Page 51 of Scarlett and the Fake Boyfriend (Scarlett #2)

“The punch has been spiked!” he yelled. “I repeat...the punch has been spiked!” He lifted up the whole bowl and chucked it in the sink behind the bar. “Bottled drinks only tonight.” He handed me a soda.

A few students in line groaned.

Yeah, this was mortifying. I opened up my soda and took a big sip.

“Well that’s lame,” a guy said behind me.

I turned to see Leo the Rugged Thief standing there.

“You know,” he said. “You almost got me killed in today’s game.”

“I’m so so sorry,” I said. “But technically that was Soph.”

“Oh? She said it was you who yelled my name.”

“It was definitely Scarlett,” Sophie said, cutting in. “She has a thing for hot kickers.”

Soph!

“And you know how you can make it up to him, Scar? By giving him your first dance.”

Subtle.

Leo smiled. “What do you say?” He put his arm out for me.

“Um...I...” my voice trailed off.

“I’d offer you my other arm, but it’s a little sore from when I got completely decked.” He smiled, but I felt awful about him getting hurt.

“I am so so sorry,” I said again. I took another sip of my soda to stall.

“I’ll hold that,” Sophie said and grabbed my soda. “Go,” she whispered .

I looked over my shoulder at Jacob. He was laughing about something with Axel. Neither of them would even know I was gone. And I needed to dance with Leo tonight. And sniff him. And this seemed like as good of a time as any. I put my hand on his forearm that hadn’t collided hard with the turf.

Leo smiled and escorted me to the dance floor. A slow song cut on.

Leo slid his hands onto my waist. “So you have a thing for kickers, huh?”

I laughed. “Absolutely,” I said, because I didn’t know what else to say to that.

“Then what are you doing dating a running back?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Wow, I was just kidding,” Leo said. “Is there trouble in paradise or something?”

I shook my head. “No, everything is good.”

“Hm.”

“It is.”

“You sound defensive,” he said with a smile. “You know, the whole team was surprised when Jacob started dating you. You’ve always been off limits. Captain’s orders.”

So...it was true. “Well, apparently Axel has changed his mind.”

“I guess so. A lot of guys on the team have wanted to ask you out over the years.”

“I doubt that.”

He smiled. “It’s true. Luis wanted to ask you out freshman year.”

I was glad I’d dodged that bullet, the dirty cheater. Although...had I? Could Luis the Cheater be my kiss thief? Pulling me into closets in secret because Axel had scared him off? I laughed awkwardly.

“And Zach definitely had a crush on you at one point.”

Zach the Stallion? I mean...Zach the Shy Spy? My heart started pounding. So...two of the four guys left on my list were actual possibilities? Screw me. “What about Eli the Halloween Henchman?” I asked.

Leo laughed. “What the hell did you just call Eli?”

I knew my face turned red. “Nothing.”

“The Halloween Henchman? I like that nickname. It’s fitting. So you have the hots for Eli?”

“No,” I said. “I was just wondering.”

“I think Gigi keeps him busy doing her dirty work.” He laughed. “Halloween Henchman. I’m gonna have to tell him that one...”

“Don’t you dare.”

“I mean, there might be a way to keep me quiet. If there’s trouble in paradise anyway, I wouldn’t mind a kiss. I’m kicking myself for missing out on that kissing booth. Although I am glad I didn’t explode.”

“You’re hilarious.”

“I know. I’m hoping to win class clown.”

I laughed and shook my head.

“But seriously,” he said. “A kiss might make my arm feel better.”

I frowned. “Does it hurt a lot? I really am sorry.”

“It’s excruciating,” he said, but he was all smiles.

“You are such a liar.” My words made my heart start racing. My kiss thief was a liar...

Leo laughed. “So is that a no on the kiss?”

“How about a kiss on the cheek?” I didn’t wait for him to respond. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. And I took a deep breath. He smelled minty. Like he’d just popped a mint.

“Did you just sniff me?” Leo asked.

“No?”

“You definitely did.”

“How tall are you?” I asked. For some reason, I found asking him invasive questions really easy.

“That’s a very strange question. I’m starting to get why Axel kept you off limits. You’re fascinating.”

I ignored him as I studied where my hands landed on his shoulders. He had to be almost six feet tall. “Is there anyone else on the team who’s had a crush on me?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“If you’re fishing for information about Jacob, I don’t know what to tell you.”

“What about Jacob?”

Leo shrugged. “He never mentioned you in the locker room. Like I said...we were all surprised when he started dating you.”

I swallowed hard. There was nothing to be upset about. Jacob wasn’t really dating me. But it still stung. This conversation had distracted me for a few minutes, but just like that, my stomach dropped.

“And I’m totally available as a rebound,” Leo said.

I shook my head. I’d measured and smelled him. But I was pretty sure I could eliminate Leo before even comparing him to the kiss thief. The kiss thief never spoke to me when he pulled me into dark rooms. And I had a feeling Leo didn’t know how to be quiet for that long.

“I’m happy with Jacob,” I said. And it was the truth. I had so much fun with him. So much fun I needed to constantly remind myself it wasn’t real.

“If you say so. But I’ll let Eli the Halloween Henchman know you have a crush on him.”

“I swear to God, Leo.”

He laughed. “Do I have a fun nickname too?”

“Nope,” I said.

“Well now I’m devastated.” He smiled. “Which makes my arm hurt.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“That’s not a good nickname.”

I sighed. “Fine. How about Leo the Rugged Thief?”

He smiled. “I like it. I’m really regretting taking this long to talk to you.”

“Wait, are your hands rough from wilderness camp?” I lifted one of his hands off my hip to inspect it. Wilderness camp hadn’t made them calloused or anything.

“I feel like I’m missing something going on in your head right now. Care to fill me in?”

“You’re not missing anything. But quick question...do you like to steal things that aren’t material?”

He laughed. “Like...what?”

I shrugged. “Hearts?”

“Are you drunk or something?” he asked.

That was not an answer. But I did feel a little light headed...

The song changed to a faster one.

I reached up and touched the scruff on the side of his face. “Huh. More rugged than your hands.”

“What is happening?” he asked with a laugh.

“Could you do me a favor?” I asked.

“Sure...”

“Could you tell Eli I want a dance?” I said .

“I seriously have no idea what’s gotten into you right now,” he said. “But this conversation has been very enlightening.”

“How so?”

“It’s one of the weirdest ones I’ve ever had. I think I might be in love with you.”

I laughed.

And so did he. But he was staring at me with a very confused expression on his face.

What is happening?

“You’re full of surprises, Scarlett. We should talk more often. But I’ll go tell the Halloween Henchman you have the hots for him.”

“That’s not what I said!”

But Leo was already weaving through the dance floor.

“So?” Sophie said.

I wasn’t even sure where she’d popped up from.

“Did you memorize his height?” She handed me my soda.

I nodded and took a sip. “I really doubt it’s him, though. The kiss thief is silent. Leo doesn’t know how to be quiet.”

Sophie laughed. “Fair. But he does text you a lot .”

“Yeah.”

“Did he seem interested in you?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I was really focused on memorizing him. And looking back at it, I was pretty sure I was acting very weird about it. And he said he might be in love with me.”

“Whoa, what?”

“I was talking almost as much as him and it put him off kilter or something. I think I broke him.”

Sophie laughed and looked at Leo grabbing a drink. “He really could be your kiss thief. And he is super hot.”

I barely heard what she was saying. Because Leo and my dad looked like they were having a heated conversation. They kept pointing in my direction. If the punch bowl had still been there, I would have been worried it would wind up on Leo’s head.

“Did he say anything else?” Sophie asked.

“He mentioned that Zach and Luis have both had crushes on me in the past.” I was very distracted by what was happening at the bar. “Is Leo arguing with my dad?”

Sophie looked over at the bar. “Yeah, your dad did not seem pleased about you dancing with someone other than Jacob.”

I guess it wasn’t quite dark enough in here.

“Did Leo say anything else?” she asked.

I shook my head. “He confirmed that Axel told the whole team I was off limits.”

“Asshole.”

“And he said Eli has never mentioned liking me. But also Jacob has never mentioned liking me either. Where did Jacob go, anyway?”

“I’m not sure,” Sophie said. “But Mr. Halifax is here.” She pointed to where Mr. Halifax was standing in the corner. “Doesn’t he look amazing in a tux?”

“Um...he looks like a teacher.”

She sighed. “I know. He’s so hot.”

Mr. Halifax had his arms folded across his chest and was looking around the room like he was scanning it for drugs or something .

“But I’d even bang him in his mascot costume,” Sophie said. “I still can’t believe he’s the mascot. Normally that would really turn me off. But I think I might have a thing for eagles. And feathers.”

“That is so weird.”

She laughed. “I want to snuggle up in his wings.”

“Stop it.”

“And he can kiss me with his beak.”

“I know you’re joking,” I said. “But it’s still very weird.”

“Most importantly...do you notice anything interesting about him tonight?”

“Um...” I stared over at Mr. Halifax. “No?”

“He came solo,” Sophie said. “Your mom said all the chaperones bring dates. Which means Mr. Halifax definitely doesn’t have a girlfriend. I mean...not yet. Because I’m about to be his.”

I took another big sip of my soda.

“Slow down there,” Sophie said.

“What?”

“That’s not just soda in there. I heard that someone ordered special soft drinks tonight to get them past the chaperones.”

I looked down at my soda. “This is spiked?”

“Heavily.”

No wonder I’d found that conversation with Leo so easy...

Someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned around to see Eli standing there.

Eli cleared his throat. “Leo said you wanted a dance?” He put his hand out for me.

“I’ll go find Zach the Stallion for your next dance,” Sophie whispered and disappeared into the crowd.

“Is that all Leo said?” I asked Eli.

Eli smiled. “When has Leo only ever said one thing?”

“Okay, but the Halloween Henchman nickname was Sophie’s thing.”

“Halloween what?”

Oh, crap. Leo hadn’t told him about that?