Harper. Sadie!. My heart pounds through my chest as I stare at my best friend, her mouth hanging open, her eyes so wide they look like they’re about to pop. The books that she was holding are now on the floor, her expression telling me she dropped them out of shock. I feel the same. Air is no longer moving through my lungs. My hands shake as they cling behind Easton’s back, my arms around him, our bodies pressing together. There’s no question in my mind, Sadie saw everything-the way Easton was ravishing my lips, the placement of his hands, the hunger that’s currently dissolving from my eyes. “I – “I start, looking at Easton, my head jumbled with thoughts, none of them clear enough aside from how fucked this situation is. With his gaze on mine, he takes a step back, his lips still wet from our kiss. “We’ll. talk later, Harper. He walks down the rest of the history aisle, disappearing around the corner, leaving me with my best friend who I know is full of questions. She picks up her books and hugs them to her chest. “I ran into Blake in the hallway and asked him if he’d seen you, he said I’d find you in here. I couldn’t remember when our Chem homework is due, and I knew you’d know. Girl, never did I expect to find you lip-locked with Easton. ” Her smile grows. “But hell fucking yes is all I can say. I close the distance between us and loop my arm through hers. I lead her into a. more private corner of the library, where Easton and I should have been in the first place rather than the middle of a popular aisle. The truth is, we shouldn’t have been making out at all. Even if I’ve been enjoying it, I’ve officially lost my damn mind. The second we land against the wall, Sadie says, “Spill it, girl. I want every detail, leave nothing out. “You have to promise you won’t say a word of this to Ryan. Her brows furrow. “Hello, girl code. Duh. I sigh. “But you’re in love with my brother, so girl code is a little iffy in this situation. She sticks her books in her bag, freeing her hands, which rest against my shoulders. “I promise-on my life-you have my word. ” Her fingers squeeze. “Harp, you’re my best friend, you know I always have your back and I’d never play you wrong. I feel guilty for even mentioning it, but I simply can’t take the risk of Ryan finding out. He’ll kill us and my random pop ins, like when Ryan walked into Easton’s house and found me in the kitchen, won’t seem so random to my brother. “We’ve been hooking up-ish. She giggles. “It looked a lot more than ish to me. Why am I having such a hard time telling Sadie about Easton?. Is it because he’s the first guy I’ve ever done anything with? The first time I’ve ever had to have a conversation like this?. Or because the feelings I have for Easton are more serious than I thought?. I don’t know. But I do know this conversation feels as intimate as the places he’s touched on my body. more private corner of the library, where Easton and I should have been in the first place rather than the middle of a popular aisle. The truth is, we shouldn’t have been making out at all. Even if I’ve been enjoying it, I’ve officially lost my damn mind. The second we land against the wall, Sadie says, “Spill it, girl. I want every detail, leave nothing out. “You have to promise you won’t say a word of this to Ryan. Her brows furrow. “Hello, girl code. Duh. I sigh

“But you’re in love with my brother, so girl code is a little iffy in this situation. She sticks her books in her bag, freeing her hands, which rest against my should ers. “I promise-on my life-you have my word. ” Her fingers squeeze. “Harp, you’re my best friend, you know I always have your back and I’d never play you wrong. I feel guilty for even mentioning it, but I simply can’t take the risk of Ryan finding out. He’ll kill us and my random pop ins, like when Ryan walked into Easton’s house and found me in the kitchen, won’t seem so random to my brother. “We‘ve been hooking up-ish. She giggles. “It looked a lot more than ish to me. Why am I having such a hard time telling Sadie about Easton? . Is it because he’s the first guy I’ve eve r done anything with? The first time I’ve ever had to have a conversation like this? . Or because the feelings I have for Easton are mor e serious than I thought? . I do n’t know. But I do know this conversati on feels as intimate as the p laces he’s touched on my body . more private corner of the l ibrary, where Easton and I s hould have been in the first . place rather tha n the middle of a popular aisle. The truth is, we s houldn’t have been making out at all. Even if I’ve been enj oying it, I’ve officia lly lost my damn mind. The second we land against the wall, Sadie says, “Spillit, girl. I want every detail, leave nothing out. “You have to promise you won’t say a word of this to Ryan. Her brows furr ow. “Hello, gi rl code. Duh. I sigh. “But you’re in love wit h my brother, so girl code is a little iffy in this situation. She sticks her books in her bag, freeing her hands, which rest against my should ers. “I promise-on my life-you have my word. ” Her fingers squeeze. “Harp, you’re my best friend, you know I always have your back and I’d never play you wrong. I feel guilty for even mentioning it, but I simply can’t take the risk of Ryan finding out. He’ll kill us and my random pop ins, like when Ryan walked into Easton’s house and found me in the kitchen, won’t seem so random to my brother. “We‘ve been hooking up-ish. She giggles. “It looked a lot more than ish to me. Why am I having such a hard time telling Sadie about Easton? . Is it because he’s the first guy I’ve eve r done anything with? The first time I’ve ever had to have a conversation like this? . Or because the feelings I have for Easton are mor e serious than I thought? . I do n’t know. But I do know this conversati on feels as intimate as the p laces he’s touched on my body. I check both sides of the enclosed area, making sure no one has joi ned us. With the coast clear, I add, “It hasn’t been going on for ve ry long and honestly, there isn’t much to tell, just a few occasions . “A few? And you haven’t told me about any of them?” She gently pushes my shoulder. “You dirty girl, how have you been keeping this from me?”. The guilt i s eating me up inside. “I’ve just been so worried that Ryan-and the rest of the school-is going to find out. Please don’t be upset, Sadie. I need you now more than ever. Her fingers play with the ends of my h air. “You’ve always had a crush on him , but something tells me this is more. We don’t have the kind of friendship where I even have to answer, she can read my thou ghts, and I watch them register on her face. “This is the real dea l-your first love. He better not hurt you. “It’s to o late f or that. Her eyes widen

T’l l kill him . “I’m just saying he has the power to. ” i take a breath, knowing he’s already hurt me, but if I tell Sadie that, she’ll kill him, and then she’ll most definitely tell Ryan. “We both know Easton doesn’t do relationships. Besides, he’s Ryan’s best friend. Can’t you see where this is going? And how it’s going to end?”. “Harper, t here must be a way. The bell rings, signaling we have five minut es to get to class, and I still have to stop at my locker to get my books for next period. “I don’t see how. First, w e’d have to convince Easto n to settle down and after . conquering that impossible tas k, we’d have to convince Ryan not to murder the both of us. “I’ll ta ke care of Ryan. “Really?” I search h er face. “And how do you plan to do that?” . A grin creeps across her mouth again. “Ryan and I have been talking more. “Like ta lking, t alking?” . She shrugs. “I guess we ’ve both been keeping s ecrets from each other. I grab her hand, locking our pinkies together, something we‘ve done since we were kids. “No more secrets?”. “Pr omi se. “Then, I need to hear all the details abou t where you and Ryan are headed-minus the stuff that will make me want to dry heave. “D ea l. I glance down at my watch, seeing I only ha ve three minutes to get to Spanish class. “ I’ve got to go. I’ll see you after school?” . She nodded, “ Tll give you a ride home. I release our grip and hurry into the st airwell. I haven’t descended more than a few steps when I feel someone behind me. Someone who causes tingles to erupt ac ross my entire body. Someone whose scent wra ps around my nose, like hands circling my waist. I look over my shoulder, my eyes connecting with Easton’ s. “You’re following me now?” . He huffs. “Y ou wouldn’t be so lucky. I stop at the landing, and he halts only feet a way. “What do you want?” . “Is Sadie goi ng to keep he r mouth shut?” . “Of cour se. “What di d you te ll her?” . He isn’t acting paranoid, more like he’s scanning the cards in his hand, getting to know each possible play. My eyes narrow as I take in his lips, remem bering how they tasted when we kissed. “Ther e really isn’t anything to tell her. Right?” . “Right. ” He points at the pocket that’s ho lding my phone. “You can tell her that you’ ve now saved Blake’s number in your phone. “Why woul d I bring that up?” . A smirk spreads across his handsome face. “I just think it’s funny …” He mo ves in closer now that it’s only the two of us in the stairwell. “You have his number saved, but not the guy whose mouth has been all over your body. I feel weak, like his tongue is slowly lick ing across my breasts. “Easton-“I start, my voice cut off when he rushes down the remaining s tairs, leaving me completely alone