Page 25 of Visions & Shadows

“We’ll talk at lunch,” Ryan whispers as he moves our hands beneath the desk, resting them on his thigh.

I just nod, staring at where Ryan’s fingers are wrapped around mine.

Holy shit.

Our first class goes by way too fast, and as we walk into the hallway to head to biology, Ryan doesn’t let go of my hand.

It gives the impression that we are a couple, which will only add fuel to the gossip already spreading throughout the damn school.

Hold up. Biology.

There’s no way I’m cutting open some poor frog. I was planning on skipping class, and somehow, I have to get Ryan to let go of my hand so I can throw a disappearing act.

I tug on Ryan’s hand to get his attention as we squeeze our way through the crowded hallway.

Stopping dead in his tracks, I almost slam into his arm.

He leans down, and for a moment, I’m flustered from having him so close to me. “What’s wrong?”

Strands of his silky, dark brown hair hang slightly across his forehead, and for a crazy second, I’m tempted to brush it away.

I clear my throat then decide to go with the truth. “I can’t cut open a frog. I’m skipping biology.”

“Okay,” he says, his tone gentle.

My eyes jump to his face, but he’s already turning around and tugging me toward the exit.

When we leave the building, I shiver from the cold. Ryan lets go of my hand, and placing his arm around my shoulders, he pulls me right against his side.

I’m stunned, but then his body heat starts to warm me, and I let it slide. When we reach his truck, he opens the passenger door and waits for me to get in before shutting it.

My gaze follows him as he walks around the front of the truck, and once again, I’m struck by how attractive he is.

He held my hand for thirty minutes.

Friends don’t hold hands. Right?

For a few seconds, I allow myself to wonder what it would be like todate him, and I instantly blush.

When he slides in behind the steering wheel, I pull the hoodie of my jacket over my head to try and hide my reaction to the mere thought of dating him.

Ryan leans a little forward, and seeing my face, he asks, “Why are you blushing?”

Ugh. Just my luck.

“I’m not blushing,” I mutter.

Ryan tugs at my hoodie, and as it falls back, I quickly glance the other way.

“You sure about that?” he teases me.

“Let it go, or I’m getting out of the truck,” I warn him.

“You’re cute when you blush,” he says, and as I reach for the handle, he quickly adds, “I’m dropping it.” He reaches for the glove compartment and pulls out a brown leather pouch. “I have something for you. Consider it an apology gift for teasing you.”

A gift?

My eyes jump between the pouch and his face, then I watch as he takes out a necklace. It has a leather cord with a cluster of gems and crystals hanging from it.

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