Seeing Maddie at school after spending an awesome night with her is weird. Part of me wants to walk up to her and start chatting, just so we can continue the awesomeness.

But I can’t do that.

I have a role to play.

So I spend the rest of the day torturing myself.

I stare at the back of her head in Comparative Lit, resisting the urge to pass her notes.

I watch her from my table in the cafeteria, joking with my friends that I’m actually checking out Chloe when in reality, all I want to do is sneak Maddie away for a little private conversation.

By the end of the day it’s killing me.

I can’t wait to find Luke and get the hell out of town. We’re meeting up by Coach’s office to go through the gear inventory and then heading to the sports shop in Bakersfield. They’ve already been notified about the prior theft and have set aside the same stock Coach picked up last time.

I’m kind of surprised the coach is willing to let Luke and me go without him. I thought he’d want to monitor everything really closely, but when I told him what Dad was doing and offered to go and get the stuff after practice, he gave me a grateful smile and told me to skip practice to get the job done. He doesn’t want the gear sitting in anyone’s car overnight, so he’s letting Luke come with me and he’ll wait for us by the sports shed so we can unload everything then and there.

Whipping off my cap, I muss up my hair and walk past the gym. The girls’ volleyball practice is in full swing. I keep my eyes down and turn into the corridor that leads to the lockers, the workout room and Coach Keenan’s office. My sneakers squeak on the floor, sounding loud in the empty space. Everyone’s either on their way home or busy at some music or sports practice.

The small moment of solitude is actually kind of nice.

My lips twitch with a grin that fades as I round the corner and spot Maddie coming out of the girls’ locker room.

She’s dressed for practice, looking hot in a pair of knee-length yoga pants and a fitted red USA T-shirt.

I jolt to a stop, mesmerized by her long ponytail. It sways like a pendulum as she walks towards me. I want to run my hands through that silky hair.

She checks her watch, then breaks into a run that falters the second she sees me.

“Hey.” She jerks to a stop in front of me.

“Hi.” I raise my hand, feeling awkward for some weird reason.

“You not practicing today?” She points at my jeans and checkered-shirt combo.

“Actually Luke and I are heading to Bakersfield to pick up some new gear. Coach wants it done this afternoon so it can be locked up before school closes for the night.”

“Good plan,” she murmurs, her blue gaze flicking to mine before darting back to her sneakers.

I glance over my shoulder, making sure we’re alone in the corridor. Everything seems quiet.

“So, how’s your day been?” It’s a stupid question, but I can’t think of anything else to say.

She glances up to study my face. “My day’s been good, thanks. How about you?”

Shoving my hands in my pockets, I inch a little closer to her and memorize the way the corner of her mouth twitches when she’s fighting a grin. “Yeah, a pretty good day. But not as good as last night.”

Her white teeth brush against her bottom lip and she looks to the ground again.

“I had a really good time.” My voice is low and husky for some reason. I’m not trying to put it on; it’s just happening, along with the uncontrolled thrumming in my chest.

“Me too,” she whispers.

She’s still staring at the floor, so I lean in, talking softly. “You’re welcome to come with me again sometime. In fact, I’d really love it if you did.”

Her aqua gaze jumps up and catches mine before she tips her head with a smile. “You don’t have to prove anything to me anymore. I saw your other side yesterday, and it’s way more attractive than the one you put on at school.”

“So you are attracted to me, then?” I can’t help the cocky grin I flash her. I’m using it to hide the hitch in my chest and the way my heart won’t slow the hell down.

Rolling her eyes, Maddie lets out a soft chuckle. “Don’t ruin it.”

I snicker and catch her hand as she goes to step past me. With a gentle tug, I pull her back to my side and whisper, “Thank you for coming. I needed you to see the real me.”

Her eyes are so warm and vibrant as she gazes up at my face. “I know.”

“I wish I could be myself around you all the time.”

Spinning to face me properly, she places her hands on either side of my face, her thumbs brushing my cheekbones while her long fingers rest on the back of my neck. “You can. I understand why you hide, but you don’t have to.” Her face crumples with pain. “I mean, I wish you didn’t feel like you had to. Better yet, I wish you didn’t have any reasons to.”

Her kind words and the compassion radiating from her do me in, and before I can stop myself, I lean in and brush my lips against hers.

It’s not a hot, passionate kiss…more an act of gratitude than anything.

I’ll just kiss her and then step back, maybe pat her shoulder and say thank you.

But the second my mouth touches hers, it sparks a craving within me. It’s strong and overpowering, possibly triggered by the attraction I’ve always felt towards her.

But it’s been intensified by the secrets I’ve shared.

Maddie’s seen me. All of me.

The second she steps back, I’ll let her go.

I promise myself that…

Until the pads of her fingers sink into the back of my neck and her soft lips move against mine.