Page 40 of In His Skates

Without the distraction of staring at my own face, it’s easy to believe we haven’t swapped bodies and it’s Leigh’s actual hands that are touching me. I’m suddenly very aware of our proximity, and her body is reacting in a peculiar way. There’s some kind of flutter in my stomach, and my pulse has definitely accelerated.

Chill the fuck out, Keanu. None of this means anything.

“Can you open your eyes for me now?” she asks after a while.

“Are you done?”

“No, I need to add the eyeliner, but your eyes need to be open for that. Look up.”

I do as she says, and she presses the tip of the eyeliner against my lower lash line. It tickles, making me squirm.

“Don’t move!”

“I can’t help it.”

She tries again, and I do the same thing.

“Ugh, never mind. You’ll end up with raccoon eyes. You look good enough.”

“I want to see.” I turn the chair so I’m facing the mirror again and put her glasses back on. “Wow. I look hot.”

“Thanks.”

“I’d totally hit on you.”

She crosses her arms. “Right, that’s what I was aiming for—to get on the Keanu Santori horndog radar.”

“Sarcasm duly noted, but you’re missing my point. You look hot enough that I’d forget how much I don’t like you. How do you think your douche ex will feel when he sees you looking like Venus incarnate?”

Leigh blushes again and looks away. I’m curious now why she’s reacting that way. Is it because I said I didn’t like her—no surprise there—or was it the Venus comment?

“What’s wrong, Matthews? Can’t handle a compliment from me?”

“We should get going. It’s late.”

Nice evasion, Leigh. One way or another, I’ll figure you out.

16 LEIGH

Whenever I have to go somewhere work related, Bobbi is with me. But because Keanu and I are now attached at the hip, Bobbi is giving him a wide berth. For that reason, instead of Bobbi coming to get me with a driver, Keanu drives us to the TV studio downtown where the interview with Trina Tucker will take place, and we meet Bobbi in the parking garage.

Bobbi doesn’t try to hide the scowl he aims at Keanu—aka me. “I can’t believe you brought him.”

“Get used to it.” Keanu hooks my arm with his, and I tense on the spot.

Bobbi widens his eyes. “What the hell? You’re an item now?”

“Eh…” I start.

“Yes,” Keanu replies. “You know what they say about love and hate.”

Bobbi’s eyes turn into slits. “So you’ve forgiven him for getting you covered in mud right before your graduation speech?”

I was the valedictorian, and it was mortifying to go up on that stage with my gown ruined. I only had time to clean my face. Honestly, I had pushed that memory aside, because the problem Keanu and I are facing now is bigger than any old wounds. But Bobbi’s reminder brings the pain and humiliation to the forefront of my mind again.

I have to hide my emotions from Bobbi, though, especially since I’m in Keanu’s body. If I grimace, it will be a huge red flag.

But Keanu doesn’t hide his consternation. He looks guilty and remorseful. Maybe he does feel bad about the incident, but he hasn’t apologized yet, even though I told him I didn’t tell anyone he cheated on the math test.