Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief(58)

“I guess I kinda miss the excitement. I mean, my father’s taught me the art of grifting and all, but I’ve never been in the thick of things like we were in Italy. Is your life always like that?”

Great, now he’s going to find out just how not like that my life really is, and instead of scaring him away with my criminal past, I’m going to bore him away. Well, I might as well rip the bandage off quickly. “No, not usually. Even when I was actively pulling off heists, it was months between them, and most of the work was prep—locating schematics, planning logistical details, reconnaissance…”

“Still seems a heck of a lot more interesting than homework, which is how I usually spend my free time.” He winks at me.

“Yeah, now that you’re not spending your time picking up cute girls on the sidewalk outside of school,” I tease.

He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me against him. “Exactly. I need something to do now that I’ve landed the girl of my dreams.”

“Girl of your dreams, huh?” I bite back the silly grin threatening to break out across my face.

“You know it.” His lips land on mine, pressing gently, and I respond in kind. I lean into him and give myself over to the kiss fully. A little thrill shoots down my spine as his tongue slips past my lips. I pull back enough to break the kiss without putting any real distance between our bodies.

“Mmm, I’ve been wanting to do that since I woke up this morning.” He leans in to kiss me again. I part my lips to fully kiss him back, but he pulls away with a sigh. I lean toward him, my body trying to fill the void between us of its own volition. In that moment, my entire world has become Will-centric. He is the sun, and I am little more than a satellite orbiting him, caught in his gravitational pull. And his ego is so big, he probably knows it, too, I realize when he beams a satisfied smile at me.

“Hey guys!” I hear Trin’s voice before I see her and Lacey strolling up behind Will. I’m suddenly very aware of every person passing us on the sidewalk, every bystander potentially gawking at us, and maybe Will is, too, because he places several inches between us but is still holding on to me.

“Hey! What are you guys doing here?” It seems like the most logical question, since they live the opposite way from the school.

“Trin made me walk all the way over here for a cup of the world’s most delicious coffee, as she put it.” Lacey holds up a steaming to-go cup from the café Will likes to frequent, and Trin takes a long swig from her own cup, looking utterly unashamed.

“We’re just about to grab some ourselves,” Will announces and spins me in that direction.

“See you guys at school!” I call as I let Will lead me toward the caffeine. Trin and Lacey share a matching look of amusement. Trin tries to say something, but Lacey is quick to tug her away.

Will wraps an arm around my shoulders and places a soft peck on my cheek. “I could stand here kissing you all day. But then we’d be late to school.”

“I thought you wanted more excitement in your life.”

He looks at me for a moment, considering, then says, “I’ve been looking through the copies of your father’s journals, the ones that you left with Giada instead of delivering to Petrov. Petrov really messed up a lot of lives.”

I had the same thought when we were first scanning my dad’s books. The idea that Petrov had hurt so many people and my father had been forced to help had been a heavy thought in my mind after that. “He did,” I respond.

“What if we try to track some of them down… You know, try to make amends. Or at least help them out a little?” He sounds unsure of himself, like he doesn’t know how I’ll take the suggestion.

I think it’s a wonderful idea but a flawed one. “I wouldn’t know where to start. I’m a thief, and you’re a grifter. We’re not exactly skilled at tracking people down.”

Will smiles wide. “I think maybe Vincenzo and Giada might help.”

“Oh?” He clearly knows something I don’t.

“Well, it was actually Vincenzo’s idea.” And now he’s looking at me hopefully.

“Well, I guess it’s settled then. We’ll be weekend warriors, unsuspecting high school students by day, and we’ll Robin Hood the night away.” I stretch up to give him a peck on the lips.

“But for now, school.” He loops his fingers through mine, and we set off.

So I guess I’ll never truly escape my old life. But I’m starting to think maybe that’s okay.



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Acknowledgments

First, I want to thank my amazing CPs, Kara and Kat for their unflagging support. You girls keep me going when I feel like I just can’t do it anymore, and for that, I’m eternally grateful.

I also want to thank Jessica and everyone at Entangled for taking a chance on Jewel Thief. And my eternal thanks to Stacy for taking this MS on and whipping it into shape in what I’m sure is record time. It’s been a crazy journey getting to this point, but the trip is half the fun!





About the Author

Rosie Somers is a YA author who lives in Florida, soaking up the year-round sunshine. She can often be found in her favorite spot on her favorite beach, nose-deep in a good book.