Private (Private 1)

him, but he sneaked in ten minutes late as usual and hunkered

Thomas lifted one corner of his mouth, bringing out a small

down in his seat with his sunglasses on. Result? I couldn’t even dimple. “Yes, you were. You were thinking something naughty.” My catch his eye. How he got away with that stuff, I had no idea, but no skin sizzled. He brought his cheek to mine and his stubble

one seemed to bother him about it. He was just that type of guy.

scratched my skin. His breath was hot on my ear. “Tell me your

I spent the morning “studying” out on the quad in the sun with

naughty thoughts, Reed Brennan.”

Constance. I had to do something about my not-so-stellar academic Oh, God. My palms were sweating. My head swam. My whole record. When I presented my art history project earlier Friday

body throbbed.

morning—I had decided to do it on Frida Kahlo—Mrs. Treacle had

“Do I make you nervous?” he asked.

critiqued it right away as she had all the others, calling it pedestrian I shook my head.

and under-researched (unlike all the others). She gave me a C and He pulled back slightly, looked me in the eye, and smiled.

told me to do better next time. An oral report in French didn’t go

“Liar.”

much better. Although my pronunciation had improved, Miss

And then he kissed me.

Krantz said I was still too hesitant and that my lack of confidence was distracting. And finally, there was the history quiz. I didn’t even want to think about the number of blanks I had left on that page.

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I wanted to buckle down. I really did. But most of my time on the the only one of the four who always seemed genuinely pleased to quad was actually spent scanning my surroundings, hoping for a

see me.

glimpse of Thomas. All I could think about was that kiss. The way he

“Hi,” I replied.

had touched my face with his fingertips. I had never had a kiss like I glanced at Kiran. She ignored my presence as if nothing out of that before. And I wanted more. Now.

the ordinary had ever occurred between us.

“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Constance asked me

“How’s everything going? How are your classes?” Taylor asked.