Dylan had to work all day Sunday.

On Monday, I didn’t expect to see him until lunch, but he surprised me by showing up at my flat before school. Yvonne was still fast asleep, having worked a late shift the night before. I let him in with a smile and went up on my tiptoes to give him a kiss.

“Missed you,” I whispered.

I’d only meant for it to be a quick peck, but Dylan closed his eyes, his mouth practically sinking into mine. He quietly groaned and deepened the kiss by sliding his tongue past my lips. I gasped at the unexpected but pleasant intrusion. He wrapped his arms around my middle and walked me backwards to my bedroom.

“What are you doing?” I asked, breaking away long enough to ask the question. Yvonne could wake up and hear him. Then I’d have to explain why I had a boy in my room at eight a.m.

“I’ve gone a whole week without you,” he rasped, like that was explanation enough. His hands fumbled at the waist of my uniform.

“We have to go to school,” I protested.

“You’ll get there on time. I promise,” he said then put his mouth on my neck. That was when my brain stopped working. When he touched me, I was helpless; I let him do whatever he wanted. He laid me flat on my bed, divested my entire lower half of clothing, then went to town on me with his lips, teeth, and tongue. It was torture not to make a sound as my gasps and laboured breaths filled the room.

Dylan looked sexy and ruffled in his uniform, his eyes on mine as he dragged his tongue over my clit in a lazy, repetitive rhythm. It felt like there were a dozen tiny explosions going off inside me. I fisted my duvet, back arching as my orgasm built.

Dylan palmed my hips, his gaze dark as he drove me to the heights of pleasure. I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t. I wanted to tear his clothes off and pull him on top of me, but we didn’t have time.

When I came, my entire body convulsed. Dylan licked at me until I was completely sated, like he couldn’t get enough.

“Pretty,” he murmured as I tried to catch my breath.

“Uh . . . thanks,” I replied shyly.

“We should start every day exactly like this,” he went on and I gave a soft laugh.

“You’ll hear no complaints from me.”

Was this what it would be like? If we moved away together? I felt incredible, like nothing bad could touch me, but I also felt guilty, because I wanted more. I wanted Dylan on top of me, inside me, under me. I just wanted. I wanted him to know the pleasure he just gave me.

He exhaled a frustrated breath, then pulled me up from the mattress. “Come on, I better get you to school if I’m going to keep my promise.”

On the way to our first class, we had to walk by Kirsty and her friends. Dylan held my hand the entire way, and for the first time I felt like we were a real couple. We were showing the world it was official, and I liked that, but I hated the attention. Kirsty’s gazed slithered along our linked fingers, and I caught a micro-expression of irritation.

Oh, well.

I suppose I better get used to being hated by Dylan’s bevvy of admirers.

We stopped outside my classroom, and he gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “See you at lunch, Ev.”

“Yeah, see you then,” I replied.

All through my morning classes, I could smell him on me, a heady mix of his cologne and something that was just him. He was right. Each person did have their own scent, and Dylan’s was my favourite. I couldn’t stop thinking about him coming over to the flat just to go down on me. I was basically in my own little world. I took nothing in during class as I relived the whole thing all morning.

That was probably why I didn’t see Kirsty follow me into the bathroom, although I did get an odd feeling on the back of my neck. My hairs stood on end, like my body sensed a threat my brain was too slow to pick up on.

I stood by the sink, washing my hands then looked up. Kirsty and several of her friends were watching me, and those hairs stood up even further. I was outnumbered. She eyeballed me as she chewed on a piece of gum, then slowly pulled it out of her mouth. Without a word, she stepped forward and mashed it into the back of my head.

“What the hell?” I exclaimed and turned around to face her.

“Stay away from Dylan.”

“Or what? You’ll put more gum in my hair? You’re disgusting.”

She smirked and started to back away. “Good luck getting it out, slut.”

Her friends snickered and followed her out, while I tried to contain my rapidly growing temper. I wasn’t one to lose my cool, but then again, nothing like this had ever happened to me before. I was too bland a target for bullying. I blended into the background. But not anymore. Not with Dylan O’Dea as my boyfriend.

I tried to pull the gum from my hair with some tissue, but it only made matters worse. I needed help. Sliding my phone from my pocket, I quickly sent Sam an SOS. He showed up minutes later, arching a what the fuck are you looking at? brow at a student who glared at him for being in the girls’ bathroom.

“Oh my God, that little bitch,” he said on a gasp when he saw my hair.

“Is it really bad?” I asked, unable to see the full extent of the damage.

“It’s bad, but fixable. She’s just a jealous cow. That’s why she did it.”

“I know that. I just hate this sort of thing. You know I’m a pacifist.”

Sam grinned. “Yeah, unless you’re defending me. Then you’re a crazy mofo who’d claw somebody’s eyes out.”

“Well, yeah,” I allowed. “But that’s a special circumstance.”

“Okay, I think we may have to tie it up until we get home. If we rub some peanut butter, or maybe a spoonful of vegetable oil in, it’ll come out nicely.”

“Ugh,” I groaned. “Kirsty’s saliva is gonna be in my hair all day.”

“I know, but there’s nothing else for it. I promise I’ll get this gunk out as soon as we get home.”

“You’re a lifesaver,” I said, thanking him.

“Come on, let’s go have something to eat before lunch is over.”

I nodded and followed him out. On our way to the cafeteria, we passed by Shane. Unlike usual, he wasn’t scowling at Sam, but grinning. However, much like usual, he threw an insult at him.

“Hey fag.”

“Hey dickface,” Sam shot back.

“Suck any cocks today?” Shane retorted.

“Why? You interested?” Sam asked back and Shane grinned wider as he continued down the hall.

“Okay, that was . . . bizarre.”

“I discovered it’s best to play him at his own game. Actually, I think he likes it.”

I arched a brow. “What? Like a sadist who enjoys victims that fight back?”

Sam made a face like he was thinking about it. “Hmm, maybe.”

“It’s weird.”

“You think I don’t know that? Every time I promise myself I’m not going to talk to him anymore, I’m replying to his texts five minutes later. There’s something seriously wrong with me.”

“No, there isn’t. You’re just enjoying having someone be interested in you. It’s not your fault your admirer is incapable of normal, healthy interactions. Is that how he talks to you all the time?”

Sam shook his head. “Only when other people are around.”

“And when you’re alone?”

He chewed on his lip. “When we’re alone we don’t do much talking.”

“So, it’s all . . . sexual?” I whispered.

“Basically.”

“Have you had sex with him?”

“Not yet.”

“That means you’re going to.”

“No, it doesn’t. But even if I do, you don’t need to worry. I don’t have feelings for him. I just like this whole secret tryst we have going on. It’s exciting.”

I studied him worriedly. Sam might’ve convinced himself he hadn’t developed feelings, but I wasn’t so sure. I’d been smitten with Dylan before we kissed. Before we had sex. But once he’d touched my body, kissed me, every feeling under the sun was involved, and I thought Sam would be the same.

Unfortunately, I struggled finding words to express my concern. “Just be careful. Okay?”

“I’m always careful. But seriously, Ev, you should be happy for me. For the first time in ages, I actually feel excited about something. I feel like I could go out into the world one day and find someone to love. Aren’t you glad I won’t spend the rest of my life alone?”

“That was never going to happen. You just think that way because of where we live, but go ten minutes on a bus and you’re in gay mecca. You’ve just never ventured outside of this little bubble we live in, that’s all.”

“Ten minutes on a bus, eh? When we turn eighteen you have to promise to come to all the gay bars with me. All of them.”

I chuckled. “’Course I will. Wouldn’t want to miss out on all that dancing.”

“Don’t forget the chance to ogle gorgeous, sexually non-threatening men,” Sam added with a wink as we entered the lunchroom.

Dylan, Amy, and Conor sat at a table, talking and eating. Sam and I approached, and I took the empty seat next to Dylan. I felt those hairs on the back of my neck tingling again and frowned. Just across the room, the boys Dylan had been suspended for fighting with eyed me in a way I found unsettling. Or maybe they were eyeing Dylan. Either way, it made me feel uncomfortable.

I tried to ignore them as I peeled open my sandwich. Conor shot me a sheepish glance and asked, “Did Yvonne say anything about Saturday?”

I bit my lip and took a bite. “She asked if you were okay after she left. She hoped she didn’t hurt your feelings.”

Conor dropped his face into his palms. “She pities me. I think that’s even worse than if she was disgusted.”

“Of course she wasn’t disgusted. Don’t be ridiculous. You just took her by surprise.”

Conor’s expression turned glum. “She doesn’t think of me that way. I get it. I never would’ve done it if I wasn’t drunk.”

I sent him a commiserating look. “I know.”

Conor glanced at Amy. “How long do you think it’ll take for this embarrassment to fade?”

She pursed her lips. “Hmm, six to eight weeks, I reckon.”

“Oh hell, kill me now.”

“Don’t be so melodramatic,” Sam tutted. “I think it was very brave of you to make a move, even if it did end badly. At least now you know.”

“Yeah,” Conor sighed, dejected. “At least now I know.”

“Your hair’s different,” Dylan commented, and I realised he’d been quietly studying me.

“Oh yeah, I just tied it up.”

“What’s this?” he asked, fingers sifting through the strands. “Is that chewing gum?”

“That cow Kirsty stuck it there,” Sam told him, and I closed my eyes for a second. I didn’t want any drama.

Dylan’s gaze darkened as his attention came to me. “Kirsty did this?”

“She told me to stay away from you, but don’t worry, she’s just jealous—”

Before I had a chance to finish, Dylan was up from his seat. He pinpointed Kirsty on the other side of the room and made his way over. My throat constricted as I watched him confront her. None of us could hear what he said since he was too far away, but his body language was enough. He was reaming her out, and everyone who sat at the surrounding tables watched the drama unfold. Dylan made a furious hand gesture, and Kirsty’s cheeks reddened. When he was done he marched back to our table, sat down and silently ate the rest of his lunch.

Nobody breathed a word. I wanted to ask what he said to her, but Dylan’s entire being somehow commanded silence. I glanced across the room and sure enough, Kirsty was staring at us. Her expression was a mix of anger and mortification, but shame, too.

I had a feeling she wouldn’t be sticking any more gum in my hair. And to some extent, that meant absolutely nothing. Dylan O’Dea had publicly defended me. Hating what had happened to me, he had launched to my defence. Up until that moment, I had only two people do that before in my life. Yvonne and Sam. My mam? She’d run, never looked back. But this beautiful boy—beautiful man—had stood up for me. There was no doubt in my mind.

I loved Dylan O’Dea. And probably would forever.