“I have a plan,” she says, leaning in to whisper. “We’ll have a sleepover at your place. Junk food, movies, music. All of it. Then, we can pretend to go to sleep and sneak out. My house is a fortress, so we can’t do it there.”

Her eyes are glimmering with hope. Like she’s actually excited to come hang out with the not-new girl she’s never really spoken to until today. Until this week, I’ve never been one to have sleepovers. It does sound fun, as does the party thereafter, but…

“I have to ask,” I murmur. Your brother.

“Cry if you have to. I really need this. I have no social life, no boyfriend, nothing. It sucks only being allowed to be friends with your brother and nephew, Willa. It really does.”

I can relate to that. Darren thinks I should be besties with his son. As if Levi is the caring big brother type. Gag.

“I’ll do my best,” I promise.

“It’s all going to work out in our favor,” she assures me, tossing her long brown hair over one shoulder. “I just know it.”

Today, I missed an opportunity to steal a kiss from Callum after my class with him because one of the students was complaining about their grade. I could tell he was pissed to have to deal with them by the way his jaw worked furiously.

Sneaking around to see him is hard.

Thank God for texting.

Because even though I’ve not been able to touch him or speak to him today, I’ve still been connected to him. He keeps sending me flirty texts to make me smile. It makes our secret worthwhile.

After the last bell of the day, I get a text from Callum.

Callum: Meet me at the library. I’ll pick you up. Tell Levi you have a project in one of your classes.

Me: I’ll be there in fifteen.

Callum: Good girl.

I’m still grinning when Levi pops up out of nowhere. His eye is red and swollen like he just got hit. The rage rippling from him sucks the breath out of me.

“Let’s go,” he spits out, storming toward the exit door. “Now, Willa.”

I trot after him, curious as to what has him so angry. “Did you get hurt?”

“One of your buddies sucker punched me.” He glowers at me. “Spencer’s your new best friend, right?”

“Why did he punch you?” I ask, ignoring his taunts.

“Because he’s a dick. Let’s go.”

“I’m going to the library,” I blurt out, voice trembling slightly. “I, uh, have a project I need to work on.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No,” I say too quickly. “I mean, it’s boring research. I’ll just walk home. It’ll be fine.”