It takes me several breaths to answer him because I have never seen him smile like that—it’s intoxicating, especially because I never thought he would smile like that at me.

“Umm…after practice. I’m supposed to have a meeting for this thing I’m doing with Brownie and Buns. I can say I’m picking up treats and will meet them back at our dorm afterward.” I explain, looking down at the desk so that I can keep my mind on track and not be distracted by him. “We have to be careful not to let them tag along. I don’t want them anywhere near that place if what might happen actually does happen.”

He nods, and then asks, “What thing—what are you doing with them later?”

“Oh, just making some mischief…plotting mayhem, the usual. I better take a seat, class is going to start,” I say, trying not to explain what I’ll be up to with the girls. That’s between us, covert. “I’ll see you after practice.”

Then we’ll see if something is coming for me, I think with a shiver.

I’m in big trouble in physics class if Reed is going to be there every day. I can hardly focus on anything but him: the way he looks, the way he moves like a predator, the way his green eyes sparkle when he catches me watching him. When the class is finally over, I all but run from the room because I need to get away from Reed before I do something ghastly, like throw myself into his arms.

The day speeds by quickly, and I walk to hockey practice with the girls after having dinner with Freddie. Practice goes really well. My speed gives me an advantage over some of the other girls, and I quickly move into the position of attacker. We do some drills, going over some of the rules and situational plays. We also work on formations for insertion plays. When practice is over, I explain to Brownie and Buns that I’ll meet them back at the dorm.

“I made a bet with Reed the day he helped me with my knee—I said it was broken; he said it was bruised. He won, so now I have to pay up,” I say, being less than honest.

“What did you bet?” Buns asks interestedly.

“A Twinkie—we’re going to the Seven-Eleven to get one. Do you guys want anything? I’ll bring it back for our meeting,” I say, hoping they won’t want to come with us.

“Yeah, I want a Twinkie!” Brownie says with enthusiasm.

“Me too, sweetie. Are you going to be all right with Reed?” she asks, wrinkling her nose. “I mean, he’s not going to bore you to death is he?”

“No, I’ll be fine. I’ll see you in a little bit,” I say, hoping that I’m correct.

Apprehension steals into my consciousness when I turn and see Reed waiting for me at the end of the field. Suddenly, this is not sounding like a banner idea. I swing my stick back and forth along the grass as I walk to him, trying to dispel the feeling of doom that descends on me. When I come abreast of Reed, he falls in step next to me, his lacrosse stick resting on his shoulder as we walk in companionable silence until we get to his car.

He opens the passenger door for me, holding it while I slip into the seat. I have a death grip on my stick, and when he tries to take it from me to put it in the trunk, I won’t relinquish it. He squats down by my side so that we’re eye to eye.

“Genevieve, what’s wrong?” he asks with a look of bewilderment. “You’re not still afraid of me, are you?”

“I need my stick,” I say.

“Why?” he asks me as his eyes search my face.