Free Fusion (Explosive #5) by Tessa Teevan Page B

the smell of his fresh soap as the scent danced around my nose. It was true. I adored his new muscles. I wanted to run my hands up and down them, explore the toned definition under my fingertips.
    When he’d first told me that he wanted to start lifting weights, I’d rolled my eyes and given him a soft punch, telling him that he didn’t need muscles and, if he spent too much time in the gym, he’d start losing brain cells. In truth, I hadn’t wanted him to turn into one of those meatheads who drinks five protein shakes a day and tans so often that they look like my great-aunt’s favorite leather handbag from 1986 that she refuses to get rid of no matter how worn and cracked it gets. I had been afraid Jeremy would head down that path and my cute best friend with boy-next-door good looks would disappear.
    Boy, had I been wrong.
    He wasn’t bulky or veiny, and he didn’t resemble one of those super-tan, roid-rage machines in bodybuilding magazines. He was just…strong. Big. I never wanted him to let me go.
    Mr. Turoff clapped, and my eyes popped back open. I frantically gazed around the room, making sure no one had witnessed my basking in all that was Jeremy Banks. I thought I was in the clear…until I saw Chris staring at me, slack-jawed. When I caught his gaze, his eyebrows narrowed. My cheeks heated, and I tore my eyes away from him.
    Then I plastered a smile on and turned to my lab partner. “You ready for this?”
    “Uhh…how about you take the lead on this one? I did all the fun stuff with the moldy Jell-O.”
    My forehead wrinkled at the memory of it, so I nodded. “Works for me. But you’re going to have to help, you know? Earn your grade,” I teased, which caused him to pale. “Aww, Jeremy, don’t be nervous.” I picked up the forceps and snapped them in front of his face.
    He scowled. “You’re a pain in my ass.”
    A smirk played on my lips as I leaned in close. “That may be true, but you love me anyway,” I said.
    “It’s my curse,” he muttered, but I didn’t miss the slow smile that crossed his lips.
    “Whatever. You’re totally blessed to have me and you know it.”
    He looked up, and a stupid strand of hair fell into his eyes. Then his lips twitched. “I know,” he answered softly.
    My heart fluttered, and I had to get away. Not that it would be anything more than a momentary relief. Jeremy was never far enough away for me to stop thinking about.
    “I’m going to get the specimen,” I said.
    This time, I broke the moment. As I walked away, I mentally berated myself. I needed to stop thinking that these moments were even anything. I really needed to stop watching Dawson’s Creek and comparing them to us. I mean, look how it had turned out for them. That heartbreaking episode had ruined everything. Their romance. Their friendship. One mistake and it had all been for nothing. They were strangers now. I didn’t want that for me and Jeremy.
    I didn’t even want Jeremy.
    Did I?
    Was I really comparing myself to fictional characters? God, I had to stop watching television.
    “Ms. Sullivan, are you ready for this?” Mr. Turoff asked as I approached him.
    Mr. Turoff was probably the coolest teacher I’d ever had. He made science fun and exciting. One time, he’d even lit a lab table on fire. I don’t recall what the lesson was, but it was definitely one of the coolest things I’d ever seen in school.
    “I think so. But I’m not so sure about the star wide receiver,” I said, glancing back to where Jeremy was fiddling with the hem of his T-shirt.
    Mr. Turoff let out a booming laugh and shook his head. “Then it’s a good thing he has you, isn’t it? Have fun,” he told me as he handed me my subject.
    My nose wrinkled at the lifeless little green creature in my hands. But I resigned myself to the fact that there was a reason for this lesson, even if I had no idea what it was. Trust me, I wasn’t at all thrilled about this part of the curriculum, but I wasn’t squeamish by