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“Thanks for breakfast. See you in math. Also, I’ve made plans for us after school.” Connor leans in and kisses me one more time before walking out of the study room.

I’ve never loved math class more than I do right now. I just have to get through two other periods first.

Walking through the hall, I head straight for my locker. I make sure to put an extra sway in my hips when I see Connor across the hall with Kenny. His eyes roam up the length of my body. Even after just being with him in the library, I want him again. It’s a hunger I’ve never felt before and one I want to feed. Constantly.

“You look flushed. Are you feeling okay?” Mabilia is waiting at my locker.

“Uh-huh, fine,” I tell her, punching in my pin and opening the metal door.

“Sure you are. You might want to tell that Irishman to stop eye-fucking you. It’s obvious,” she says.

“He has a name,” I grunt.

“Yep, but I likeIrishmanbetter,” she says, snapping her P.

“Whatever. I’ve got to get to class. I need you to cover for me this afternoon. I have to disappear for a few hours.”

“Fine. We can be each other’s alibis. I have plans too.” She raises her eyebrows up and down.

My nose scrunches up. “Gross.” With that, I slam my locker closed and walk away.

I have no idea what kind of plans Connor made. He just said after school. Now, I’m waiting for him in the room in the library, but he’s not here. I keep checking my phone, and still nothing.

I’m tempted to call him, to find out what’s keeping him, but that would be needy, right? Just as I’m about to cave, a text pops up on my screen.

Charming:

Room 69, Four Seasons Midtown. There’s a key for you at reception under the name Briar Rose. There’s an ID card in your locker to match the name.

I roll my eyes at the alias he gave me.Really? That’s original.

Me:

A hotel room? And you couldn’t think of a better name?

Charming:

Are you coming or not? And I happen to love Sleeping Beauty.

My stomach does that swarming thing again as I type out a reply.

Me:

See you soon.

I tap the card against the keypad, and the little screen lights up green before I push inside the room and let the door close behind me. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. The entryway is lit up with candles all over the floor, and a path of rose pedals leads me past the living area and into the bedroom of the suite where Connor is sitting on the bed.

More candles are randomly placed around the room. And flowers too. So many flowers are scattered everywhere. “You did all this?”

“I skipped last period,” Connor says with a nervous smile.

“Why?” I ask, dropping my bag to the floor.

He hands me a flute of champagne. “Because I want as many memories with you as possible, and I don’t want them to all be over the table of a study room. You deserve better than that.”

“Thank you. This is… incredible.” I bring the champagne to my lips, and the sweet bubbles float over my tongue.

“Youare incredible.” Connor reaches for me, pulling me down on top of him so I’m straddling his waist. The champagne spills all over the front of my blouse in the process.