But he doesn't return my humor. He's staring at me with a quiet intensity that only he has mastered, holding my gaze captive and seizing my breath.
I glance away before I can get lost in the promise I glimpsed in the depths of his eyes. "I guess I should go."
"Right."
Why does it suddenly feel awkward? So much for thinking that we're already past this.
I don't want to part ways with him like this, so I lean forward, intending to give him a kiss on the cheek.
But he turns his head in the last second. Instead of my lips touching his cheek, they meet his own.
Shocked at the contact and the sudden electricity coursing through me, I gasp and pull back.
Only I don't get far. His hand snakes out and cups the back of my neck, stilling my movements. Then he's deepening the kiss, exploring my mouth in a way Liam never had.
He's kissing me like I'm his lifeline. Like he needs me to breathe. Like he'll drown without me.
Maybe it's the raw need in his kiss. Maybe it's due to the attraction I've secretly always felt for him. Or simply because he's a damn good kisser.
But instead of shoving him away, I kiss him back. Match every toe-curling movement of his lips. Explore every delicious corner of his mouth like he does mine.
I kiss him like I'm answering his need. Like I'm soothing every ache and pain he's feeling. Like I'm providing comfort in the best possible way I know.
When he lifts his head and pulls away, I'm in a daze and practically panting. My lips are swollen, my cheeks flushed.
Parker and I just kissed. That just happened.
But what now? Still breathless, I raise my eyes to his, wanting to make sense of what just happened.
But he's not looking at me. His gaze is averted, his face unreadable.
Apprehension starts slithering down my spine. "I—"
"It's getting late," he interrupts before I can say anything, the iciness in his tone like a cold splash of water over my head.
Flinching, I snap my head up. Did I hear him right? Is he throwing me out of his car not even a minute after kissing me?
The emotionless eyes staring back at me just answered those questions.
CHAPTER 18
Sawyer
It's been days since the kiss, and Parker has spent the whole time avoiding me. He won't talk to me. He won't even spare me a single glance. If he so much as spots me walking in his direction, he pretends not to see me.
As if tossing me out of his car didn't feel like a slap to the face already. Maybe he wants to twist the knife deeper to send his point across.
His point being that the kiss had been nothing but a mistake. Well, he shouldn't have bothered. I already got the message loud and clear that day at the parking lot.
But it doesn't mean I'm angry. Oh, I am. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty freaking pissed. I don't need this complication. I didn't ask him to kiss me. So, why the hell is he acting like I'm at fault here?
But as much as I want to confront him, it's not the right time. Like I'd predicted, word had spread about Dianne's meltdown at the grocery store. Now, the whole student body of Holy Oaks Prep is talking about it.
But while Jamie, Bennett and Giovanni are going around threatening the people making fun of Dianne, Parker isn't doing anything to put a lid on it. His only reaction is to glare at them, which has everyone scurrying away.
In hindsight, I guess it's just as effective as directly confronting them.
Despite what Parker did though, there's still a part of me that wants to be there for him. That wants to tell him he can go to me if he needs someone to talk to. But it's clear that he doesn't want anything to do with me. And I'm not in the habit of forcing myself on someone who doesn't want me.
In AP Government, I make sure to keep a neutral expression when I take the seat next to him. Just like the last time we were here, he pretends not to notice me, the sudden stiffness in his shoulders telling me he's having a hard time doing so.
Good. Why do I have to be the only one feeling uncomfortable?
But it's as if fate is not on my side—or both on ours, if his discomfort is to go by—because Mr. Brown, our teacher, has the class pair up and answer essay questions on the current topic. Surprise, surprise—we're partnered with each other.
Parker clears his throat. "If you want, we can divide the questions between the two of us and work on them separately. It will be easier that way."
"Works for me," I say in a clipped tone, keeping my eyes on the printout containing the questions instead of meeting his gaze.
I feel the heat of his stare on top of my head but choose to ignore it. But even though I try to focus on my part of the essay, I can't concentrate. I've always been painfully aware of our close proximity in this class, but it seems to have grown tenfold over the past few days. Especially after that kiss...
The truth is, I can't stop thinking about him since then. I keep replaying our kiss over and over. It's as if that damn kiss awakened dormant feelings I didn't know I have.
I don't like this new development one bit.
"Once you're done with your answers, give them to me so I can combine them with mine." I still haven't looked up. Two can play the indifferent game.
"Are you mad?"
I stiffen, but my eyes remain downcast, refusing to meet his probing gaze.
He couldn't just ask me that question after spending the last few days ignoring me, acting like we're not friends. It doesn't work that way.
Why is he giving me the cold shoulder, anyway? I should have been the one to
