Page 44 of The Score We Never Settled

Just because.

“Because you like me.”

I fully expect her to look horrified at the prospect of liking me versus any other asshole in our school.

However, she just looks back at me blankly, learning how to mask her emotions almost as well as mine.

Except I don’t blush.

She does.

“And what makes you think that?” she pushes back, some of that sass protruding through to her tone. “Just because I’m being nice?”

“Nah, because I see how you look at me sometimes.”

She steals glances at lunch or the one class we share, English. I catch her sometimes, and other times, even when I know she’s looking, I allow her to look because I don’t want her to look away.

I’ll take her eyes on me any day of the week because it’s a rarity all on its own.

Layla has never dated.

She’s never once gone to a school dance with a boy, just her friends.

And I want to be the first for everything.

“I think you’re mistaken,” she lies, right through her teeth, because admitting she likes the bad boy, in her head, is probably like bringing the devil into her life.

I know I’m no good for her, but it doesn’t stop the idea from wanting to be.

Layla deserves the world, and I’d give that to her to the best of my ability. It’s not like I’m stone-cold and can’t offer her things.

I like her, so that’s a start.

I like to see her smile and laugh.

I like it when she volunteers, even though you wouldn’t catch me dead doing church shit.

“Is it against one of the commandments you’ve learned then?”

Layla gives me an exasperated look. “And going to church makes me a goody-two-shoes?”

“Kinda.”

I expect her to stomp away because, well, the church folks really like church.

However, she holds her ground against me, and I’m starting to like her more by the second.

“Who do you think was behind replacin’ the red wine with lemonade last week at church?”

She props a hand on her hip, and I perk a brow because there’s no fuckin’ way.

“You?” She smiles again. “Damn, Layla Jean…you’re a real badass.”

She shrugs. “I try, when warranted.”

“You know they blamed David Burns for that.”

“I do,” she replies with zero empathy behind that. “But that’s what he gets for throwin’ away all my pew cards.”