Dare You to Date the Point Guard (Rock Valley High 2)

He had a good eight inches on me, with a trim torso, muscular arms, and ridiculously huge hands. I supposed that was what made him a great catcher for the baseball team. He’d been playing varsity since freshman year. It might have been his one redeeming quality, if he hadn’t been so full of himself.

“What’s up, Amanda?” he asked in a slow drawl that made me grind my teeth. Setting a dollar on the counter behind him, he picked up an aluminum pie pan full of whipped cream and held it up. “Want a bite before I toss it at Principal Styles?”

I grimaced and shook my head. “Hmm, no thanks. I heard how the baseball boys put ex-lax in the brownies at Savannah’s party. I don’t think I’ll chance it.”

“All right. But you’re missing out,” he said, dipping his finger into the cream and placing it slowly in his mouth. The movement drew my eyes directly to his lips and they curved into a smirk, as if he’d planned it that way. “You’re staring, Amanda. Don’t tell me you’re remembering a certain game we played in sixth grade.”

I immediately scowled, causing him to burst out in laughter. That was ages ago. I couldn’t believe he’d bring it up. Audrey didn’t even live in the same house anymore where Jayden and I had spent seven minutes in heaven in her tiny basement closet. It might have been my first kiss, but that didn’t mean it meant anything. A kiss because of a stupid dare was nothing.

Just like Jayden Paul was nothing to me.

“I’m glad you remember me so fondly,” Jayden said, still chuckling. His light brown eyes scanned my face, his head cocking to the side. “Because with an expression like that, who needs confidence?”

“Oh, believe me, you’ve got plenty,” I shot back. “I’m honestly surprised you can fit through the front doors of the school with that ego.”

He shrugged, clearly unfazed by my insults. “When you’re good, you’re good. I think you know a little something about that, am I right?”

“Hmm.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

Was that a compliment from Jayden Paul himself? It was difficult to tell. My mom always told me never to trust a man with two first names. We’d known each other since practically first grade, but it was still hard to get a read on him.

Usually, I tread a wide path to avoid interactions with Jayden. Mostly, it was to avoid the humiliation of being reminded of that first kiss. But also, because I couldn’t stand the cocky way he looked at me — as if he knew each and every one of my secrets.

“You know, I think I changed my mind,” I said, reaching out to scoop up a little bit of whipped cream on my finger. “I think I will have some of that.”

I moved as if I were going to put in my mouth and cheered inwardly as Jayden’s smirk dissolved and his gaze went directly to my parted lips. See? Two could play at that game. But instead of eating it, I reached up and dabbed it on his perfectly shaped nose.

“Thanks,” I said with a grin. “I needed that.”

He wiped his nose off and laughed as if he couldn’t believe I’d done that to him. Good. I liked to keep him guessing. Fully avenged, I turned on my heel and sped away before he could retaliate.

Boys like Jayden didn’t turn into men. Most of the boys in our high school were all versions of the same Peter Pan, refusing to leave Neverland and grow up. Trina and Audrey had found the few exceptions in Mason and Collin. But I wasn’t jealous of their newfound happiness. I loved that my friends were in love. I just had too much to accomplish before I ever wanted to have some guy slow me down.

Peter Pan could stay in Neverland with the Lost Boys, for all I cared. This Wendy had some magic fairy dust of her own to spread on the track.