Page 25 of Science Project

He stiffened and turned back toward the screen. “I fell. Don’t worry about it.”

“What do you mean, don’t worry about it?!” I exclaimed, taking his hand and leading him toward the kitchen.

After searching the freezer for an ice pack, I wrapped it in a washcloth so the ice wouldn’t be in direct contact with his skin and walked over to him.

“What really happened?” I asked.

“I fell.”

“Why are you lying?”

No response.

“Was it João?”

“No.”

“Because if you need me to kick his ass for you, I will,” I said.

“It wasn’t João,” he said, his voice sharp this time.

I pressed my lips together and gently tapped the ice against his cheek so he’d get used to the cold feeling. Every time I had to use an ice pack, the chill was always so biting, and I hated it so much.

“If you want people to believe your lie, you have to believe it yourself,” I said, not wanting to get into it because he didn’t seem to want to either, but I was also worried. “Or at least look the other person in the eye when you speak.”

When he didn’t say anything for a few moments, I glanced up at him. In the middle of the brightly lit kitchen, Akio stared down at me with his lips set in a line, gaze drifting around my face. And I tensed.

Because I wasn’t wearing any mascara or eyeliner and I probably looked dead to him.

Nobody saw me without eye makeup ever. Usually not even without lipstick.

I dropped my gaze again, chest tightening at the thought of him judging me. Dad had convinced Mom to start swiping lipstick across my lips when I was four. I had accepted the fact that I would never be naturally attractive without makeup.

Suddenly, he tucked some hair behind my ear. “God, you’re so pretty.”

Warmth exploded through me, and I snapped my gaze up to his innocent one. “What?”

But I … I had to have heard that wrong. I was so ugly right now.

“You’re so pretty.”

A giggle bubbled up inside me. Nobody had ever called me pretty before. Sexy? Sure. Hot? All the time. But pretty? My lips curled into a small smile, and I had to bite back my laugh so Akio didn’t think I was some weirdo.

Akio scratched the back of his head. “Sorry, I?—”

“Do you really think so?”

Akio pressed his lips together and dropped his embarrassed gaze to the space between us. Then, he shuffled his shoes across the floor, cheeks growing even redder. “I know it doesn’t mean anything, coming from a guy like me, but?—”

Before he could finish his sentence, I stood up on my toes and kissed him.

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

AKIO

Nicole’s soft lips were pressed against mine, and I was frozen to the spot.

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