Page 31 of Rebellion

Colm?It was Colm.

Holy. Crap.

She had to hold her phone face down against her chest for a moment as she took some deep breaths to calm her nerves.

Colm was texting her.

And she was acting like a giddy schoolgirl with a crush.

Well, it wasn’t like she’d had any crushes on anyone as a schoolgirl. There had been no one to crush on...

She quickly turned her phone back over as it buzzed again in her hand.

Unknown:Right, that’s it. I’m coming over.

Sofia:No. Wait.

She fumbledto change his name on her phone.

Sofia:Sorry. I was just brushing my teeth.

Really?Was that the best she could come up with?

Colm:Brushing your teeth? All right... are you okay?

She could almost hearthe brusqueness in his voice. See him brimming with impatience. Probably irritation too.

Whether that would be at her for taking too long or at himself for caring, she wasn’t sure.

Sofia:I’m fine.

It was an automatic reply,said without thought.

Colm:Do not lie to me, Sofia.

Yikes.There had to be something wrong with her since just those words sent a shiver of longing and attraction through her.

She could imagine him saying that with a slight growl in his tone.

Sofia:What makes you think I’m lying?

Was she flirting with him?

Maybe.

They’d been skirting that line lately. She’d told herself it was just friendly banter. But Colm wasn’t her friend. And these feelings she had toward him...

Nope. Not friendly at all.

Colm:Feeling brave when you’re not in front of me, aren’t you, Mo leannan?

What did that mean?She’d meant to look it up the other day when he’d called her that.

Part of her was a bit worried about finding out that it meant ‘my Brussels sprout’ or ‘my friend’ or something similar, but she was feeling braver at the moment.

Sofia:What does that mean?

There wasa moment before he replied and she worried it was the wrong thing to ask.

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