Page 139 of Bookworm

Bo nodded. "Yeah, they do this a lot. They call it battle karaoke."

I didn't recognize the K-Pop song, but I was pretty sure it had never been performedwith so much enthusiasm.

"Why haven't you ever had a boyfriend?" Bo asked.

My eyes widened as I whipped back to him. "How do you know I've never had a boyfriend?"

"I pay attention."

What? Did that mean he paid attention tome? Crazy.

"Kent, question two is waiting for an answer."

"I had you," I said."Didn't I?"

Something flared in his eyes but was gone in the next instant almost as if it had never been.

"That you did," he said so softly I almost missed it. "But that doesn't answer the question."

I exhaled long and loud. "Well, no one asked me out, which was okay since Iwas never really interested in anyone."

Besides you.

"And as you know, Stryker, everyone on my suitor list ran the other way," I said. "So there's that."

"I didn't run," he said.

I blinked. Bo was right. He hadn't, and now I was starting to wonder why?

"Favorite flower?" he asked.

I grinned. "That's an easy one. You."

"Me?" he repeated.

"Yeah, you're it, Flower Boy."

Bo rolled his eyes. "Thought I was Marshmallow Bo."

"You're both," I said happily.

Looking toward the stage, I clapped with the rest of the crowd. Shin and Meech had finished their song. It was a strong finish too. Meech was in a split, and Shin hadspun twice and didsomething called a death drop—or he'd slipped by accident. The jury was still out onthat one. As they left the stage, four guys entered. They had instruments, so I knew they were an actual band, not karaoke.

As Meech ran over to us, I smiled.

"You guys were awesome," I said, "especially the dance moves."

"Did you see Shin fall?" she asked."I nearly peed myself."

Shin, who'd come up behind her, frowned and said, "I didn't fall, Meech. I dida doublepirouette to the floor. It's an advanced skill, notthat you'd know."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, sorry to outperform you—again."

"Next time I'm picking the song."

"Already want a rematch, huh?"

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