Page 18 of Flynn

“Don’t swear,” I admonished automatically.

His eyes flashed with humor, and he smirked again. “Always so proper.”

Flynn’s words weren’t said to hurt or tease, but they stabbed at me all the same and I lowered my gaze to the floor. He was right. I wasalwaysproper. I was brought up with strong manners, strict rules and beliefs, and they were so engrained in me that itfelt wrong to go against them. I couldn’t even kiss a boy!

“Ara?”

The nickname Flynn had given me teased a small smile from me. Forcing myself to take a breath, I looked back up and saw that he’d stepped toward me, leaving only a few feet between us.

“Sorry for barging in. Things were getting a little… anyway, I should let you to get some rest if you’re joining up tomorrow.”

For whatever reason, my stomach hurt at the idea. I didn’t know Flynn overly well—no one really did—but he’d opened up to me a few times, and I felt special knowing I was one of the few he let in. I’d be upset if something happened to him.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his brow furrowing slightly. Partygoers outside cheered loudly, drawing our attention to the window before I smiled softly and shook my head.

“I’m fine, I was just being stupid. I’m panicking over something unimportant.”

“What?”

“Hmm?”

He smiled and jerked his head to the window. “What was bothering you that you came in here to get some space?”

I opened my mouth, but my cheeks heated at the idea of telling him, and I snapped it shut again. “Nothing.”

That trademark smirk tugged at his lips again and he took another step forward. This close, I could finally see the green of his eyes. “You’re a sucky liar.”

It was true. Lying was also against the rules, and I never really got much practice. I shook my head. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. I’ll sort it out.”

“Ara.”

He said my name so calmly and I let out a long breath, knowing I’d tell him. Flynn had a way of getting me to speak, and he never made me feel stupid for admitting truths I’d otherwise avoid.

“I’m supposed to kiss Ellis,” I said, forcing myself to look back athim.

Flynn’s eyebrow cocked. “And?”

“Well, we’re playing spin the bottle. I didn’t want to play, but Kate said I had to and before I knew it, we were all in this big group. I thought it was unlikely it would land on me, or maybe I could lean to one side if it came close so there’d be no question, but… it landed on me.”

“And now you’re supposed to kiss Ellis,” he said.

I nodded.

“Do you want to kiss him?”

I opened my mouth to say yes, but stopped. “I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll hate it. He’s a friend and good looking and everyone always says we’d be perfect together and that it’s only a matter of time.”

“But you don’t feel that feeling?”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

Flynn shuffled a little closer, a small flicker of mischief in his eyes, that spark thatalwaysmade me want to do things I was banned from doing. “That feeling. You know, the one that tells you you’re attracted to someone.”

My cheeks warmed again, and my heart fluttered, but I forced myself to look at him.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I whispered.

His smirk deepened. “I can tell. At least when it comes to Ellis, anyway.”

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