Will you forgive me?

I gaped at his message. I could feel and see the very thing I’d wanted so badly being yanked away from me, and I had no one else to blame but myself.

LORI: All forgiven

I typed quickly then slipped my phone into my pocket. I grabbed my bag of spray paints and rushed into the house, still soaking wet, and ran straight for the hot tub room on the roof to stash them. I didn’t want anyone to find them in my bedroom. I pushed the door open and when I did . . .

“Whaaaat? What? What? What?” was all I could manage as I stared at my mother in the hot tub. She wasn’t alone.

“Lori! I thought you were out for the night.”

I dropped my bag of paints to the floor. They landed with a thud, adding an auditory exclamation mark to this moment.

“I came back, Mom. I mean . . . what the hell are you—”

And then I saw him, and just when I thought my shock levels couldn’t skyrocket any more, I pointed a shaking finger at him.

“You! How did you? Why are you? What the hell are you doing in the hot tub with my mother?”

“You know him?” my mother asked, she looked so shocked that I swear, I think I saw her eyebrows actually move. She was so shocked she broke her Botox.

“Xander is my school counselor,” I said flatly.

My mom turned to the man in the hot tub. “I thought you said you were a motivational speaker?”