Page 106 of The Forbidden Note

He pushes the cobbler away. “That was good. Thanks for sharing.”

I nod.

He moves to the fridge, grabs a water bottle and heads to the stairs. I set the plate in the sink and pour water on it so it can soak. As I move, I feel someone staring at me.

I look up.

Finn is paused at the base of the stairs, watching. The light hits his sharp cheekbones and makes his almond-shaped brown eyes glisten.

I wait, sensing that he’s about to say something.

“Zane’s always been obsessed with doing things people say he shouldn’t. If you tell him he can’t have something, he’ll kill to get his hands on it.”

“He’s a rebel.”

“He’s an idiot.” Finn’s lips soften at the edges. “But he’s brave. Way more than me or Dutch. He doesn’t hold back. Doesn’t overthink. He just goes for it.”

“Perfect way to get hurt.”

“Or a perfect way to feel alive.”

I stare at Zane’s brother, feeling a bunch of dark emotions in my chest.

“You’re that thing he can’t have. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

“But it’s different with you.”

My mouth goes dry. “What do you mean?”

“For the first time in his life, I don’t think Zane wanting you has anything to do with it being wrong.”

I flinch when I hear the word ‘wrong’. “But it is.”

“He’s eighteen. Legal—”

“He’s astudent. And I’m his teacher. We’re not a love story, Finn. We’re a scandal. And scandals can only exist in the dark.”

“Not if you convince everyone the light is on.”

Something shakes loose in my brain.

“Convince everyone…” I mutter excitedly. “Oh my gosh.”

Finn looks at me like I’m crazy.

“Finn, you’re incredible!” I rush forward, grab his face, and give him a kiss on the cheek. His eyes widen, but I’m already flying past him.

Inside my room, I haul out my whiteboard and fish through the photos I took of the files in the basement.

How do you break the rules in plain sight?

Convince everyone the light is on.

Finn was right. If you tell everyone what’s wrong is right, eventually, they’ll believe it. Even more, they’ll argue with everyone who tries to convince them otherwise.

My fingers whip through the printed files.

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