Page 18 of Scarlett and the Fake Boyfriend (Scarlett #2)

Friday

I thought Mr. Halifax had opened his arms to prevent me from running into him.

But apparently he was just animatedly talking to the class.

He saw me at the last second and started to turn. But it was too late. I slammed into him and we both toppled over.

His arms wrapped around me and he groaned when his back hit the hard floor.

Our faces were only inches apart. And I’d somehow ended up straddling him. Ah!

“Miss Hunter, are you alright?” he said.

I put my hand on his chest to sit up.

His hands trailed down my sides as I moved.

“I am so so sorry,” I said. “I wasn’t looking where I was going. I heard the bell ring and I didn’t want to be late.”

I heard my classmates snickering.

Oh my God, now I’m sitting up and straddling him!

“But you’re alright?”

Sophie rushed over. “Are you guys okay?”

Mr. Halifax didn’t even look at her. He just seemed concerned about me.

“I’m fine,” I said. Just highly mortified .

Jacob helped me to my feet. He put his hand out for Mr. Halifax next and helped him up too.

“Mr. Miller,” he said. “The boyfriend that’s been distracting Miss Hunter so much recently.”

Jacob raised his eyebrows and looked at me. “Distracting her from what?”

“She failed a quiz,” Sophie said.

I did not fail! “It was a C. It was nothing.”

Mr. Halifax looked at me. “A C is not an A.” He turned back to Jacob. “Please let her focus on her school work, Mr. Miller.”

Was Mr. Halifax actually asking Jacob to stay away from me right now? I forced myself not to groan. Mr. Halifax was definitely my kiss thief.

“But at least you’re not her actual cousin,” Mr. Halifax added.

Jacob laughed. “We’re definitely not related.”

“They better not be,” Sophie said. “Because of all the things they’ve been doing every night recently.”

Sophie! Gah! This was the most mortifying moment of my life. Which was saying something. Because my dad was...well...my dad. And he loved embarrassing me.

Mr. Halifax cleared his throat. “Miss Hunter and Miss Hunter. Please both take your seats. And, Mr. Miller, you’re late for class.”

Jacob nodded and turned to me. “See you later, love,” he said.

I awkwardly just stood at the front of the classroom for a moment as Jacob walked away.

Sophie grabbed my arm to pull me to the back of the classroom. “Did you just see how disappointed Mr. Halifax looked when Jacob called you love? ”

No, I hadn’t been looking. “Shhh,” I whispered as I sat down.

“Miss Hunter and Miss Hunter,” Mr. Halifax said. “Even though you were both late, class has already started. And before you ask, no I am not in charge of detention today.”

Sophie smiled at him. “Sorry, sir. I’ll be a good girl now.”

Ew.

Mr. Halifax quickly turned away.

I felt like the air wasn’t reaching my lungs right. Mr. Halifax’s hands had been on me. Our lips had been inches apart. Had that felt like the same as when the kiss thief’s body was pressed against mine? Or...not?

Sophie was staring at me.

I knew she was wondering the same thing. But, God, I didn’t know! Mr. Halifax’s hands hadn’t touched my skin. But he’d held me firmly against him. And he’d looked so concerned about me.

Kill me. I sat there and tried not to die of embarrassment.

***

Sophie was whistling as she drove us through the city.

My throat was hoarse from cheering the team on. Empire High had won 17 to 10. So far this season they were undefeated. I was in a great mood. Especially because it was the weekend and I wouldn’t have to see Mr. Halifax until Monday. Plus Sophie hadn’t set up another exploding kissing booth.

But I was confused about why Sophie was in such a good mood. I’d literally straddled her crush today. She was taking it like a champ.

“So what is our new plan for figuring out who the kiss thief is?” I asked.

“No idea. We’ll have to have a meeting with everyone in your secret lair about it.”

“ Our secret lair.”

She kept whistling and started to drum her fingers on the steering wheel.

I was used to her having a million ideas on how to prove my kiss thief wasn’t Mr. Halifax. “Jacob thinks it’s Zach the Shy Spy,” I said.

“Does he? Hm.” She continued whistling.

“You’re being weird right now.”

“Huh?”

“Why are you whistling so much?”

She pressed her lips together as she made a turn that wasn’t to the party tonight. “I may have done a thing.”

“What thing?”

“Well...” her voice trailed off. “It didn’t seem like you were going to ask Jacob for his help with your third base issue. So...I asked for you.”

I stared at her in horror. “You didn’t.”

She didn’t respond.

“Sophie, you did not ask Jacob to let me blow him so I could practice third base!”

She laughed. “No, I didn’t.”

“Phew.” I breathed a sigh of relief. She’d nearly given me a heart attack.

“I just told him the kiss thief mentioned stealing third base and that you were nervous about it. So I told Jacob that you might like some pointers.”

“That’s the same thing!”

She turned into Empire High’s parking lot. “Not verbatim. ”

“Soph.”

“Scarlett, it’s going to be fine. Actually, it’s going to be fun. And who knows...maybe you and Jacob will fall in love for real or something.”

I stared at her. “What are you talking about?”

She sighed and pulled into an empty spot. “I am 100% in on Operation Too Hot to Handle. Or unmasking your kiss thief. Or whatever else you want to do. But like I’ve been telling you all semester...I’m Team Jacob. Scar, you and Jacob are perfect together.”

“We’re just friends.”

“He picked you up after the game and twirled you around in the air.”

I swallowed hard. I’d really liked when he’d done that. “That was just for show.”

“And he did that thing you see in movies where he dips you backward and kisses you. It was so romantic.”

“For show,” I said again. But I’d really enjoyed that too.

“I just think maybe the lines are starting to blur. You went on a date last night with him just cause.”

“It was to make Axel jealous.”

“Mhm.”

“It was!”

Sophie sighed. “Regardless, you still need help with your third base problem.”

I didn’t like that she was calling it a problem. Maybe I’d be great at it. Although I did seem to keep flubbing kisses. “Why don’t you just give me some pointers?”

“Because where’s the fun in that? Wait. Actually...I do have one tip. Don’t bite him.”

I laughed. And then I groaned.

“Look, he’s coming out of the school now.

” She pointed over to Jacob and Axel walking down the front steps.

They’d both already showered and looked like a million bucks.

I pressed my lips together. Yeah, I’d just thought they both looked like a million bucks.

Were the lines actually starting to blur?

“Have fun sucking his banana,” Sophie said.

“Now there’s an idea. I’ll practice on a banana.”

“Get out of my car.”

I laughed. But I knew she also meant it. I opened my door.

“I can’t wait to hear all about it later.”

Absolutely not. I was going to withhold all the information from her because of what she’d done.

I slammed the door and walked toward the guys.

My heart was pounding in my chest. I knew Sophie had said she didn’t technically ask Jacob to let me blow him.

But...same difference. I stopped by his truck. I could barely even look at him.

“Congrats on the win, guys,” I said when they reached me. But I was looking at Axel instead of Jacob.

Axel smiled at me. “See you guys at the party?” he asked.

I don’t know. How long do blowjobs take?

“Yeah,” Jacob said. “But we’re going to be a bit late. We have a stop to make first.”

“Cool,” Axel said. “See you both in a bit.” He walked over to his BMW.

I swallowed hard and turned to Jacob. “So...a stop to make?”

He opened up the passenger door for me. “Yup.”

I wondered where he was taking me? To a dark alleyway or something? I climbed into his truck. The familiar smell of freshly cut grass and the comfortable seat started to calm my racing heart. I kicked off my shoes and put my feet up on the dash. Everything was fine. Normal even.

Jacob put his key in the ignition and reversed out of his spot. He put his foot down on the gas and drove out of the parking lot.

Was he driving extra fast or was it just me?

“So...um...” my voice trailed off. “Where are we going?”

“To my house.”

“Oh.” Oh. Well, great. I wasn’t sure why I had been so worried. Just because Sophie had asked for him to help me, didn’t mean it was like an urgent situation. Maybe the blowjob thing would be later. Like after the party or something. Or like...never.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. He really did look like a million bucks. Especially in his black t-shirt and jeans.

But the summer had faded away fast. I was wearing leggings and his varsity jacket at the game tonight to stay warm. “Aren’t you cold?” I asked.

“Nah, I’m always overheated after our games.”

“Not missing your varsity jacket?”

He shook his head. “Not in the slightest.”

I smiled and turned to look out the window. He’d just turned off the crowded city street. And I knew we were close to his home as soon as I saw trees along the sidewalks.

He pulled over in front of his house and cut the engine. “Are you hungry?” he asked.

Actually... “Starving.”

“Me too. I’m always hungry after a game.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out of the car.

I had just gotten my shoes back on when Jacob opened my door for me. I grabbed his hand as he helped me hop out of his truck. And then he kept his fingers intertwined with mine.

“What is Aunt Brooklyn cooking for dinner tonight?” I asked. I loved coming here for dinner. And I wondered how many people would be joining tonight.

Jacob unlocked the front door. “No idea. I’m not even sure what restaurant they went to.”

Wait, what?

Jacob opened the door and flicked on the lights.

The house was completely silent.

And empty.

Was it just the two of us? Here alone? I swallowed hard.

I was used to Jacob’s house being full of people. Actually, I wasn’t sure I could remember a time when it wasn’t.