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“Don’t blame yourself. They’re always creative.”

“The awful table in that room?”

“You should go. You’re going to be missed if you don’t get to your afternoon session.”

I stop at a sudden thought. “Wait, what if we avoid this whole dilemma and I just agree to help them?”

He reads more in my head. “You mean, let them believe their manipulation is working. You feed them what I tell you, and I control the flow of information?”

“Exactly. Then I won’t have to be the liar, you will. At the very least it would buy us time to come up with another plan, right?”

His expression lifts slightly for the first time.

Is that a flicker of hope? Maybe I’ve finally given him evidence that I’m not totally useless.

He smiles. “You’re not useless. Anyway, it can’t hurt to try.

We already know the alternative won’t work.

” He sighs at my next thought. “You need to stop.”

“But how can I help you if I don’t know everything. I feel like you’re hiding so much from me.”

“I am. You have to trust me.”

“Are they going to come for you again?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t discern their intent this morning. Clausen can block me when he wants to. They’re careful.”

I swallow the sudden emotion at the memory of his morning. “Why did you come to lunch today?”

Our eyes meet, and my lungs burn.

“You want me to say it was because of you.”

“Was it?”

“Partly.”

“Why else?” He doesn’t respond, and I accept the losing battle. Suddenly, he shakes his head in exasperation.

“Really? Again with the fantasies?”

I roll my eyes. “It’s not like it’s a secret. You know how much I want to kiss you.”

His playful grin only makes it worse. “You should go. You’re going to be late.”

“Ha, I knew it. You think I’m a bad kisser.”

He laughs. “You don’t have much experience. You’ll get the hang of it,” he teases, and I swat his arm.

“So help me practice. I’m kind of a perfectionist.”

“I know.” He leans in and sends my heart racing with the slightest brush on the cheek. “We’ll practice another time. I promise.”

My mood shatters at the brief vision, and he sighs. “You do realize that’s a big part of the problem.”

I nod and look away. “I wish I could turn it off. It’s why I don’t have much experience.” I study his response and grunt. “But you didn’t take that approach to relationships, I see.”

“No. I just kept things superficial so when it got too weird to ignore, neither of us got hurt.”

“Does that really work?”

“Not at all,” he says with smirk. “But it sounds good, doesn’t it?”

“No. You probably left a trail of broken hearts.”

“Look for the ones who hate me the most.” My eyes widen, and he grins. “Laura, yes; Ben, no.”

“But is that why Ben hates you so much?”

Daniel leans back with a self-satisfied smile. “Partly. Also because I never worshipped him like he wanted. For whatever reason, I’m immune to his manipulation.”

“Like he wanted?” Oh, no. “He told me his gift was a curse that he can’t control.”

Daniel grunts. “Yeah, I’m sure he did. Girls love the ‘woe is me, I can’t help the fact that I’m so beautiful’ speech.”

“That was all a play?”

It’s his turn to be surprised. “Come on. You seriously bought it? I’m sorry for not saying something sooner then.

With your ability to read people, I just assumed you saw right through him.

I didn’t bother digging through your thoughts to find out.

” He lets out a breath. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound critical.

I just hate the guy so much and it kills me to know his game worked on you. Especially you.”

“I thought he was a jerk and fought him for that reason, but no, I didn’t know he purposely tried to manipulate people.”

“And he obsesses over the ones he can’t have.” He quiets, and then grins. “Man, Laura must despise you. You’ve hooked both of us.”

His implication sends chills through me. I’ve hooked him?

That smile. God, I want to suck it off his face.

He snorts a laugh, and I blush. “What’s her gift, anyway?” I blurt in the most awkward subject change ever.

Thank heavens he has mercy and lets it go. “You were right in your guess. She’s immune to other abilities and can turn them back on you.”

“Including you?”

He shakes his head. “Not me. I don’t know why. It’s one of the reasons I fascinated her in the beginning. Probably why she hung on longer than she should have.”

“And yet, she doesn’t seem to know anything about you. She thinks you’re just a violent addict like everyone else.”

“You can be physically close and still keep your distance.”

“Yeah, but…”

He scans my face. “Would we be here right now if you hadn’t seen inside my head? You know the answer, even if you don’t want to admit it. You’d be out there with them, resenting me for throwing your friendly attempts back in your face. I’m an expert at what I do.”

I don’t like the thought. Especially because he’s right. It’s not hard to see our relationship taking an entirely different course if I hadn’t touched him that night. It makes me uncomfortable.

“So given your rocky history with both of them, why does Clausen group you all together?”

“Why not? It’s the perfect place for me. He knows we hate each other. Living together only fuels the rivalry. The more they hate me, the more the superstar couple on campus convinces everyone else to do the same.”

“I guess that backfired in my case.”

“They weren’t counting on our introduction before you were convinced of the lie.”

“Or that I’d touch you.”

Our gazes lock. “That was... I’m so used to judgments and fear, not sincere curiosity. I’m immune to most abilities, but not yours. I didn’t know what to make of you.”

“But you read me. You had to know what was in my heart.”

“Yeah, and I also knew you hadn’t been given enough reason to hate me yet. I figured it was just a matter of time until they convinced you otherwise.”

“You hoped.”

“Now you know why.”

“I would do it again. I’m glad I know the truth.”

His weak smile pierces me as I wait for his response. “Now, you’re really going to be late.”

I sigh. Of course he deflects again. “So do I love you or hate you publicly? Which will work better for Clausen?”

“You know the answer to that.”

Doesn’t mean I like it. “Lunch was cruel. I don’t know how long I can keep that up.”

“I was unfair. I’m sorry.”

I shake my head and move toward him. “I didn’t say it wasn’t amazing. Cruel and amazing. Remind me to tell you about the vision.”

“I will, but you should go. Seriously. We can’t go where this conversation is headed. Not now, and really not ever.”

I bite my lip, testing his resolve that seems to weaken with each passing second. Finally, he grunts and ducks toward the door. “You’re impossible.”

I was actually looking forward to hanging with Sara, Matthew, and Connor tonight. I needed a distraction—contact without drama—and an hour in, it feels great to be a teenager again for five minutes.

Sara and Matthew have obvious crushes on each other, which amuses Connor and me at first. As the night wears on, we get a front row seat to a budding romance, and I try to be happy for them.

I am happy for them, but my head keeps battling a tiny ember of jealousy.

I wish I were here worrying about which seat has the greatest chance of elbow contact.

I’d love to be bickering over the last piece of popcorn or other films the leading lady has been in.

What would it be like to be here with Daniel now?

To cuddle on the couch, and hold his hand, and hear his laugh?

Instead, I have to wonder whether an extended absence means my crush is being imprisoned in the basement.

I force away images of him strapped to a chair and try my best to chuckle at Connor’s latest joke.

I fear I’m not doing a good job fitting in when he leans close.

“You know this is supposed to be a comedy, right?”

I manage a quick smile. “Sorry. I have a lot on my mind. This is probably just what I needed, though.”

“Well, we’re masters at distraction if that’s what you need.”

“Yeah, I’m getting that.”

Connor grins and motions toward the couple giggling at the television. “So what do you think? Yes or no?”

“To Sara and Matthew together?”

He nods.

“I guess yes. They’re both good people.”

He stretches an obvious arm around my shoulders. “So does that make us the respective wingmen as this thing gets off the ground?”

I can’t help but snort a laugh. “I have to warn you that I’m not a great wingman. I mean, I’ve been sulking pretty much all night.”

“Yeah, but you look cute sulking.”

I shift in my seat to give Connor a closer inspection.

Under other circumstances, I probably would have welcomed an advance.

Warm brown eyes, sandy hair, exuding sunshine—he’s pretty much the opposite of Daniel.

He’s everything I should want but don’t now that Daniel’s disrupted my world.

I duck away from his arm, and he removes it from the back of the couch with a weak smile.

“Thanks. You seem like more than a worthy wingman,” I offer as consolation, and he accepts it graciously.

“My brother was two years older and an all-state quarterback. I have many years of playing second fiddle under my belt. Literally. I’ve been playing since I was twelve.”

“Really?” I laugh again when he shakes his head with a sly grin.

“No, but how cool would that have been? I should’ve learned just so I could say that ten years down the road. Wish I’d planned ahead.”

“Ah yes, if only we knew then what we know now.”

He glances at the TV. “This movie sucks. Want to give them some privacy?”

“Sure.”

“We’re gonna get some air. You kids have fun,” Connor says to the other couple.

“You sure?” Sara asks me.

“Yeah, this movie is terrible,” I add with a light tone. “Besides, Connor was telling me about his fiddle playing, and I’m dying to hear more details.”

“You play an instrument?” Matthew asks in surprise.

Connor rolls his eyes and pushes me toward the door. “Long story. We’ll be back later.”

I grin as we move into the hallway. “Now you’ll have to learn just to impress Matthew.”

“Matthew is easily impressed. It’s one of the reasons everyone loves him. So where to?”

“I don’t know. Let’s just haunt the hallways. I’m convinced half the student body stands around waiting to witness a crime.”

“I know! It’s creepy.” Connor releases an exaggerated shudder, and I laugh yet again. When have I ever laughed this much? For a brief moment, I almost feel normal. For a brief moment, I don’t hate Madison Academy.