Page 32 of Steps

I instantly feel hot as he lifts his gaze back tomy face and says softly, “I think about you, too.”

“We shouldn’t have those thoughts about eachother,” I scold him and myself, wiping my palms on my skirt.

He looks around at the people going by, then towsme from the sidewalk down an alley.

“What are you doing?” I sputter nervously.

Varen backs me up against the brick wall of astore. Surprised, I move the shades from off my face.

“People can see us.”

“Shh.” Gently, he touches the side of my face andcarries his fingers down my neck. “Stop thinking so much.”

My body trembles. “Varen… we can’t…”

“I’m attracted to you,” he whispers. “I know youwant me, too.”

“We’ve already talked about this. Nothing canhappen between us.”

He gnaws at his lip, playing with his piercing.“Last night at the party, you wanted me to kiss you.”

“No. It was the alcohol. I wasn’t thinkingstraight.”

“Bullshit.” He presses into me and strokes myface.

“Please don’t, Varen.”

This only makes him smile. “I like how you say mysame. There’s a need in your voice.”

“Stop it.” I turn my head before he can kiss me.No matter how badly I want him to, we just can’t do this. It’ll complicateeverything.

Huffing, he eases back and rakes a hand throughhis hair. “Is it because of our parents, or because of me?”

“Both,” I whisper, a lie. “You’re too complicated.You’ll mess up my life.”

Obviously offended, Varen backs up further.“You’re right.” He hisses. “You’re not exciting enough for me, anyway.”

I wince at his remark. “Well, then, shouldn’t betoo hard for you to get over this fixation.”

He bobs slowly and clenches his jaw. “Not at all.I have ways of doing that.” A smug expression forms on his face. “Verypleasurable ways with other girls.”

“Huh.” Jealousy blooms in me. “I have a headache.I’m going home.” I tread past him.

“I’ll take you,” he offers at my back.

“That’s okay. I’ll request an Uber. Think it’sbest we keep our distance.”

Right now, all I want is to be away from Varen andthese emotions.

7

Now that my mom isn’t working, I convinced her tolet me drive her car to school. That way, I can avoid riding with Varen, and wecan put space between us.

Aside from breakfast and dinner, we don’t have tosee each other, and I’ll be able to stop crushing on him. He’ll end hisattraction as well. Although it sucks to know he’s using other girls to notthink about me.Damn bad boy.

I don’t see Varen for the next two days, not evenat dinner. Daniel says he’s okay and that’s just how he is. He’s also checkedto make sure he’s attending classes. Seems he’s only avoiding seeing anyone athome, especially me.

No matter how I try, I can’t get him off my mind.Not seeing him only makes me worry.

---