Wallflower by Cookie O'Gorman (best romance ebooks .TXT) 📕

was the most natural thing in the world.  Our palms touched, and I felt an answering jolt go through me.  I looked down at our hands in wonder and then back up at him.

"You just pulled a Jordan Catalano," I said in awe.

"Who's that?" Dare asked.  "Another one of your crushes?  I don't like being compared to other guys, flower."

"He's a character from an old TV show," I said and patted his arm.  "No need to be jealous."

Dare scoffed.  "Sounded as if you like the guy."

"I did.  When Jordan took Angela's hand, it was one of the most romantic things ever.  Though he was a bit of a douche."

With a raised brow, Dare stopped us just next to my locker.

"Hmm," he said.

Then keeping his gaze fastened to mine, Dare brought our clasped hands up to his mouth.  He pressed a kiss to the back of my palm, his lips lingering a moment after.  My jaw went slack in reaction.

"Did Jordan do anything like that?"

"Who?" I said in response, and he laughed.

"Frost!" a voice boomed from down the hall.

We both looked over to see my dad standing there with his hands on his hips.  He was all the way at the other end, but I could clearly see his scowl from here.

"My office," he said.  "Now."

"You got it, Coach," Dare called back.  To me, he said, "Guess I'll see you in a little while, flower."

I nodded.  "I'll be praying for you," I said.

Dare placed one last kiss to my hand before releasing me and jogging back down the hall.

I opened my locker, still feeling the imprint of Dare's lips on my skin.  It was such a distracting sensation.  I didn't realize Tyson had joined me until he spoke.

"Hey," he said.  "I was hoping to catch you before first period."

"Hey, Ty."  I closed my locker and leaned against it.  "What's up?"

"Dare told me," he said.

I shook my head in confusion.  "I don't—"

Tyson lowered his voice.  "About your fake relationship."

I stopped breathing for a second.  "Oh really?" I said once I could take in oxygen again.  "When did he tell you that?"

"Last night."

I couldn't believe it.  The same night when I'd finally thought we were getting somewhere, and I'd deluded myself into thinking he might return my feelings.  Man, I was an idiot.

"It shocked me.  I couldn't believe the two of you were pretending all this time.  But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't glad to hear it."

"You were?" I said.  "Why?"

Ty gave me a smile.  "Because now I can ask you out without feeling like a terrible person."

It felt like someone had whacked me over the head with a crowbar.  What he'd said was that surprising and discombobulating.  And it just got worse as he went on.

"I know I turned you down when you told me your feelings," he said, running a hand through his hair.  "But I think I may have made a mistake."

"What are you saying?"

"I want to take you out," he said simply.  "To lunch after school, dinner if you'd prefer that instead.  And please don't think I'm trying to steal you from Dare because that's definitely not the case."

He laughed.

"Though I guess you're not really together anyway.  Right?"

The truth of that statement was like a slap to the face.

"Did you talk to Dare about this?" I asked, my words little more than a whisper.

Tyson shook his head.  "No.  But we're best friends.  I'm sure he'd be cool with it."

I didn't know about that.

But Ty sounded so confident…

"Just think about it," he said.  "Okay, Vi?"

I didn't even get a chance to nod before the bell rang, and Ty sprinted off in the other direction.  What the heck was that?  Did Tyson, Dare's best friend, my ex-crush, and possible future swimwear model, really just ask me out?  Was this some kind of joke?

There was no way I could accept Ty's offer.  Not with the way I felt about Dare.

But…why had he told Tyson about us at all?

There were so many questions I didn't have the answers to.  But I hoped once I talked to Dare it would clear everything up.  I didn't want to start anything between him and Tyson.  But fake or not, going after your best friend's girl was a no-no.  I didn't think Dare would be too happy about it.

#

"I think you should go," Dare said.

I blinked at him in surprise.  I'd just explained everything, how Ty had surprised me in the halls and asked me out, and this was his response?

"What?"  I laughed because seriously, this had to be a joke.  "Are you messing with me?"

"No."  He crossed his arms.  "Ty's a good guy.  He's actually one of the best I know, definitely better than me.  You used to like him, remember?"

The frown that took over my face couldn't be contained.  "I liked the idea of him," I retorted.  "I didn't even know Ty then."

Dare shrugged.  "Still.  I think you should go and see how you are together.  He may be exactly what you want."

"But…I'm with you."

Tears were building behind my eyes, but I pushed them back down.  I didn't know why I felt like crying.  This was all fake, I reminded myself.  A way to get revenge.  It was never going to last.  I just hadn't expected it to end so soon.

Dare seemed to read my mind.

"We were only supposed to pretend," he said, his eyes locked on my own.  "That's all this was.  Right, flower?"

I nodded but couldn't respond.

"I spoke with Coach, and believe me, he's pissed.  He reamed me out, told me to stay away from you—though I think he's mostly mad at himself.  Your revenge idea was a success, Vi.  You got what