By the time we separated, both of us were out of breath. Eyes still closed, I let out a disbelieving laugh, which mixed with Noelle’s shaky exhale. Without the demanding hum of the magnet, everything was so quiet.

I blinked into the light only when Noelle lifted one hand off my waist to brush off my face some stray strands of hair that had slipped out of my braid. “Was that your first kiss?”

“Yes.”

Noelle closed her eyes and rested her forehead against mine with a soft chuckle. “Was it like in your romance books?”

“So much better,” I breathed.

A slow, satisfied grin spread across her face before her lips brushed over mine again, the touch so light it sent a tingle all the way down to my toes.

“You’re a natural,” she whispered.

My cheeks hurt from smiling so wide. “But there’s always room for improvement, right?”

“Oh, definitely.” This close, her face was like the sun, and the hand still on my waist made me feel like I had swallowed all its light. “I’ll have you know I’m an incredible tutor.”

“So, there’ll be more of this to come?”

“Of course. I mean . . . if you want it too.”

“Yes,” I said, way too quickly and with way too much force.

“Good,” she whispered and leaned in for another kiss. It lasted too short for my liking and was interrupted by her pulling back to glance at the clock on the wall. “Shit, I have basketball practice in, like, ten minutes.”

Expecting her to let go of me, I leaned back against the wall to steady myself. Instead, she suddenly cupped my face with both hands and studied me, her intent gaze making the blood rush to my cheeks. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” she laughed. “You just have my lipstick all over your face.”

I rubbed over my lips with the back of my hand, staring down at the dark red streaks on my skin before I looked up at her again. “What are you looking so smug for?” I asked, unable to hold back a laugh.

Noelle took a step back, burying her hands in her pockets, and said, “I’m not.” The smirk twitching around her lips just proved my point, but the first basketball players stormed into the room before I could point that out.

“Hey, Daniels!” One of the boys jogged over to us and slung an arm around her from behind. “Heard you’re training with us today again?”

Noelle shrugged his arm off but didn’t look unfriendly when she turned around to him. I was still busy catching my breath, wiping my hand over my mouth again in a quick gesture I hoped went unnoticed. “Yeah, I am. Still gotta whip you all into shape for the Westbridge game.”

Another player strolled up to us. “Hey, Captain,” she said, pointing at the blue gym mats at our feet. “What’s all this?”

“I, uh . . . showed her some self-defense tactics,” I quickly said.