Page 37 of The Rebel (Covington Prep: The Girls We Love #7)

“A boy from France,” Mom said and she provided me with all of Hugo’s recent stats, confident that Paris could beat him. “Now, I haven’t heard from Dani for a few days. Is everything okay there?”

“Yes, it’s fine,” I said. “Did you know that Mr. Sinclair’s parents visited?”

“Alex’s parents?” Mom gasped. “Was everything all right?”

“Yep. They’ve reunited. Jade got them back talking.” Saying his name strangely filled me with a burst of pride.

“That’s wonderful news,” Mom gushed. “Oh I’ll have to call Dani when I get a moment. So, you’re all getting along? You’re good with Jade and Oliver?”

“Yep.” I paused, wondering what Mom would say if I told her about Jade and me. A part of me wanted to share with her about my first kiss, but she’d probably think it was silly and couldn’t care less. Or get angry. “Mom, I gotta get to lunch.”

“Okay. But you haven’t really told me what’s been happening. How’s Gabby? And Volley? Do we need more cat food? You’re keeping out of trouble, I hope?” Mom resorted back to her stern and bossy self. “No more detentions?”

“No, of course not. Yeah, I think the cat food is okay for now.”

“I...miss...you...baby, I...love...you,” she said jerkily, like she was about to break down into convulsive sobs.

Stunned and shaken by the sudden melodramatic display of emotion, I said a quick, “See ya, bye,” and hung up. I pocketed my phone, my head spinning.

Mom never got sentimental, unless it was one of Paris’s victories.

But crazier than that, now my chin was quivering.

I mean, I missed Paris—a little—but Mom and Dad?

With the way they’d left me behind, I’d been determined not to miss them even a bit.

But it had been three weeks, which was the longest we’d ever been apart.

“Hey.” Jade’s gentle voice blinked me back to the present. “You okay?”

“Sure,” I said, forcing a wide smile onto my face. “What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” he parroted back.

“I just called Mom. Paris won his match in a third set tiebreaker.”

“Hey, that’s awesome,” Jade said, slipping an arm around my shoulder. “So, why are you crying?” He cupped my face, his thumb swiping at a tear, his eyes kind and tender.

Up till then, I hadn’t realized I was crying. I tried to laugh, but it came out as a sniff and a feeble, “I don’t know.”

“Heyyyyy.” Jade pulled me into his chest, his fingers gently feathering my hair. I loved it, a shiver sweeping up my spine. I rested my cheek against his blazer. “Tell me,” he drawled, “Va-len-see-uh?”

“I don’t know, Mom just said she missed me,” I said, pressing against his shoulder

“You miss her, too? And your Dad?”

“And stupid Paris,” I muttered with a pout.

A chuckle escaped Jade’s throat and he tilted my chin and brought us nose to nose, eye to eye. “It won’t be too much longer,” he said, his soft green gaze drawing me in. “I guess I’ll have to do for now.”

I didn’t say anything as his lips brushed my forehead, quite a distraction, momentarily forgetting that my family were on another continent. A gentle warmth flooded through me like hot chocolate and sprinkles.

“They must be stoked that you got selected for the art exhibition,” Jade said, seemingly unable to resist threading his fingers through my hair.

I closed my eyes, basking in his attention, inhaling his yummy cologne, happy in our cocoon. “We don’t really have to go to our next class, do we?”

Jade jerked back. “You trying to corrupt me?”

I batted my eyelashes and asked innocently, “Me? Corrupt you?”

Jade’s grin was easy and relaxed, almost like he was thinking about it for a second.

“Well, what’s the worst thing that could happen?” I teased. “Detention? Double detention? An essay on the importance of education?”

Jade’s eyes narrowed and he flicked his nose against mine. “No one is skipping, okay? But we do have twenty minutes until next class. And I have some protein bars in my truck.”

I frowned, not understanding. I hadn’t done a workout, I hardly needed a recovery snack. “I can just grab something to eat in the cafe...ter...ia.” Suddenly it clicked. “You mean...?”

Jade winked and hooked his arm through mine. PDA was frowned upon at Covington Prep, even hand holding in the hallways would incite a loud and somber reproach from a teacher. Let alone hugs, let alone kissing...a definite no-no. No wonder Scott and Gabby had hidden out in the music room.

But as Jade led me out to the parking lot, to his truck, I was giddy with anticipation at locking lips. But I was also hugely intrigued.

“Jade Sinclair, are you actually going to break a school rule?”

“There is no specific rule about sitting in your vehicle at lunch time.”

“Sitting in your vehicle? Is that what we’re doing?”

“Yes. Eating our lunch,” he stated. “It’s not against the rules.”

“You’ve checked? You’ve really checked?”

“Just keep walking,” Jade urged me along, “there’s not much time.”

He clicked his remote way before we reached his truck and he opened the passenger door for me, guiding me up with his hand on my waist. The slightest touch, yet its impact was a tingling sensation through my whole body. “In the glove box,” he said.

There were a bunch of bars in there and I brought out two, handing one to him as he climbed into the driver’s seat. He immediately put it into his blazer pocket.

“You’re not hungry?” I asked.

“Not for food,” he said with a flirty eyebrow raise.

“Whoa,” I laughed. “Not sure if I know this version of you, Mr. Stickler-for-the-rules-Sinclair.”

“What?” He feigned offense. “You think I’m a Goody Two-Shoes?”

“If the name fits...”

His lips tightened, like he was suppressing a smile. “Maybe I’ll surprise you then, Little Rebel. Can you promise not to kiss and tell?” he said, pulling me closer, his finger faintly tracing the curve of my cheekbone.

“Little Rebel?” I croaked and giggled at the same time.

“I don’t really want to get into trouble.” Jade’s thumb pressed down on my lower lip. “But if I do, I think you’re worth it.”

I couldn’t breathe, captivated by his gorgeous green eyes and the smile just for me.

“Rules are made to be broken,” I gushed right before his lips collided with mine and he stole my breath and the heated seat warmed me from beneath.

I heard my protein bar drop to the floor, but it didn’t matter. My mouth was occupied with other things.