Page 5 of The Kiss List

Iris narrows her eyes on me, as if sensing that something's wrong. But then she shrugs and heads out the door, along with the rest of the class, without saying another word.

Knowing I only have a few minutes to spare, I go straight back to searching. I need to find that list fast.

"Come on. Where are you?"

"Looking for this?" The yellow paper lands on my desk, no longer folded in a small square.

Nooooooo.

I squeeze my eyes shut.

This is sooo not happening right now.

This is exactly what I was afraid of—someone getting their hands on my stupid list. I really thought I was alone. I was sure everybody had already left.

Well, clearly not.

"What are you doing?"

I crack an eye open to see the Los Angeles Lakers' logo staring back at me.

Wait. I know who's wearing that black Lakers shirt today.

My suspicion is confirmed when I glance all the way up and lock gazes with a smirking Denton Chase, his light brown eyes visibly filled with amusement as he stares down at me.

Oh, I am so screwed.

No. Be cool. You can still get out of this mess.

"Nothing. Just meditating," I say, giving him a—hopefully believable—cool smile.

"Uh-huh. You know, I've never seen a kiss list before. Mind explaining this to me?" He takes the paper back before I can beat him to it.

Ugh. I should've stashed it inside my bag the moment he tossed it on my desk.

And of course, he's not buying it. Why did I even put "kiss list" as a title? Such a dumb, amateurish move.

"It's just a stupid list, okay? It has no significance whatsoever." I try to take it from him, but he quickly puts his hand behind his back.

"Seriously?" I rise from my seat. "Give it to me, Denton."

"I will. After you tell me what this list is all about."

I chew on my bottom lip, considering my options.

I don't think I can take it from him by force. He's practically six feet tall, and I'm just around five-five. He's for sure faster than me too. He's on the swim team. Which means he's athletic. Which is something I'm not.

Yeah, I'd just end up making a fool of myself.

I really don't want to tell him. But it's starting to feel like I don't have a choice.

Just my luck that, of all people, it was Conrad's best friend who managed to get ahold of my stupid list. I know he sits right behind me. He must have seen me pass the paper to Iris, then picked it up from the floor when it fell off my book.

Stupid Math book. I knew I hated the subject for a reason.

Maybe there's still another way. I just need to—

"You know what? Why don't I let you think hard on it? In the meantime, I'm keeping this list." Denton moves to slip the paper into his pocket.

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