“I’m headed to practice and I wanted to see if you wanted to grab something to eat afterward.”

Piper stared at him, slack-jawed, half the cookie falling from her mouth and plunking straight into her glass of milk. It splashed her, but she didn’t move a muscle.

“Definitely. Sorry I can’t come, but I promised Piper she could help me with my last exam.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled and he smiled at her. “Good to see you, Piper.”

She gasped, hand to chest and everything. Her name had crossed his lips.

He didn’t give me a see you later from the door or a wave on his way out—nothing quite so non-committal. He stood in front of my spot on the couch, towering over me before dropping his hands to the back cushions and trapping me under him.

He gazed into my eyes with a smoldering half smile. His fingers ran across my chin and he dipped his head, capturing my lips. The sparks flared with the swipe of his tongue against mine and then his lips were gone.

My body reacted, tugging me forward like we were connected by an invisible string.

“I’ll see you later, Bay.”

The door closed behind him and I brushed my fingers against my lips.

Turning my head, I stared back at a slack-jawed, frozen, and bewildered Piper.

“Oh. My. Forking. God.” She shoved her glasses up her nose with the back of her hand, repeating the mantra like it was the only thing keeping her from losing her mind. The cushions bounced as she shot up, pacing in front of me.

“Please don’t tell anyone.” I braced myself.

“Dare came in here and kissed you!” The decibel level was bound to have dogs running into traffic all over town. Dare probably heard it even if he’d made it to his car already. The grin he only seemed to wear for me on full display. That asshole. He knew my reservations about others finding out didn’t extend to Piper. What a power move he’d made in our relationship tug-of-war.

I laughed. “I remember, but please just don’t tell anyone.”

Her jaw dropped and she sputtered. “But why? You’re dating Dare?” She screeched, nearly deafening me.

My head whipped back and forth as she shook me, panting like she was on the verge of collapse. “Shhh!” I pressed my finger against my lips like someone might hear this, burst in, and commit me to a mental institution for even thinking those words.

“We’re the only ones here. Oh my god.” She raked her fingers through her hair. Her head snapped up. “You said you didn’t have anyone to go to prom with.” The accusation came out like I’d confessed to murder. “This is why you weren’t interested in Jon.” Like she’d finally pieced together some big mystery she’d been investigating for months.

“No, I wasn’t ever interested in him.”

“Why would you be when Dare is walking into your living room?” She hopped up and down, squealing. “I mean come on.” She bit her knuckle and stared at the closed front door like she could still see him. “I’m perfectly happy with Jon and he’s totally more my speed, but holy shit, Bay. People are going to freak.”