Page 31 of Under the Mistle-Foe

Fuck.

So thathadbeen a date. Why did that realization sting more than it should? Now my mouth felt even drier. The craving itched at my skin.

Jett pulled something out of his pocket, quickly unwrapped it, then stuck it inside my mouth. Artificial cherry filled my taste buds.

Is this how Jett will taste if I kiss him?

“If you’re not going to say anything, then I’m going home,” Jett said before I could dig deeper into those inappropriate thoughts. I shouldn’t be like that toward a friend. I’d certainly never had thoughts like those toward Kaysen, but with Jett…it somehow feltright.

Especially when he pulled a scarf from his pocket and wrapped it around himself all casually. How did he notexpect me to feel some type of way when he was on a goddam date and had broughtmyfucking red scarf with him? I was in a daze as I watched him bundle himself up until he was just a head peeking through the thick fabric—a very handsome head, but still.

When he finished, he looked at me expectantly, but I was too caught up in my revelations. Had Jett Davis always been this hot? Sure, I knew he was handsome and charming—the entire town fucking knew it—but handsome didn’t always mean attractive to me.

Jett let out a huff, frosty cold air trailing in his tracks as he turned and walked away.

“Wait,” I called out, hurrying to catch up with him.

“Why? So you can continue to glare at me? No, thank you.”

I rolled the candy in my mouth as I quietly followed behind him. The sweetness did surprisingly more to help me calm down than I thought it would. Which was very helpful at this moment since I didn’t want to annoy Jett any more than I had, and I was sure he wouldn’t be too happy if I’d pulled out a smoke right about now.

“How long are you going to follow me for?” he snapped over his shoulder.

“Until you talk to me.”

That had him spinning around and pointing a finger at me. “Oh, don’t you dare put this on me. I’m not the one standing there all silent and broody and staring at me like I’m gum under your shoe.”

“That’s not?—”

“Isn’t it?” He jabbed me in the chest. “If not, then what’s the big deal?”

I swirled the lollipop with my tongue, all while studying Jett.What was the big deal indeed? Because no matter how dense I was, there was no way to deny these BIG feelingsbrewing inside of me.

Feelings that told me that maybe I didn’t see Jett asjust a friend. He’d somehow crawled his way to my heart. And what the fuck was I supposed to do about that when he most likely didn’t feel the same? He wouldn’t be going on dates with other people if he had.

“You’re doing it again,” he grumbled.

“Doing what?”

“Giving me thatlook.” Jett flatted his palm against my chest like he wanted to push me away, but I covered his hand with mine to stop him.

“I promise whatever you’re thinking, that’s not it. Far from it, actually.”

He stared absentmindedly at our hands on my chest like they were foreign objects before meeting my eyes again. “Yeah? Well, are you going to share with the class?”

He licked his lips. My eyes instantly zoning onto his pretty pink tongue and the slow swipe over those plump lips.

“I want to kiss you.” The words were out before I knew it. We stared at each other, both of us with wide eyes. “Shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud,” I said, trying to salvage the situation, if it even could be saved. Jett hadn’t been too happy with me to begin with.

Jett nibbled his bottom lip. There was obvious conflict in his dark expression. And just when I thought I went and fucked it all up again, he said, “Then do it.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

The first touch of our lips was awkward. Our hands were still squished between our chests, and the little white stick pressed stiffly against the corner of our mouths.

But then his lips parted, and his wet tongue teased the seam of my lips for entrance. My body sprang into action, releasing his hand so I could snake my arms around his body.His tongue met mine, swirling around the lollipop as I pressed it into his mouth.

Cherry filled my tongue again, and while I thought the artificial flavor was just okay earlier, tasting it again in his mouth? That had to be the best thing ever. I finally understood why Jett was obsessed with these things.

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