Chapter 28

Arrick releases me so suddenly that I almost fall forward to kiss the sidewalk. His quick reflex catches me in an instant and pulls me upright so fast I sway to now face a profoundly serious-looking man who has lost all the earlier humor and seems startlingly shocked.

“When did you kiss Jake?’

Arrick suddenly has an edgy tone to his voice; the look on his face is scarily pissed, and his eyes are alarmingly green for someone with hazel. I can only shrug, fumbling, as I didn’t expect this sort of reaction from him or at this speed. I can barely catch up with the sudden mood change that is so out of character for him, and no idea why he would even think I kissed Jake, of all people.

“I didn’t. Well, I mean, he has kissed me on the cheek a couple of times, but I’ve seen him kiss Emma a lot, so I can imagine.” My face is heating now that I think through how my answer was conveyed. Arrick’s studying me with such an odd expression that he’s making me nervous. He looks lik