Page 299 of Faking the Goal

The scowl stays exactly where it is.

I sigh dramatically.

"You know," I tell him, reaching up to smooth the crease between his brows with my thumb, "you'd be much prettier if you stopped glaring at the entire world."

He grunts.

"I'll smile when I get back."

I laugh.

"So... never?"

Another grunt.

"Ken-chan."

"How am I supposed to smile?" His brows knit together all over again. "I'm leaving you here."

"I'm not exactly being abandoned in the wilderness."

"I know."

"You'd think Coach Hopper was sending you to war."

He rolls his eyes.

"I don't like leaving you."

"I know."

"You should just come with us." He says it so matter-of-factly it's almost adorable. "There's still room on the bus. I'll buy your plane ticket."

I can't help laughing.

"You've suggested that six times since yesterday."

"Seven."

"...You've been keeping count?"

"I've suggested it seven times."

"And I've said no seven times."

"You could still change your mind."

I reach up and pull his head down just enough to steal a quick kiss.

When I pull away, the tiniest smile finally tugs at one corner of his mouth.

Victory.

"There," I say smugly. "Much better."

"It was a trap."

"It absolutely was."