Page 66 of Bookworm

As if I could say no.

I was pretty sure Bo had never used my firstname. And he'd even said please.

When he leaned back, my smile had returned full force.

"He's right," I said to Shonda. "Sorry, itjust happened so fast.I'm still getting used tothe idea."

She nodded like she completely understood. "I knew it," she saidwith a grin. "You two are the cutest."

"Aren't we just?" I said as the first bell rang.

I glanced up and gave Bo a meaningful look.

"Bye, Flower Boy. We'll talk soon."

"Oh, that's such a sweet name," Shonda said then walked into class.

"Kent, I—" Bo said.

I pretended like I didn't hear and kept walking. Once I was safely in my classroom, however, I dropped into my chair. Chester Copperfield leaned over to say, "Well alright, Lottie Lotte.Word on the street is you caught yourself one Bo Stryker. I'm almost jealous."

I gave a weak laugh.

"Anyway, you go, girl. I'm an 8.5, but yourguy? He's a 10."

Yeah, I thought, except he wasn't.

Bo wasn't my guy.

He wasn'tmyanything.

None of what Chester said was true, but I couldn't say that.

Instead, I smiled and murmured, "Thanks, Chester."

"No offense, but Bo's kind of uptight.I wasshook when I heard the news," he said.

"Trust me, I was too."

As my literature teacher started her lecture, I laid my head down on my desk. It wasn't until about 10 minutes later that I cameto a startling realization. Bo Strykerhad stolen more than my first kiss.He'd become my first boyfriend.

Fake, yes.

But a boyfriend nonetheless.

Bo and I trying to fake a relationship?

Yeah, this couldn't end well.

CHAPTER 12

Bo let me carry his books from first to second period.

He didn't even put up a fight—which let me know guilt was eating him up.As we walked, from the corner of my eye, I saw him glance my wayseveral times as if he wanted to say something. But he never spoke.Bo had always been a man of few words, yet he always spoke his mind, was never hesitant.Until now.Our classmates watched us, of course. They tracked our progress through the halls, likely wondering howbroody-yet-popular Bo 'Iceman' Stryker and sweet-yet-awkward Charlotte 'Bookworm' Kenthad become an 'us'. I was wonderingthe same thing, but whatever.

This was what Bo needed from me.

I'd certainly read enough fake romances.

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