Sophie laughed. “I can’t wait for the kissing booth. We’ll have to get to the game early to set everything up. It’s going to be so fun.”

Mhm. “I have an idea. We could try to get RJ to spy in the men’s locker room to try to get a look at the mascot.”

Sophie just shook her head. “He already said he didn’t know. I thought we agreed to drop that?”

I sighed. Okay, fine. I’d drop the mascot thing. Besides, I had a backup plan to get out of the kissing booth. I just needed to kiss Jacob.

“Do you think we should get some orange and blue balloons...” her voice trailed off when we walked into our coding class.

I looked at the front of the room, assuming my dad was doing something embarrassing, but he wasn’t standing behind the desk. It was Mr. Halifax instead. What was going on?

“Am I dreaming?” Sophie asked. “Did your dad quit and now we have two classes with Mr. Halifax?”

“Doubtful. Do you think everything is okay with my dad?”

“Let’s find out.” Sophie undid a few more buttons on her shirt as she sat down in her seat. And then she leaned forward, revealing way more cleavage than necessary. She was going to have a bashful nipple incident.

She raised her hand and cleared her throat. “Mr. Halifax?”

Mr. Halifax turned toward her and I swear for just a second his eyes fell to her chest before snapping back to her face. “Yes?”

“Is everything okay with my uncle?”

“Your...uncle. Right. Yes. James is your uncle. I mean Mr. Hunter.” He shook his head. “Yes, everything is fine. He had a last minute meeting he couldn’t miss.” Mr. Halifax quickly turned away from her.

“Probably something for Hunter Tech,” I said.

“I guess so.” Sophie leaned forward even more. Yeah, I was pretty sure she was trying to fall out of her pushup bra.

Jacob walked in and laughed when he saw her weird pose.

“Not for you,” Sophie said and shooed him.

Jacob smiled at me and then sat down in his usual seat behind Sophie.

I turned around to face him. “Do you think maybe I can come over for dinner tonight?” I’d already been invited over for whenever. Uncle Matt had said that Aunt Brooklyn had a new cupcake recipe she wanted me to try.

Jacob rested his elbows on his desk. “Two dates in one day? I don’t know if I can handle it. I need both my eyes for the game on Saturday.”

“What?” Sophie turned around.

I ignored her. And luckily Jacob was too focused on me. Because I didn’t want Sophie to know about my failed kiss attempt. “I promise I won’t strike you again.”

He smiled. “Well, I’d love to, but we have a late practice today.”