Page 49 of Kiss Collector
His words punch me in the chest with surprise. Has the whole freaking party heard now? My hands clench into fists, and I stomp toward him. “I want to try. Please?”
His lips purse, and he holds it out. “Take it easy. Just a tiny breath.”
I put my lips to the filter and suck air through it, hearing the tip sizzle.
“You got nice lips,” he says softly.
His compliment hits my brain at the same time the smokehits my throat, choking me. I bend at the waist, coughing like crazy, desperate for fresh air. It burns and tastes nasty. Joel chuckles as he pats my back.
“Damn. Sorry ’bout that.” He takes the cigarette from my fingers.
“How can you stand that?” I ask as I get my breath back. I lean my hands on my knees and look up at him through watery eyes. He drops the stub and crushes it beneath the toe of his shoe.
“You can get used to anything, Zae. Even things you don’t like at first. One of the downfalls of human nature.”
Deep thoughts. I stare at him, and a flutter sails through me. I brace myself and ask, “Did you write the poems in English?”
“English? Ah, you’re referring to what I like to call nap time.” Joel cocks his head, examining me. “Do I look like a poet to you?”
Damn. “Well, you don’t have one of those beret things, but you’re smart.”
He laughs, and his teeth are bright white.
“You shouldn’t smoke anymore,” I say softly. “You’ll ruin your nice teeth.”
His smile falls, and he looks serious. “Thanks for caring. I’ll keep that in mind.”
A quiet moment follows, and we both stare at the party scene before us. I drag my eyes from Dean and Monica, who are still talking.
“How did you hear about the list? There’s no list, by the way. I haven’t written down a single name.”
“Everyone keeps a list,” Joel says, “even if it’s up here.” He taps his head, then inclines it toward his friend. “Meeka came over and told us. I told her I wasn’t interested in her bullshit gossip, and she stomped away, pissed off. Then Kwami chased her like a damn tomcat.” Joel shoves his hands in his deep pockets and runs his tongue over his bottom lip. I remember what he said about having an oral fixation, and it sends a zap of hyperawareness through me.
Joel looks out and curses under his breath. I turn to see Sierra walking toward us. What is she doing? Her curls are perfect in a way that I can never hope for. Maybe because hers are made by a curling iron and mine were made by Mother Nature. She stops in front of us and smiles brightly.
“This is an interesting sight.”
“Sierra,” Joel says in a tone that sounds like he knows her. “Can I help you?”
“Just saying hello.” Her attention turns to me. “Zae, did you hear that you’ll need a roundoff back handspring for tryouts this year? I know you couldn’t do one last year.” She gives me a look of pity. Joel chuckles darkly down at the ground, shaking his head.
“Yeah.” I push my curls behind my ears. “I need to work on it.”
She pulls a worried face. “You don’t have much time. Good luck. Oh!” She gives my arm a playful touch. “I heard about your list, you bad girl.”
I shake my head. “Kenzie is drunk. There’s no list. Nothing like that.”
“Mm-hm.” Sierra gives me a huge wink with her longlashes. “I don’t recommend adding Joel to the list, though.” She lifts a hand like she’s telling me a secret, though he can clearly hear. “Smoker’s breath.”
Joel’s expression never wavers from that of nonchalance. “Never stopped you.”
Again, my eyebrows fly up as I look to Sierra in shock. She would never slum it with a guy like Joel, would she? The fire in her eyes as she glares at him makes me wonder.
“You wish,” she says. Her hair swings as she turns and walks away.
I can’t help but stare at him as the surprise still courses through me.
“You and her? You know each other?”
