Page 7 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
I wanted him to touch me again.
And for some reason, it felt like the first time I trulywantedanything.
A slow smile began stretching across Logan’s lips, small, as if he didn’t realize he was doing it. “Told you I’d catch you off guard.”
A surprised laugh burst from me, and at the sound, Logan’s lips bloomed into a full grin, like that was the exact reaction he’d hoped for. I found it hard to look away—I didn’t want to. But there was an art to it all, flirting. And as an artist, I had to know when to put down the paintbrush.
“Call,” I reminded him, surprised I could keep my voice steady. I held my palm to my ear like a phone, taking a step back, and then another. “Don’t text. Okay?”
“If I’m serious,” he began, something lighting through his expression, “I’ll call you.”
My steps were steady as I turned and walked away—normal—but my heart felt anything but. I readjusted my cheer top, pulling it down over my midriff, trying to feign unaffectedness. Just before I’d reach the corner, I would glanced back. One last peek. One. If Logan was still there—still looking—that had to mean something. Right?
And if he wasn’t… well, then it didn’t matter. I’d already made up my mind.
In my back pocket, my phone began to vibrate. I fished it out, knowing it was probably Jade wondering where I was. Instead, a phone number I didn’t recognize greeted me. I answered the call. “Hello?”
“Hi,” a voice returned, one I could hear both from the phone and behind me.
I turned to find Logan holding his phone to his ear, lips spread into a hesitant, almost shy smile. Something quivered in my chest—something warm and traitorous and way too eager. No amount of lip-biting could stop the grin pulling at my mouth. It just broke free, like it’d been waiting for an excuse.
Logan tilted his head forward, a lock of golden hair falling into his perfect eyes. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Would you hold still?” Jade’s voice was a snap.
I immediately froze. “Sorry.”
I sat in the chair near my window, and Jade was using the natural light to apply my makeup for me. She swiped the eyeshadow brush across my left eyelid, diligently blending the colors out in a way she always did best. I could never blend the colors as well as she could. “Your legs keep bouncing and it’s messing me up,” she scolded, but it sounded like she had a smile in her voice. “You don’t need to be so nervous, Mads.”
“You saw him,” I told her, knotting my fingers together in my lap. “He’s, like, hands-down the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. Like he could be on a cover of a magazine or something.”
“Hewasreally handsome,” she agreed, switching to the other eyelid. “Top Tier material handsome. Riley was so jealous she wasn’t the one who’d tripped. You know what I told her?”
“What?”
“That even if shehadbeen the one who tripped, he would’ve looked at you, anyway.” Yeah, Jade wasdefinitelysmiling. “Madison, it was like a movie moment, swear to God. Likefate.”
Fate. It was almost the exact thought I’d had. I had to swallow an excited screech. “Wasn’t it? I didn’t think butterflies like that actually existed.”
We both let out a squealing giggle.
When Jade was finished applying my mascara, I blinked my eyes open. A renewed burst of nerves darting through me when I checked the time. “He’ll be here in ten minutes.”
“You’re done, anyway,” she said, and turned me toward my vanity mirror on my desk. “See?”
I let out the world’s biggest sigh of relief, because Jade had crushed it with my makeup. Per usual. The eyeshadow was subtle, and the brown mascara she’d used really made my light eyes pop without it being too harsh. My blonde hair was still curly from the waves I’d thrown in yesterday, but somewhat frizzy. “Should I put my hair up?” I asked, reaching to comb my locks back.
Her voice was blunt. “You don’t look as good with your hair up.”
I immediately dropped my hands, my hair cascading back over my shoulders. “Got it.”
My legs bounced as energy shot through me. My first date. The thought of it was almost surreal, like this couldn’t possibly be my life.
“Everything is falling into place so perfectly,” I told Jade, reaching for her hand. “Getting into the Top Tier, becoming co-captain with you, finding a boyfriend.”
Jade curled her fingers around mine, her skin almost cold against my sweaty palms. “Everything is turning so perfect for you,” she agreed, smoothing herhand across my hair. “You know, I was surprised you accepted the co-captain position when Coach offered it.”
“Really? Why?”
