Page 83 of Jump on Three

Though, when I considered it, Ivan had seen me melting down and hadn’t been turned off. I would have called that my worst, but I still had the occasional rage fit, and those were not pretty. If Ivan stuck around after I snapped every pencil in my vicinity because one wouldn’t sharpen properly, I might have to marry him.

“You’re thinking about sex?” she asked.

“Of course. He’s hot.”

She giggled, which made me giggle, even though, deep down, I knew she was diverting me from my worries. Only time would tell if Ivan could handle a girl like me and if I liked how he handled me.

The knot in my chest was beginning to unfurl, but it was still difficult for me to believe it was going to be this easy. That wasn’t how my life worked. Then again, Delilah and I rarely disagreed or butted heads, and we didn’t lie to each other. If she said she was okay with Ivan and me, I had no reason not to believe her.

Maybe this one thing truly could be this easy.

The next day, Ivan’s lips were on mine again. His hands were in my hair while mine were clasped behind his neck. He was such a good kisser. More than one boy had grossed me out with copious saliva or slug tongue. Ivan did neither. His lips were always warm, never slimy. They were soft, but he kissed with firm confidence. And his oral hygiene was top notch, so he always tasted delicious.

He pulled back slightly, and I smiled against his mouth. “I like kissing you,” I told him. And now, it was even better since I was rid of every ounce of guilt.

He groaned in response. “Jesus, angel, I never want to stop. But…”

“But we have to?”

“You know we do.”

I did. We were on the way to a swim meet, which meant we were on a bus, surrounded by our teammates. They didn’t care what I did, but the girls were very interested in Ivan. When he’d started sitting with me on a regular basis, not to mention holding my hand and giving me more-than-friendly touches, it had been noticed.

More hissed “Creepelyns”—especially in the locker room. Layla losing her mind during relay practice, making our team even slower. Chantel shoving her assignments at me while Layla stood behind her, an evil look on her face.

That Layla was the cause of most of the recent increase in strife probably did not need to be said. I could only assume she thought she had a chance with Ivan and I stole him from her. The truth was, Ivan never looked at anyone but me. Even when I wasn’t paying attention, I recognized the feeling of his gaze on me. Layla never had a chance with him, not while he was interested in me.

And Chantel always took her assignments back when Layla wasn’t looking.

I could live with Layla’s impotent protests. They weren’t much worse than before. Our abysmal relay times stung, but getting a kiss and hug from Ivan afterward soothed it away.

When I had completed my races for the meet, Ivan toweled off my hair and pulled my hood over my head, tugging the strings so it was tight around my face. He grinned down at me, placing a kiss on the tip of my nose.

“Adorable,” he declared. “I want to hear your voice when I finish my race. Will you cheer for me?”

I bit down on my bottom lip, flashes of yelling and clapping too loudly coming back. I’d been quiet since, watching but never allowing myself to make another spectacle.

Ivan cocked his head. “What is it?”

“Last time, I think I cheered too loud.”

“What makes you believe this?”

“Um…” I bit down on my lip again. “Layla said I did. Normally, I wouldn’t believe anything she says, except…I am missing the gauge that tells me whether I’m being too loud. It’s why I speak softly most of the time, to be certain my voice is at an acceptable level.”

His brow dropped. I had known he wouldn’t like this.

“You’re supposed to be loud when you cheer. That is the point.”

“But what if I’m too loud? I’ll embarrass you.”

“Nope.” He crossed his arms over his chest, looking stubborn and strong. Sexy too. “Will you be cheering for me or everyone else?”

“You, of course.”

“Then all that matters is I hear you. And, angel, your sweet voice can never be too loud.” He kissed my nose again and left me on the stands. Layla and her friends were there too. They were commenting on girls' bodies from the other team. Someone’s butt was too big from all the donuts she apparently consumed. Another girl needed to eat a taco or ten. I ignored them.

And I cheered for Ivan.