Page 71 of Snap Shot

Landon hums. “Like?”

“Whatever wedohas to be a secret. No one can know. Not friends, family, teammates, nobody. We can't risk anyone leaking it to the press.”

He frowns and bobs his head side-to-side. “Makes sense. Gotta protect our careers.”

“Exactly.” I stand firm under Landon's steady, continuous eye contact, though my insides bubble like lava. “We won't be dating, so there will be no dates, handholding, or otherwise cutesy displays—public or private.”

His expression dips at the last part, jaw ticking. He's not happy.

“There will be no sleepovers, no—”

“But we've already done that twice.” He sighs, visibly exasperated. “Come on, Indi—”

“And that's why it can't happen again.” My foot taps in the short pause. “If you're not in agreement, I can stop.”

“I'm in agreement,” he says through his teeth. “Please” —Landon motions with his hand— “keep going. I wanna know what else you have in mind.”

“We'll only move forward with things I'm comfortable with.”

“Of course.”

“With myinexperience, I have a lot to learn, but…”

That sparks Landon's curiosity. “Oh.” He tilts his head. “You want me toteachyou?”

An instant lump grows in my throat. “Y-yes.” Pulling it down takes a second. “And no penetrative sex.”

His mouth parts, but his face gives nothing away. Is he disappointed? Upset?“Is that all?”

Here comes the kicker. “No kissing on the mouth.”

“What?” It's a breathy, verbal double-take, paired with narrowed eyes. “I won't be able to kiss you?”

I bite the inside of my cheek. Past insults float around inside my brain.

“What the heck was that, Indi?” Manu Varma wiped slobber from his lips with his collar.

“Me?” I whisper-yelled. “You tried to stick your tongue in my mouth!” Fifteen-year-old-me was mortified.

“Don't you know how to kiss?” Disgust splayed over his face.

“That was my first.”

“No wonder.” He sneered. “If you say anything to anyone, I'll tell 'em all how shit you are at kissing.”

Safe to say that was the worst birthday party I'd ever been to.

At uni, Russell Kleinmann hadn't helped boost my confidence either. “Can we not kiss right now?” He pushed my pursed face away, evading my eager make-out attempt. “Lift up your top instead.”

If trusting the biggest jackasses was a sport, I'd have a million gold medals.

When I refocus on Landon, his tone seems annoyed. “So, what? We'll be friends with minimum benefits? Get each other offwithout kissing?”

I shrug, hugging my torso.

“And what do I get in return?”

Uh oh. Danger! “What do you want?”

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