Kiss and Break Up (Magnolia Cove, #1)(29)

Dash tossed his cigarette out the window. “New aftershave.”

Shoving my mascara inside the front pocket of my backpack, I peeked over at him. His collar was pulled high, as per usual, but his hair didn’t look like his typical I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-like-this mess. Today, it was a strategic mess; golden blond strands swept over to the right as though he’d fingered them just right for five minutes in front of the mirror.

He was clean shaven, which wasn’t always the case. He wasn’t one to shave every day, but rather, he would let the overnight growth shadow his defined jawline. His cheekbones were starker, more prominent, and the strong line of his nose begged a finger to trace it. I wasn’t sure if it’d always been that way, or if, after what we’d done together, I’d started paying more attention.

“Not that I’m complaining or anything, but why the hell are you staring at me so damn hard?”

“Your face looks extra smooth,” I lied, kind of. Extra smooth? God, I was so awesome.

“I’m just going to file this random ass conversation away as too fucking random. Moving on,” he said, driving over the bridge and turning right to the school. “What are you going to tell your almost boyfriend? That you have a ‘best friend with benefits’ situation going down, and you no longer require his attention?”

I snorted, grabbing my bag and unclipping my seat belt as he drove through the school gates. “That would be a huge hell no.” Once he’d parked, I opened the door, jumping down and swinging my bag over my shoulder.

“Why?” He slammed the door and grabbed his bag from the back.

“What do you mean why?” We crossed the lot and stepped onto the grass, my boots sinking into the plush green.

Dash took his time to answer as I stared ahead, looking for Daphne, Willa, or Byron. “I just don’t get it. You and me—”

“Yo, Thane!” Lars jogged over, his shirt undone and flapping in the breeze. He was wearing a wifebeater underneath. Slowing once he’d reached us, he jerked his head at me. “Sup, Pegs.”

I waved, then saw Daphne standing with Willa on the steps. “I’ll see you later.”

I skipped away, ignoring the heat from Dash’s glare on my back.





“I heard she was making out with Coach Lenton after school,” Daphne said, licking ranch from her fingers.

Dash and his friends were sitting in the back corner, tossing food wrappers and crushing soda cans. Annika from the cheerleading squad sidled over, standing next to where Dash was sitting on top of the table with his legs apart. A biting sensation pricked at my stomach when she placed her hand on his leg, her pretty oval face scrunching with her forced laughter.

Willa dropped her fork, snapping my attention away from Dash. “No way.”

“Who are you talking about?” I resumed picking at my sandwich.

“Kayla. Apparently, she’s making the rounds.”

I looked back over at Dash, who was scowling at Annika—not that she seemed to care.

A thud hit the table next to me, and my nose pricked as I caught a whiff of Byron’s cologne. I’d seen him in chemistry this morning but had only returned his wave.

He straddled the bench seat, his eyes alight. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

I offered a smile. “How are you?”

He blew out a breath. “Been dealing with some shit at home. I was going to text you last night, but it got too late. I had to hit the gym to make up for missing practice.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” Though he didn’t sound so sure. “Just had to make sure my mom went to some appointments is all.”

They must have been important if he was skipping school and practice. “She okay?”

“Getting there. So,” he said as he stole a fry from Willa’s plate, “what have I missed?”

Willa and Daphne shrugged, the former saying, “Oh, not much.”

I sucked my lips and peeked over at Dash, who was now scowling at me or, rather, Byron.

“You free to chat tonight?”

The bell rang and students started throwing their trash out before heading to the doors.

“I suppose I can be.” Yep, I was great at making myself a little less unavailable.

Outside the cafeteria, he pulled me down the hall, and I squeaked as he crowded me against my locker. His hand softened around mine, fingers curling and causing a herd of tingles to spread up my arm. “Not gonna lie, I was kind of disappointed that you didn’t even text me yesterday.”

I struggled to meet his gaze. “Well, I wasn’t sure if you’d have wanted me—”

“You still wanna do this?” His eyes dropped to my lips, then lifted to mine, questions filling them. “Because I really like you.”

Did I still want to do this? I did. At least, I was pretty sure I did. “Yeah, of course.”

He lifted my hand to his lips, and Dash made a gagging sound as he passed us.

I sent his back a scathing look. Byron’s fingers gripped my chin, directing my focus back to him. “Ignore him. He’s just jealous.”

I reared back, almost smacking my head into the locker. “Jealous?” I laughed, loud and shocked. “I don’t think so. He’s just an ass.”