Page 57 of Not Fooling Anyone

So she’s not observing us? We could just tell her we did it and she would never know?

I look at Ethan, his gaze steady on me. Where previously I may have gone the route of tricking Dr. Clark into thinking we actually kissed, there’s a part of me that wants to find out if that barely-there kiss outside the Psych building was a fluke. To make sure I’m not crazy. To put the memory out of my mind.

It won’t be like that a second time, right?

He moves in close, tilting his head to whisper in my ear, “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want. We can quit while we’re ahead.”

“I’m not quitting,” I find myself replying.

He leans back, satisfaction in his gaze. “That’s my girl.”

There’s that low dip in my belly again. Even though I’m not his girl. I’m his co-conspirator. His partner in crime as we trick the researchers into thinking we’re in love.

I’m hardly anything to him, I remind myself as his hand comes up to cup my cheek, fingertips warm.

And he’s hardly anything to me, I tell myself as he announces we’re ready.

I inhale shakily, no time to prepare as his lips are on mine again, just as soft as before, moving with purpose. I kiss him back, participating this time, my stomach somehow going lower until it’s down to my toes, something fluttering like mad in there.

His hand moves from my cheek to the back of my head as he deepens the kiss, cradling me. There’s tenderness in the action, a sensation of safety flooding through me, so different from the last guy who kissed me.

I welcome it instead of pushing him away, my hands finding his broad shoulders to balance as I lean into him. The scent of his cologne weaves itself around me, lulling me, putting me under his spell, wanting more. Wanting him.

Wanting him?

“You finished?” Dr. Clark asks.

I break away from him, shutting my eyes. I don’t want him to see whatever might be visible in them.

“Yeah,” he replies to Dr. Clark, his deep voice sending a shiver through me.

What’s wrong with me? Why is he affecting me like this?

I turn from him, focusing on the long Q-Tip as she reaches out to swab me, standing and shouldering my backpack as soon as she’s done.

“Are we free to go?” I ask when she’s finished with Ethan.

“Yep. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”

I wait for Ethan as he gathers his bag, the two of us silent as we exit and head down the hallway.

Is he feeling as awkward as I am after doing that? As confused?

When we reach the bottom of the stairs, he holds the door to the outside open for me, waiting until I’m through to say, “See? Not a big deal. You did great.”

The lightness in my stomach grows heavy. Of course he’s not confused or awkward. Of course it wasn’t a big deal to him. He assured me beforehand it wouldn’t be. He probably kisses girls all the time. Just another Wednesday to him.

I nod in response. I’m obviously not admitting it was absolutely a big deal for me.

“And maybe you have a better memory now?” he asks, brows raised in expectation.

What? Oh, yeah. Replacing the memory of my last kiss. “Yeah, thanks.” Not that I’ll ever forget what a nightmare Cody turned out to be, but one thing’s for sure—I won’t forget Ethan’s kiss anytime soon.

“Will you be at Marty’s doing your bookkeeping stuff tonight?”

“Yeah.” Wednesday nights are turning out to be a good night to work on that there.

“I’ll see you there, then.”

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