Page 31 of The Valedictorian and the Big Man on Campus

“Indeed. Though, for me, it’s more like years and a day.”

I frown in the middle of smoothing my hair back so it has less of a we-were-fooling-around look to it. “What do you mean?”

“I mean…” He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer. “That’s how long it took for me to make you like me.”

“You didn’t care if I liked you then.”

“Actually, I cared more than you’ll ever know.” Face sober, he brushes his lips over mine. “You were worth the wait.”

Throat tight, I can’t muster up any words. So I lean up and pull him in for another kiss. I have to fix my lipstick—and hair—again when we finish.

“Come on,” Zack takes my hand with that smile of his that now makes my heart race. “Let’s go turn some heads.”

The reunion is in full swing as we return to the gymnasium. As we pass under the “WELCOME BACK, WILDCATS” banner, Zack brings his lips close to my ears.

“You were right. It does look perfect now that it’s a quarter inch to the right.”

I bump back into him, my behind rubbing against his hips. Just missing a crucial part of his anatomy.

“I can think of something else I’d like to see a quarter inch to the right.”

I move myself against him again, but he grabs my hips to still the teasing motion. “Careful there. If you keep that up we’ll end up missing the whole reunion.”

“Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”

He all but growls at me through clenched teeth. I’m giggling as he grabs my hand again and walks with more urgency.

We do draw plenty of looks and more than a few wide-eyed stares as he pulls me onto the dance floor. Chuckling, he rests one hand low on my back while the other holds one of mine close to his chest.

“You’d think they’d never seen two people dance,” he says.

“More like they’ve never seen a cat and a dog quit fighting long enough to make nice.”

“Am I the cat or the dog in this situation?”

“If you even have to ask—”

He cuts me off by spinning me around until I’m laughing every bit as hard as him. Our current argument is forgotten, or at least settled, he slows us back down so we’re swaying in time with the music. He rests his chin against the side of my head and for the moment, I’m perfectly content. I close my eyes and grin at myself, savoring everything about where I am and who I’m with.

There’s nothing—not a thing—that could spoil my happiness at this moment.

“Excuse me.” My eyes fly open. Zack and I both freeze in place and turn our heads as our former teacher, Mr. Matthews, approaches us.

There’s no denying the surprise on his face and my cheeks flush.

Zack just grins. “Was there something you wanted, Mr. Matthews?”

“I was going to remind the both of you that this is a high school dance, and we do have rules.” He holds his hands about a foot apart.

“I’d like to see you enforce that rule.” Zack laughs and strokes his thumb over my knuckles. “No one followed those rules even when we were in high school.”

“Fair enough. Besides, it’s so good to see the two of you getting along, I suppose I can let it slide this time.”

“Good.” Zack tightens his hold on me and starts moving again to the music.

“Trust the two of you to still keep each other on your toes all these years later.” Mr. Matthews grins good-naturedly. “Frankly, I’m surprised the two of you are even still speaking together.”

“Well, we’ve come a long way.” My heart skips a beat as Zack squeezes my hip.

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