The Devil Who Owes Me A Kiss

ir behind her ear and paused outside the empty classroom, hesitating when she heard voices from within. She'd only come to retrie

e voice belonged to Henry Wynthorne, though Lavinia didn't need to peek through the half-open door to conf

Wynthorne Industries, and one of the most brilliant students in their graduating class. He wasn't just wealthy

oice cracked. "If I don't get into Princeton, m

tening to this. She should either announce her prese

, his voice softer than Lavinia had ever hear

afar, usually when he was with her best friend Verity. Whenever Henry was around Verity, he transformed from the stern, academically-d

nger boy's voice dropped to a whis

ed. She definitely shou

re talking to me now." There was a rustling of paper. "This is Dr. Mercer's numbe

y dad w

irm but not unkind. "Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is

sit in an empty classroom counseling a depressed underclassman. He was supposed to be

had ended until the door swung fully open. She stumbled back, nearly dropping her

e would berate her for eavesdropping. Instead, his exp

acknowledged wit

her neck. He knew her name

," she stammered, gesturing v

ried past him, she caught a glimpse of the younger boy slipping

e window. As she grabbed it, Lavinia felt Henry's presence still at the doorway. W

he asked finally, his vo

ok to her chest like a shield. "I wasn't trying t

ce-surprise, perhaps, or discomfort at

" he said after a mom

odds with the Henry she'd constructed in her mind-the arrogant heir, the calculati

sted quietly, "it

e as he checked the screen, and his face transformed, softening i

ugh Henry was already lost to her

then glanced up as sh

s startling. She paused,

he said, not quite a req

ned-brilliant, aloof, untouchable Henry Cleveland-didn't

rse," sh

et friend, the unremarkable one. She had accepted this as her natural place in the world. But for a brief moment in that class

ten by Monday. Henry Cleveland belonged to a different world, one where girls like Ve

couldn't quite shake the image of Henry's gray eyes, surprisingly gentle

irst time, Lavinia wondered what it might be like

*

ms while she waited for Verity's student council meeting to end. The familiar rhythm of derivatives and in

nia frequently found herself

is seat

at her table, a stack of physics textbooks under one arm. The library was nearly empty-rows o

gathering her scattered note

eturned to her calculus, hyperaware of his presence but determined not to show it. From the corner

ross from Henry Cleveland as if they regularly shared study space, as if

our-thirty," he said suddenly,

blinked.

ioned you'

wasn't sitting with her by coi

id neutrally, unsure

n, his gray eyes dir

ing," she assured him

orthiness. "Thank you," he said finally. "R

softly. "Everyone has moment

ead slightly, a question in his expression.

en interest. "Nothing dramatic. Just... I know

she'd intended. She'd meant it as a general observation, but as soon

rowed slightly. "

h escaped her. "

't unde

commanded attention simply by existing, understand what it meant to b

in, a vision in her blue dress and golden hair. Several heads turned to track her progress, as

nor shifting, eyes lighting up with that particular intensity he reserv

racefully into the chair beside Henry. "What are you two doing together?" Her t

plied smoothly, gest

aid simultaneously, ho

d like silver bells. "So.

his eyes still drinking in Verity's pres

hery. Henry's brief interest, whatever had prompted it, vanished i

ng, Lavinia quietly gathered her things. Neither of them noticed as she s

ed, the unremarkable best friend. Henry Cleveland was still captivated by Verity Williams. The brief connection she'd felt-that m

as she walked away. She told herself it was no

was w