Chapter 14. Lesson One

Tessa’s POV

He doesn’t start the engine.

He gets in on the driver’s side, shuts the door, and the world goes quiet. The only light is the orange streetlamp through the windshield and the tiny green glow of the dashboard clock. 11:34.

“Lesson one,” he says, “is about Cole.”

“I thought these lessons were supposed to be about me.”

“They are. But you’ve got a party in eight days where you have to kiss me in front of him like you mean it.” He turns in his seat to face me. “On Monday, you kissed me like you were trying to win an argument.”

“I did win.”

“You did.” His mouth curves. “But Cole’s going to be watching. So are three hundred other people. A kiss that looks like a dare won’t sell. It has to look like you can’t help it.”

I know what he means. I’ve seen couples at parties, the ones who forget there’s anyone else in the room. I used to watch them over Cole’s shoulder and wonder what that felt like.

“So how do I make it loo