Page 160 of Ruthless Court

I sink onto the edge of my bed and cover my face.

“No, no, no.”

Lila sits beside me. “You’re reacting like you discovered mold.”

“This is worse.”

“Than mold?”

“Some kinds.”

Noor swivels toward us.

“What happened before the kiss?”

I peek through my fingers.

“Professor Aldridge paired us for the seminar project.”

“We know that part.”

“We met at the library. He stole my Twizzlers.”

Lila nods gravely. “Unforgivable.”

“Then we started working.”

“And?”

“And it was…”

I lower my hands.

I don’t know how to explain it without making the entire situation sound more dangerous.

“Easy.”

Noor’s expression tightens.

“Easy how?”

“Our arguments kept fitting together. He would find a flaw in mine, I’d tear apart his response, then he’d come back with something better. He actually read all my notes. Twice.”

Lila presses a hand to her chest. “Academic foreplay.”

“It wasn’t.”

“Keep going.”

“We watched game film.”

“Basketball film?” Noor asks.

“He challenged me.”

“And you took the bait.”

“I corrected one possession.”