16 - Picture Perfect

Nova's POV

I didn't want Ryker or anyone at Crestwood to know where I lived.

But Ryker had insisted on picking me up by seven. He'd made it sound like a requirement, like it was part of the deal. Fake couples arrived together. Hand in hand. Grinning from ear to ear.

What was I going to do?

After work that day, I went home as usual. The apartment was small and cramped. My mother was already asleep. My father was working a late shift. I tiptoed through the living room and collapsed onto my bed.

I stared at the ceiling and tried to come up with a plan and nothing came to mind.

I sat up in bed the next morning feeling like I had pulled an all nighter, cause I did. I thought about what to do about this housing situation.

I was brushing my teeth in front of the bathroom mirror when the thought crossed my mind. The neighbor's house three blocks away. It was a nice place. Big. Well-maintained. The kind of house someone from Crestwood would live in.

The kind of house I'd want him to think I lived in.

It was the perfect mirage.

I put on my best outfit. The one that wasn't rented. The one that still looked like it cost more than it did. I did my hair. I did my makeup. I was standing in front of the neighbor's house by 6:48am. I couldn't take any chances.

I shared my location with him.

He arrived exactly at seven.

“I didn't know you could be punctual.”

“Well, good morning to you too, babe.” the last word carried all the sarcasm he could muster.

His car pulled up to the curb. He leaned over and pushed the passenger door open. His eyes swept over the house behind me.

"Nice place you got here," he said.

I felt my stomach twist. I couldn't talk about the house. If I talked about the house, I'd have to lie. And if I lied, he'd know.

"Um." I scrambled for something else. "Here's your study plan for today."

I pulled out the schedule I'd prepared and shoved it toward him.

His eyes dropped to the paper. Then he laughed.

"What?! This is too much for just one day. My brain wouldn't survive this torture."

"Your brain will survive. Stop being so dramatic."

"Nova, this is fifteen chapters. And a quiz. And a—"

"You wanted to pass your classes. This is how you pass your classes."

He stared at me. I stared back.

"Fine," he said finally. "But I'm not happy about it."

"You don't have to be happy. You just have to do it."

He shook his head but put the paper aside. He pulled away from the curb.

"I'm leaving you entirely in charge of the dating department," I said.

He glanced at me. A slow smile spread across his face. It was that boyish stupid smile that made him look so ridiculously handsome.

"Of course," he said. "I'm aware you have absolutely no experience in that department."

I laughed. It came out nervous. Too high pitched.

"Hehe. That's not true. I've dated boys. Kissed boys. Even gone to fourth base."

The words tumbled out of my mouth like they were trying to escape. My voice didn't sound convincing even to my own ears.

Ryker looked at me for a long moment.

Then he pulled the car over.

"What are you doing?" I asked. "We're going to be late."

He didn't answer. He unclipped his seatbelt and turned to face me.

"Are you sure about that?" he asked.

"About what?"

"Fourth base. Dating. All of it."

I opened my mouth to answer. Nothing came out.

He leaned in. His hand came up to my face. His thumb traced my jawline, gentle and slow.

"Tell me you've kissed someone like this," he whispered.

My heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it.

He leaned closer. His lips brushed against my ear.

"Tell me you've been touched like this."

His hand moved down my neck. Over my collarbone. Resting on the curve of my shoulder.

I couldn't breathe.

Then he kissed me.

This was the third time. And every time it happened, it felt like I'd been set on fire on a different degree. The first time, at the party, it had been shocking. The second time, in the hallway, it had been demanding.

This time.

This time it was something else entirely.

He kissed me like he had all the time in the world. Like we weren't parked on a street corner. Like we weren't supposed to be at school. Like none of it mattered.

His hand stayed on my shoulder. His other hand came up to the back of my neck, cradling me, tilting my face toward his.

My hands moved without my permission. They found his jacket. They gripped the fabric like it was the only thing keeping me grounded.

I kissed him back.

The click of the camera was so quiet I almost missed it.

He pulled back.

I opened my eyes slowly. My breathing was ragged. My heart was stomping against my ribs.

I watched him look at the phone. Then he reached for mine.

"What are you doing?"

He didn't say a word. He took my phone. Tapped the screen. Then handed it back.

I looked down.

The lockscreen wallpaper was a picture. Of us. In the car. His forehead pressed against mine. My hands gripping his jacket. My lips swollen. My eyes half closed.

I looked like I'd been kissed senseless.

Because I had been.

He changed his own lockscreen to the same photo.

"There," he said. "Now we're ready for our first day as lovers."

I stared at him.

That was all for a picture.

He'd kissed me like that. Touched me like that. Made me forget where we were and what we were doing. All for a picture.

And he looked like nothing had happened. Like he hadn't just rearranged every thought in my head.

He pulled back onto the road and continued driving.

I sat in the passenger seat, my hands still shaking.

I told myself it was Lily's heart.

It belonged to this jerk anyway. She'd given me her memories. Her feelings. Her unfinished business. The heart in my chest was hers. Not mine.

Otherwise I'd never react like this to a single kiss.

Right?