Pretty When She Cries - Black Mountain Academy

“You should have told me,” I whisper.

“Why?” He studies me as though he’s trying to read my thoughts.

He wants to see how this has changed things between us. I wonder if he can tell that I’m surprised he’s even acknowledging me at all in front of all these people. Little old nobody that I am.

“Enough pillow talk.” Audrey’s shrill voice severs our connection. Landon and I both jerk our gazes away from each other and release a breath. “Carson, you go first.”

Carson passes the pitcher of beer to Landon, and he takes a long pull, his throat muscles working. My thighs squeeze together, and I take a drink from my cup to give my hands something to do. Carson’s eyes bounce around the room without much interest in the actual game, until eventually, they land back on Audrey.

“Truth or grope, Audrey.”

Her lips curl playfully as she leans back to meet his gaze. “Grope.”

“Kiss me.” Carson’s tone is bored, and I can’t imagine why. Audrey is easily one of the most beautiful girls here, and half the guys around us are already panting as they imagine themselves in his place.

Audrey grabs him by the collar and drags him in toward her. She kisses him. With tongue. The crowd cheers, and I watch with wide eyes as she smears her lipstick all over Carson’s face. It’s morbidly fascinating, like a vulture eating its prey. Landon’s expression never changes, but I catch him staring at me a few times again.

Everything feels different. It’s no longer just the two of us. Safe topics like math and books aren’t even options right now. The hormones in the room are surging wildly around us as the game continues, and I’m having trouble following along. So far, every person challenged has picked grope, and when one girl did try to pick truth, the crowd booed her until she left. It’s about that time Audrey’s eyes fall on me.

“Kailani, I dare you to kiss Landon.”

I suck in a breath. Our eyes collide. His are dark and hot and… curious. Challenging, even. Is it my imagination, or does he want me to say yes? I know what I want. If my erratic heartbeat has anything to say about it, I want to touch his lips more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. But not like this. Not in front of everyone.

“Um, I pick truth,” I answer quickly.

“You can’t pick truth.” Audrey laughs. “Drop the nun act. We all know there’s a bad girl inside you.”

The temperature in the room skyrockets. Landon is a statue next to me. I can’t look directly at him because I can’t read his face right now, and it only confuses me more. Seconds pass with excruciating slowness until, finally, Audrey sighs.

“Okay fine, we get it. You’re shy.” Her voice softens like she really doesn’t want to embarrass me. “I’m amending my dare. I want you to go into a bedroom with Landon for five minutes. Just the two of you. Whatever happens, happens.”

I sneak a glance at Landon, but he may as well be carved from stone. He gives nothing away when he rises to his feet and shrugs like he couldn’t care less one way or the other.

“Are you coming?”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer. My legs are boneless when I get up and follow him. The crowd jests us as we walk away, and my body sways slightly. I feel like I’m in a fishbowl with nowhere to hide. Landon is unfazed by the taunting laughter behind us. He opens the door to a guest bedroom and gestures me inside. When it clicks shut behind us, I drag in a mouthful of air.

“This is so dumb,” I blurt, my nerves making me talk too fast. “You don’t have to kiss me. I know things aren’t like that. It’s just a stupid game, right?”

His arctic eyes move over my face. In the span of a few seconds, I consider at least five different scenarios in which the impending rejection will play out. When he takes a step closer, his shoe bumps against mine, and I nearly lose my balance. He smells so clean, like fresh laundry and sweet spices. I want to rub myself all over his shirt, the way I rubbed his cologne onto my wrist when I used the bathroom here. I have no shame.

His eyes are glazed, and I wonder how much he’s had to drink tonight. Will he remember this tomorrow? Can he feel the herd of Clydesdales in my chest?

“Landon…”

His fingers brush over my jaw, and I nearly melt into the floor. Gently, he lifts my gaze to his. Up, and up, and up. He’s so tall I’d have to climb him if I wanted to reach his mouth. I need a ladder or a step stool. I’m seeking one out when his fingertips still me, pressing into my bones with a warmth I feel between my thighs.