Page 37 of Heart of Thorns

She finds a table in the center and drops her bag onto a chair.

I drag out the one across from her and sit.

“What are you doing?”

“Sitting.” I tilt my head. “Is this seat taken?”

“Yes.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “Go away.”

I sigh. “Who’s sitting here, Briar?”

“My friend.” She shifts. “My friend, who is on their way right now, and?—”

“Just one friend?”

“I—”

“There are three more seats.” I raise an eyebrow. “Besides, you haven’t given me an answer yet, and I’m just trying to get to know you better.”

Boom.

Mentioned it.

Now I just wait and try to make it seem like I’m not holding my breath. Although I absolutely am, because I am one hundred percent fucked in the lying-to-my-father category otherwise.

I’m fucked if he finds out I’ve got a fake girlfriend, too, but that can be solved with arealbreakup. It’s just a matter of getting her to agree.

After a solid thirty seconds of eye contact, in which Briar doesn’t even flinch, she nods and sits.

“Okay,” she says evenly. “What class assignment are you working on?”

I unzip my bag and take out my laptop. “Research paper on recycled water.”

She chokes. “What?”

“What?” I pause. “Recycled water? One of the great inventions that will save millions around the world?”

“You cannot be serious.”

I brace my forearms on the table, and the realization strikes hard and fast. I shouldn’t be upset about it, but it still stings a bit. Especially coming from her.

“You thought I was a dumb jock,” I say.

“What? No, I didn’t.” Her eyes widen.

It’s her blush that gives her away.

“Yes, you did. Briar Hart,jockherself, thought I was—I don’t even know. Do you think my head is just full of Kermit the frogrepeatedly shouting, ‘Football! Football!’ in my brain?” I rock back and point at her. “Admit it, Hart.”

She rolls her eyes. “Honestly? It was more like Hodor than Kermit.”

“Hodor.” I cross my arms. “FromGame of Thrones?”

Her chin lifts.

Why thefuckdoes that turn me on?

“If my brain shouts ‘football’ over and over, what does yours shout?”

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