Page 15 of Face Me Off

But Ryan doesn’t have anything to feel guilty about. It’s not his fault his dad ended up almost paralyzed. It was an unfortunate accident.

“Oh, come on, Melon Girl. Two heads are better than one.”

“Good God, don’t call me that. Where did you get that nickname from, anyway?”

“You named yourself that by smelling so sweet. But fine,Maddy. It’s not like I’m going to eat you.”

“I … What?” I frown in confusion, my mind trying to process his words.

Ryan bursts into laughter, the sound light and free. “I’m kidding, but I like where your mind goes. After the summer incident…”

“Stop! And don’t bring it up again!” My face heats.

“Alright, alright.” He raises his hands in surrender, still chuckling. “Seriously though, we need to study together. It’ll be easier for the both of us.”

I roll my eyes but sigh inwardly. Ryan makes sense, of course, but that doesn’t make it less infuriating. But I can’t.

“Why should I help you? I’m perfectly capable of passing this class on my own.” I cross my arms over my chest, ignoring the way my chest tightens at his proximity.

“Because—”

Before he answers, a familiar voice cuts through the air like nails on a chalkboard. “Well, well, well! If it isn’t Little Miss Virgin Mary and the campus Casanova!”

I freeze as Becky saunters toward us, her cherry-red lips curved in a malicious smirk. That girl will never change.

Ryan’s face screws up as he takes in Becky’s approach. I want to melt into the concrete.

“Interesting name. Not sure it applies,” he mumbles. He’d be the one to know that I’m definitely not a virgin, but he doesn’t know about my lack in other areas.

“Ooh, you know something I don’t?” She winks as if she does, in fact, know something. My stomach sinks. Did she find out about our hook up? Surely not. She would’ve said or asked about it by now. I don’t think anyone knows.

But I recognize this for what it is, a fishing expedition.

She continues when Ryan doesn’t speak. “Fine, she may not be so innocent in the virginal sense, but everything else?” She shrugs.

Betrayed by my so-called friend.

Ryan’s eyebrows lift as I stand slack jawed.

“Will you stop! I’ve done … stuff.” Oh my God, I’m making it worse. I need to shut up.

Ryan’s shoulders shake. “As enlightening as this conversation is, I need to get going.” He turns to me. “Think about what I said.”

“There’s nothing to think about.”

His stare lingers, and the air becomes charged again, Becky, the betrayer, forgotten.

“But I think you’re wrong about that, Grimes,” Ryan murmurs, his voice low. The words hover between us like a challenge, an invitation woven in his steely gray eyes, which hold mine captive. He continues, “And for the record, I’d be more than willing to assist with your … educational deficiencies.”

Heat flushes my face, matching the lighter strands of my hair. Damn him. Damn his playfulness that somehow always manages to throw me off guard. Damn his charm that makes it difficult for me to maintain the walls I’ve built around me.

He waits for a moment before chuckling. “I really need to go. I have to meet Amanda.”

And just like that, any warm fuzzies I felt deflated like a popped balloon. Amanda. My best friend. Ryan’s … what exactly? There’s no denying their friendship, but guilt and something else niggles at me. Dare I say jealousy?

“Sure,” I huff out. “Tell her I said hi.”

“You could meet us there if you want.”

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