“I have to admit. It made me a little jealous.” He slowly took a sip of his drink as he stared down at me.

The way he was looking at me made my cheeks feel hot. I wanted him to look at me just like that forever. He made me feel desired even when he wasn’t making out with me in a dark closet. I swallowed hard. “Not much to be jealous of. I’m here standing in your jacket, aren’t I?”

He smiled and leaned in a little closer.

My heart hammered against my chest. This was it. He was going to kiss me. I was sure of it.

My eyes fell to his lips. This was how I’d dreamed my first kiss would go. It was never supposed to be in some snake-infested closet with a dark stranger. It was meant to be right here. With him.

I couldn’t even count how many times I’d dreamed of it happening at this party each year. Surrounded by bonfires and laughter and music. The smell of fall in the air and the taste of Axel on my lips.

I frowned.

No, not Axel.

Jacob.

The beer was messing with my head. And an image of Mr. Halifax appeared in my head out of nowhere, chasing away the one of Axel. I took a step back.

“Hey, you okay?” Jacob asked.

“Yeah,” I lied. That unease gripping my chest had come back in a rush.

“Yo, Miller!” one of Jacob’s teammates yelled over. “You’re up!”

I was happy for the interruption. I didn’t want my first kiss with Jacob to happen right after I thought about Axel. Or...would it be our first kiss? Because I’d kissed the kiss thief twice now. So maybe that would make it our third kiss?

Gah. Whatever calmness being close to Jacob had given me for a few minutes had completely disappeared. I cleared my throat. I really hoped he couldn’t read my thoughts on my face right now. Because I didn’t want to be having them. I focused on his handsome face, willing myself to calm back down. I needed to say something, anything to distract my mind. “Please tell me you’re not boxing again,” I said.

“Will you be mad if I said I was?”

“Jacob!”

He laughed. “No, I’m not boxing today. I think I’m just up for beer pong. Want to be my partner?”

“We both know you don’t want that.”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want it. I know you know how to play. I remember Coach teaching both of us.”