Page 29 of The Kissing Challenge

I lifted a brow. "Speaking of, what did Rachel want?"

He looked uncomfortable for a second then said, "She asked if I wanted to meet up at Starbucks."

"Ah," I said, "so she wants a date."

"I wouldn't call it that," Captain said. "She was just being friendly."

I rolled my eyes. "Are you blind? Rachel is totally into you. She was batting her lashes and everything."

Cap tilted his head. "I didn't realize you were watching us so closely."

I cursed the blush that stole up my cheeks.

"That's beside the point," I said. "Rachel, a girl you've never spoken to, asks you out, and it's a nice gesture. Jackson—"

"A guy who wants into your pants," Captain put in.

"—a guy who I don't know well, asks me, and you automatically assume he's got ulterior motives. Why is that?"

"Because he does," Captain said. "Anne, come on. Why are you fighting me on this?"

"We aren't fighting. We're having a discussion."

"Well, this non-fight is stupid. You don't even want to go."

I shook my head. "How do you know? I could've changed my mind."

"Well, did you?" he said.

His eyes were tight, seeming to beg me to say no, but I couldn't back down.

"Honestly, I didn't want to go," I said. "But because of your crap attitude, now I'm thinking about it."

Captain's scowl was now permanently etched into his face.

"Fine," he said. "Whatever. Go out with Jackson. Have a great time. I don't care."

"Maybe I will," I said. "I hope you have fun with Rachel."

He remained silent.

"What was it you wanted to talk about before Liam interrupted?" I asked.

"Nothing," Captain said. "Nothing at all. I need to work with the guys on some new songs tonight anyway. Practice will probably run late. Be safe, Anne."

"You, too, Captain," I whispered as he walked away.

Our non-fight left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I didn't know how to take it back. I didn't text Cap, and he didn't text me, not even to say goodnight. One person I did send a message to was Jackson. I let him know that I was sorry, but I didn't feel well and wouldn't be able to meet him. It was true. My stomach hurt. I felt sick remembering how Captain and I spoke to each other. Thinking of him with Rachel made the pain worse.

I went to bed early, wishing we could go back to before the kiss, back to a simpler time. But there was no way to un-kiss someone. I only hoped I hadn't ruined our friendship forever.

CHAPTER 7

Thenext day I felt terrible. I hadn't gotten much sleep, kept waking up from dreams of Captain sharing over-priced coffee with Rachel, who smiled her Harley-Quinn smile at me while she twirled her bat in this vaguely threatening way. It was a bit disturbing.

Half the school day had gone by, and I still hadn't spoken to Captain. It didn't necessarily mean that he was avoiding me. We didn't have any classes together. It could've been a coincidence. But part of me was disappointed he didn't seek me out. The other part was disappointed in myself for not going to him first.

This was so not us, I thought.

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