I swallow hard, forcing my feet to move forward.
Halfway there, Dylan senses my presence. He straightens and turns around, his eyes locking onto mine. Surprise crosses his features. His eyes soften. Then I see it. Longing—plain and naked in his face.
So intense it takes my breath away. I can get used to that.
I halt my steps just a few feet away, and watch him wipe his greasy hands on a towel before walking over to me. Lamely, I lift my hand carrying his jacket. “I brought this. Thought you want it back.”
He looks a little disappointed. “I don’t mind. I like you wearing it. Is that the only reason why you came here?”
I shake my head.
He studies my face. “You’re wearing your glasses again.”
My cheeks heat up. While I was putting on my contacts, I remembered his comment about my eyes.
I wore them for you. “Don’t get used to it.”
He looks pleased just the same. He totally knows I’m wearing them for him.
Silence passes between us, our eyes remaining locked, as if we can’t tear our gazes off each other.
“Why are you really here, B?” Dylan steps closer and I detect the hope in his voice.
I raise a hand to stop him from further approaching. “You’ve already said your piece. Now, it’s my turn.”
The corner of his lips tilts up and it momentarily distracts me.
I scrunch up my nose at him and he grins wide, as if knowing his effect on me. We haven’t even started clearing everything yet and he’s already working his charms on me.
I clear my throat, butterflies forming a line inside my stomach. “Last night, you were right. I wouldn’t kiss you like that if I didn’t feel anything. But there’s one thing you don’t know.” I pause to gauge his reaction.
But he only stares at me patiently, as if he knows how important this moment is for me.
“Honestly, I was afraid to come here. I didn’t want to get my heart broken. But someone basically told me I wouldn’t know if it was worth the risk if I didn’t try.” I swallow hard. “You see, Dylan McCafferty, before you even realized your feelings for me, I was already miles ahead of you. You only found out about it recently. But me? I’ve known that I’m in love with you since seventh grade.”
His mouth falls open. I just shocked him.
My eyes start to well up with tears, but I blink them away. “All this time, I’m just waiting for you to get with the program.” I choke out a laugh. “Seriously, D, what took you so long?”
Dylan visibly swallows, his eyes filling with stunned amazement. Then he closes the distance between us, his hand trembling as he tips my chin. “All this time?”
“All this time.”
His eyebrows pinch together, his eyes searching over my face. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I did.” I scowl. The ass doesn’t even remember?
He scowls back. “No, you didn’t. Or we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”
“Dude, I literally told you, but you just laughed in my face.”
“Huh? When?”
“You really don’t remember?” I practically whine.
A thoughtful look washes over his features. “I swear. You know, maybe I wasn’t even aware that you were serious. I probably thought you were just joking.”
“And if you realized I was serious what would you have done?” I challenge.
Dylan smirks, his arms going around my waist to pull me flush against him. “Then I’d probably realize what I really feel for you sooner instead of spending all this time being a dumbass.” Then he pouts, looking so perfectly adorable right then I want to kiss him. “But seriously, B, when was that?”
Then it hits me. I can kiss him. And I’m free to do that whenever I want. Starting right now.
I pull his head down as I push up on my toes to kiss him. But at the last moment, I remember something. “Wait.”
“What?” he groans as I pull back slightly. He nuzzles my neck, making me shiver.
“Stop”—I gasp—“I’m not done yet.” He pouts and I almost laugh before turning serious. “You do realize you’re mine now, right? Which means no hooking up with other girls—not even flirting. It’s just me from now on, right?” I narrow my eyes into slits to show him how serious I am.
He plants a brief kiss on my lips. “I like it when you’re jealous, it’s sexy.”
“D!”
“Okay, listen.” Dylan blows out a breath and cups my face in his hands. “I know I’ve caused you a lot of hurt. But as much as I want to kick my ass over it, I can’t change the past. I can’t undo what’s already been done. But I can tell you this: those girls are a thing of the past. And baby, if you were paying attention, you’d know I’m not even entertaining them these days.” He places his forehead against mine. “It’s just you from now on. I promise you that.”
“Kristen hates us.” Probably even Rohan, too.
“I know.” He frowns, remorse swimming in his eyes. “But I couldn’t lead her on. Staying with her would only hurt her even more. I couldn’t do that to her.” His eyes soften. “Plus I couldn’t stay away from you anymore.”
I know the feeling, Dylan.
A happy sigh escapes me and I grin from ear to ear. “Okay, I believe you.” I really do.
“Good. Now shut up and kiss me.” He even puckers his lips.
I roll my eyes, but happily comply.
The End
Thank you for reading! Did you like this book? Please don’t forget to leave a review. It’s never demanded, but always appreciated. If you want to get the latest updates on the Bayfield High gang and upcoming releases, you can like my Facebook page and join my mailing list.
Turn the page for a sneak peak of Kiss and Make Up, the second book in the Bayfield High series.
Sneak Peak: Kiss and Make Up
“Josh hasn’t texted yet. I’m worried. Do you think he’s going to break up with me?” Lexi Santiago, my best friend, whines from across the table.
She’s been complaining about her college boyfriend since this morning, so I just tune her out and continue playing with the fries on my plate.
We’re having lunch at the cafeteria but I can barely manage to eat. Not by choice. My appetite has been low for more than a month now. It’s to the point that when I checked my weight this morning, I realized I’ve lost almost ten pounds. A few pounds more and I’ll be dangerously close to being skinny.
I know I shouldn’t keep this up. But I just can’t force myself to gain my appetite back.
Pathetic, but my health isn’t the only thing suffering. My grades are dropping and I’m in danger of failing. I find it hard to concentrate in my classes. I can’t count the times I’ve been called on by my teachers for answers only to end up staring blankly at them.
Don’t even get me started on my extracurricular and after-school activities. As the president of the Community Service Club, I should be on top of our latest projects. But if someone asks me what those projects are, I’ll probably draw a blank.
Even my usually thriving babysitting-slash-tutoring job is currently on a hiatus.
I miss the kids I teach and look after a few nights a week. But what can I do? I’m distracted and miserable these days. I can’t be around them in both conditions, or else, I’ll just mess up. So I’m taking a break.
And the cause of all of that? Well, he’s right across the room.
Adam Hayes.
The boy who broke my heart.
Don’t look at him. Don’t look at him.
But it’s too late. My eyes have already betrayed me, straying back to his table, for the third time since I walked into the cafeteria.
Staring at him, a familiar ache twists in my chest. He's sitting with his best friends Sean Murphy and Brandt Thomas, along with a few guys, laughing and showing off those damn dimples.
Ugh. I really hate those dimples.
He’s not looking my way, thank God. Otherwise, he would’ve
caught me staring. Again. The number of times he did in the past week alone makes me want to claw my eyes out.
Mackenzie Brown, Sean's girlfriend, is also in the table with them. As always, the new couple looks to be lost in their own world. Their heads are bent close together, whispering to each other. The two of them are so cute together it’s practically nauseating.
“Mads, are you even listening?”
I peel my gaze away from their table, focusing back on my best friend.
What is she talking about again?
Oh, right. Josh.
“Didn’t he just call you last night?”
“But he said he’d text me today,” Lexi pouts.
I stifle an eye-roll.
If there’s a poster child for uber-clingy girlfriends, it’s Lexi. Sometimes I even wonder how her relationship managed to last this long. She’s been dating Josh for over two years now, starting when we were only sophomores and he was a junior.
I thought they’d finally break up when he moved two hundred miles away for college, but they surprisingly stayed together. Lexi even told me she’s planning to attend the same university he goes to when we graduate next year.
I’m a little skeptic but I don’t want to spoil her plans. She’s really excited about it.
“Chill, Lex. He’s just probably busy with his classes. Why don’t you call him later when you get home?”
“But what if he doesn’t want to talk to me?”
Oh, for God’s sake. This time I don’t stop from rolling my eyes. “You’re being silly.”
“I can’t help it!” she whimpers, then eyes the fries on my plate. “Are you going to eat those?”
Lips twitching in amusement, I push my plate toward her. “Help yourself.”
“I’m supposed to be on a diet,” Lexi says wistfully, but then shrugs and picks up some fries. “I’ll start again tomorrow.”
Lexi is always “on a diet.” She’s not overweight, though. Far from it. But she’s always been conscious of her body.
We’re about the same height - around five-nine. But while I have a willowy frame, Lexi has always been curvy - great rack, small waist, wide hips, big butt.
Boys love looking at her. They literally trip over themselves just to get her attention. And she eats it all up. But there are times when she hates looking at herself in the mirror. She says as much whenever we go shopping and she struggles to find the "perfect” pair of jeans.
She blames her mom - who was a beauty queen back in the Philippines before moving here - whose looks she inherited.
Which is a load of bull, because she’s absolutely gorgeous. Aside from having an hourglass figure, Lexi has long, luscious black hair and naturally golden brown skin that doesn't require tanning to maintain the color. Lucky girl.
I, on the other hand, have to spend some time under the sun just so I won't be pasty-white. And my ash blonde hair only emphasizes my pale complexion.
"Anyway, what are you planning to do tonight?" Before I can open my mouth, she quickly adds, "Please don't say you're going to mope around again."
I glare at her. "I never said that."
She points a fry at me. "You're right. You just do."
"I'm not moping around."
Lexi arches a brow. "Then why did you make a break-up playlist on Spotify and listen to it every night?"
"Sshhh. Lower your voice down."
She's right though. I've been reduced to a pathetic mess ever since I broke up with Adam. No, scratch that. Ever since he broke up with me.
My first boyfriend, my first everything. And my first heartache.
It sucks.
If this is what love always entails, then I'm going to swear off committed relationships for the rest of my life. Then I wouldn't have to get hurt and endure a broken heart again. I'll just be that cool middle-aged woman who loves to travel and remains romantically unattached, only entertaining casual relationships and having meaningless sex.
God, that sounds depressing.
I'm not a hopeless romantic by any means. That's all Lexi. But I've always known that I want to get married and have my own family someday. And I've always envisioned Adam to be my husband.
Until the day he dumped me.
Now I can't even stand to hear the word "wedding."
"Is he still trying to talk to you?" Lexi asks, glancing over her shoulder at him.
"Yeah."
Adam tried to talk to me this morning. For the thousandth time. But just like his previous attempts, I completely ignored him. Once again, his lousy explanations fell on deaf ears.
Did he honestly think I'd give him the time of day after he heartlessly dumped me in the locker hall for everyone to see? And then refused to listen when I tried to explain myself? Turnabout’s fair play, right?
Besides, as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing to talk about anymore. I don't even want to see his face.
Then why do you keep on seeking him out, you hypocrite?
"Shut up."
"What?" Lexi gives me a confused look.
"Um, nothing."
"Slut." A guy wearing a thick eyeliner coughs into his hand as he passes by our table. His equally emo-looking friend behind him snickers.
"It wasn't her. Didn't you get the memo?" Lexi snaps, making them jump and scurry away. She even throws a few fries at them, causing me to choke out a laugh. "Jerkwads!"
God, I love this girl. Drama queen aside, she's the bestest best friend a girl can ever have. She's been there for me when half the school shut me out and treated me like a pariah, pouncing at anyone who dared to talk crap about me. She’s been my rock through the whole ordeal.
"I can’t believe you’re still getting hell for that." Our friend Amanda Hall sets her tray down on the table and sits next to me.
"It's hard not to when there are pictures of her and Derek kissing," Carla Bennett chimes in, malice coating her voice as she settles down beside Lexi.
I glare at her. "Not my fault. He mistook me for someone else."
A simple case of mistaken identity and the root cause of my misery. Only it hadn’t been simple. Because when a very drunk Derek Matthis mistakenly grabbed and kissed me at a house party, someone took pictures and posted them online.
Pictures that looked so damning Adam was convinced they were real.
It’s almost amazing how fast I went from being one of the most popular girls to the biggest outcast overnight. From being dubbed as Bayfield High’s “Princess Diana” to being called the “biggest slut” in the planet. It only took a few malicious pictures to ruin both my reputation and relationship with Adam.
I learned one thing though. That when it comes down to it, save for a few select people, the whole school would side with Adam without verifying facts. Hell, even some of the teachers had looked at me like I murdered their beloved son.
Because my ex isn’t just any boy. He’s the senior class president who spearheads successful school programs left and right, the top candidate for valedictorian who’s believed to be a shoo-in for an Ivy League school, and the one voted most likely to succeed since freshman year.
He’s also the most popular boy in school. And one of the hottest. His light blonde hair, baby blue eyes and dimpled smile give him that all-American good looks that girls swoon over. Even his prescription glasses add to his appeal.
But more than his looks and his academic achievement, Adam possesses a winning personality that makes everyone love him. It’s what drew me to him in the first place.
Golden Boy of Bayfield High, that’s what he is.
And once you hurt the Golden Boy, you hurt the whole school.
I wish I can say he made everyone hurl those whispered insults and dark glares at me. That would make him the bad guy, right? But I can’t. Adam may have acted like a jerk when he dumped me, but he’s far from being one.
Even when he thought I cheated on him, he still went out of his way to defend me whenever he heard someone talk crap about me. He even landed in deten
tion one time when he punched a guy for calling me a “cheating whore.” I personally witnessed that.
So, no, even after what Adam did, I can’t find myself to hate him.
If there’s any bright side to the whole thing though, it’s that I found out who my real friends are.
"Your friend's a real piece of work, Carla,” Lexi says, dragging me back to the present.
"It's really shitty of her to let Maddy take the fall.” Amanda tucks an errant lock of red hair behind her ear, her new layered bob looking so good on her.
Wait. Are they talking about Erin Taylor? The same girl who Derek mistook me for?
My expression hardens. It turned out she was the one hooking up with him. But instead of owning up to it, she let me become the scapegoat and continued on with their affair in secret, with everybody else none the wiser.
I tried to convince Derek to tell everyone the truth. But Erin had so much hold over him, he wouldn’t even budge. He even pretended not to remember and said that I was probably the one who initiated the kiss.
Please.
If it weren’t for Sean and Kenzie, nobody would know the truth. I’d still be a social pariah. Oh, there are still some people - like those two emo jerks - who believe I really cheated on Adam. But it’s only a few of them so they don’t bother me much. I just ignore them and let Lexi do her protective bestie thing.
"I know. Erin is sorry about the whole thing, Madison." Carla gives me a faux sympathetic smile.
Ugh, she's so fake. Why do we even put up with her?
Like Lexi, Amanda stood by me during those dark times. Carla? Not so much. I even heard her telling someone that she once saw me making out with a soccer player in the boys’ locker room.
Obviously, she mistook me for her twin sister.
"Yeah, right," Lexi scoffs. “Erin is only sorry she was caught. She doesn’t care about Maddy.”
“That’s not true. Erin-”
"What are you even doing here, Carla?” I finally snap. “Shouldn't you be following her around like a good minion?"
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