Well, who says I can't follow his lead?
"I was an asshole."
That has my eyes snapping up in the next second. I narrow them on him. "Is that your version of apology?"
"No. This is." He sighs. "I'm sorry. I acted like an asshole after you kissed me."
My eyes grow wide. "Excuse me? You're the one who kissed me!"
Judging from the shocked glances and gasps that follow, I blurted it out loud.
Freaking great. Just what I need right now.
Cheeks burning, I glare at Parker. This is all your fault.
How was it my fault? You were the one who practically announced it to the whole class, his face says amusedly as he leans back in his seat and crosses his arms over his chest.
Bastard.
Thankfully, the bell finally rings, giving me a much-needed escape.
Mr. Brown's loud reminder to submit the essay next meeting barely gets any attention as everyone files out of the room—but not without shooting smirks and glances my and Parker's way.
From the corner of my eye, I notice Liam glaring in my direction, ignoring Peyton next to him.
As much as I hate to admit it, Parker was right. All this unwanted attention is on me. I'd let my strong emotions get the better of me. Now, everyone is going to talk about that stupid kiss.
If nothing else, it would take the heat off of his mom. At least, I hope.
"Peaches," Parker starts.
I shake my head. "Don't."
Suddenly, the pet name that's grown on me sounds sour to my ears. Now is a bad time to call me that.
I've seen the bright side about the whole world knowing about the kiss, but it doesn't mean I'm no longer upset. He's been a complete ass, and I'm not about to forget that anytime soon.
Our eyes lock and hold. His are full of guilt and apology...and maybe something else, mine brimming with righteous anger.
I'm still pissed at him. Very much so. But no matter what I feel in this moment, I can't deny that there's something between us. It makes no sense—we're two different people, sharing nothing in common—yet there it is.
"Sawyer Agatha Dunn. Why are you holding out on me again?" comes the accusing voice behind me, effectively causing me to cut off my gaze from Parker's.
Quinn. I completely forgot she's in the same class as us. And she just called me by my full name, which tells me she heard my inadvertent announcement, too.
Perfect. Just perfect.
Forcing out a smile, I turn on my heels to face my best friend. "Hey."
"Don't hey me," she huffs, folding her arms over her chest. "So, are the two of you a couple now?"
Parker and I exchange glances—mine wide-eyed, his amused.
Blushing once again, I quietly pull a protesting Quinn out of the class before she can say something that'll embarrass me further.
Once we're out in the hall, Quinn continues with her barrage of questions. "He really kissed you? When did it happen? Is he your boyfriend now? Why do you keep on keeping secrets from me?"
The last question is tinged with hurt and it makes me wince. Clearly, Parker hasn't been the only one acting like an ass. "I'm sorry."
"Not good enough," she snaps.
I blink. "It's not?"
She nods firmly. "You need to tell me everything."
I let out a sigh. "Of course."
And so I do.
CHAPTER 19
Parker
"Nah. Wonder Woman all the way. Have you seen Gal Gadot kick ass? Damn," Bennett whistles, his eyes glazing over.
"She's perfect." Giovanni nods, taking a pull of his Coke. "Can't argue with that."
"It's Black Widow for me," Jamie cuts in, leaning back on his seat.
Bennett cocks up a brow. "You know she doesn't have any powers, right?"
"And yet, she can hold her own in a fight just fine."
Giovanni shrugs, as if to agree to his point.
I tune their conversation out, not wanting to get roped into their female superhero-centered discussion, my eyes wandering across the cafeteria where Sawyer and her friends are seated.
Her smile is fucking breathtaking as she listens to whatever Brayden Stevenson is saying.
Not for the first time, regret and longing grip my chest. We haven't talked in days and now I'm having goddamn withdrawals.
I'm only blaming myself for this. If I hadn't kissed her...
Then you wouldn't have known that kissing her felt like the most natural thing in the world. How kissing her felt like experiencing sunshine for the first time after a long, harsh season of winter.
Fuck, I cringe. When did I turn into a bad poet?
As if on cue, her black almond eyes find mine, her smile dimming as if the sight of me has soured her mood.
My face falls. I really pissed her off.
It's completely understandable. I've been nothing but a jerk to her after that kiss. Avoiding her, acting like the kiss had been nothing but a mistake when it was anything but. My pathetic half-ass apology in Government yesterday didn't help, either.
"I'm sorry. I acted like an asshole after you kissed me."
The memory has me wincing inwardly. I'm a complete jackass. It wouldn't surprise me if she decided to turn the tables around and refuse to talk to me. I wouldn't blame her a damn bit.
I knew getting close to her was a bad idea. She's a complication I shouldn't want. A distraction I couldn't afford to have.
Yet, here I am—wanting and needing her just the same—my want and need for her growing each day. I'm no longer able to keep myself away from her. Even though I shouldn’t allow this thing between us to go anywhere, I just can’t go back to the way things were. I can’t go back to ignoring her. Hell, I’ve tried...and failed.
And now, I’m thinking of ways to get back into her good graces. A proper apology, for starters.
Sawyer's gaze drifts in my direction once again, as if she simply can't help herself.
A pleased smile tugs at my lips.
She responds with a scowl.
Yeah. A proper apology is in order.
I sit
