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Meg:Are you okay?

Tyler:I don’t know. I’ll tell you later if it was worth it.

If he saw the smile on my face right now, he’d know it was worth it.

Meg:Here is my peace offering.

I go to my music app and send him the love song playlist he’s been asking for.

The one calledUn-frog-ettable Love Songs.

CHAPTER22

MEG

It’s Friday, and I’m headed to the computer lab to pick up my students. As I round the corner, my body collides with something hard—somethingthat smells and looks a lot like Tyler Dixon.

His arms wrap around my waist, keeping me upright, as my hands splay across his chest. I raise my chin. I can feel his minty breath against the tip of my nose and see the patterns of blue in his eyes.

His lips quirk into a smile. “Are you trying to get me to kiss you again?”

One second in Tyler’s arms has my stomach swirling—I could mix brownie batter in there if I needed to.

My eyes flit across his face to the blueish-green bruise by his right eye. “You wouldn’t dare, because then you’d have to bring me another peace offering and face the neighborhood watch guy in my building again.”

Is it just me, or is it ridiculously romantic that Tyler got beat up trying to do something nice for me?

“That’s true.” His smile deepens, bringing out the trademark dimple—the one I can’t resist. “I haven’t seen you all week.”

“No, you haven’t,” I whisper.

Is he keeping track of how often we see each other, like I am? I mean, it’s not like I have a calendar with tally marks on it for every time that he walks past my classroom window.

That would be weird.

And a little obsessive.

So…forget I mentioned it.

“Thanks again for the cookie.”

“Thanks for the playlist.”

“You’re welcome.”

There’s no reason for us to be embracing like this. The threat of falling is gone. This isn’t a nightclub. We’re in the halls of an elementary school, a school where they fire people for getting mixed up with parents.

I clear my throat and push back, releasing myself from his arms. “Uh, I need to get to the computer lab to pick up my class.”

“I’m here to check out Krew. He has a dentist appointment.”

I point in the direction I was walking. “He’s in the computer lab.”

“I’ll walk with you then.”

“Sure.” I look around, hoping no one is in the hall, watching our interaction.

“How’s the hot man ban going?” he asks. “Do you have another date lined up for this weekend?”