Page 23 of Face Me Off

Ryan leans back in his chair, a challenge glinting in his eyes. “Oh, yeah? Prove it.”

Irritation and attraction swirl in my chest. He’s so damn close. I knew studying with him was a bad idea.

Forcing myself to meet his gaze, I ignore the way my stomach flips. “I did already. By the way of my quiz score.”

“Smartass.”

I stick my tongue out at him, but I know I made a mistake when those eyes darken.

“You better watch your tongue. Or else I’ll find a good use for it.”

“I don’t remember you being this obnoxious in high school.”

He laughs. “Believe me, the thoughts were there, but I held back.”

“Well, put those thoughts toward something better, like physics.” I tap my notebook.

“Hmm, I’m beginning to think your perfect score was a fluke. Or beginner’s luck.”

“Yeah? Bring it on, hockey boy.”

I flip my notebook around and shove it toward Ryan more forcefully than necessary. “See these diagrams? They’re not just random scribbles. They’re visual representations of the physics concepts we’re studying.”

Ryan leans forward, brows furrowed as he scrutinizes my work. I catch a whiff of his cologne, and the sandalwood and citrus bring me back to that summer night. And those thoughts segue into his ridiculous proposal. Teaching me how to give head. Really?

Though, would the trade-off be so bad? If I could handle him, I’d be a fucking expert.

Focus, Maddy. Do not cave to the dick trance.

“These are … actually pretty clever,” Ryan admits grudgingly, tracing a finger along one of my sketches. The touch sends a jolt through me, and I pull back slightly.

“Don’t sound so surprised.” Irritation laces my tone, but I’m unsure if it’s from his surprise or where my mind went. “Justbecause I don’t color-code every single note doesn’t mean I’m not taking this seriously.”

Ryan’s eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, I see a flicker of something—respect, maybe?—before his usual competitive glint replaces it.

“Fair enough. You were always artsy. But how do you keep track of everything without a proper system?”

I tap my temple, smirking. “It’s all up here, Sorenson. Some of us can actually remember things without writing them down a hundred times.”

He scoffs, but I catch the twitch to his mouth. “Whatever works for you, I guess. Just don’t come crying to me when you can’t find that one crucial formula during the exam.”

“As if I’d ever come crying to you,” I shoot back, ignoring the little voice that whispers how much I’d like to.

Ryan shakes his head and chuckles softly. “You’re something else, Grimes. Though, I’ve always known that about you.”

Warmth surges inside at his words, and I quickly tamp it down with the reminder that we’re rivals, not friends. And certainly not anything more. No matter how much I might wish otherwise.

“Alright, Grimes. Let’s put your ‘creative methods’ to the test. Why don’t we quiz each other on the material?”

My pulse quickens, but I keep my face neutral. No way I’m backing down from this. “And what do I get when I prove you wrong?”

“What do you want?”

“A hard truth.”

“Agreed.”

“Okay then, bring it. I’ll run circles around your color-coded notes any day.”

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