Spring Knight: Young Adult Romance Novella (A Seasons of Change Standalone) Read Free

boyfriend?” Kayleigh nodded. “Well, Justin bet me two hundred pounds I couldn’t make it into the show. And being the guy I am, I couldn’t turn that down.”
    Her mouth dropped, not sure what to say. With it still hanging open, she stared at him as he smirked at her. “Um ...”
    Reaching across the table, Aiden put his fingers lightly under her jaw. His skin was searing hot when he pushed up, closing her mouth. Another wave of embarrassment washed over her and she hoped he couldn’t feel her racing pulse.
    Almost as quickly as he’d moved, though, his fingers were gone as if it had never happened. “So that’s where you come in.”
    It was the last thing Kayleigh had been expecting him to say, and it almost had her choking on the Minstrel she had placed in her mouth as she breathed in. Thankfully, she managed to avoid the coughing fit and settled for watery eyes instead. “There’s no need to cry, Kayleigh. You don’t even know what I’m asking yet, and you don’t know what
benefits
you’ll get either.” The way he said benefits had Kayleigh’s mind sailing right back to the gutter, but in all seriousness, there was no other way to take his suggestive tone. She knew what Aiden was like, and how he acted around women, but it still made her uncomfortable. Kayleigh wasn’t used to him paying attention to her.
    “I wasn’t crying ... You surprised me and I choked on my sweet.” Her voice became quieter, almost a whisper as she tried to explain.
    “Good, because I like to think people enjoy my company.”
    Kayleigh didn’t dignify his statement with a response. If Ellie had been there, she would have distracted him and made a sarcastic comment that was meant to bruise his ego. However, Kayleigh wasn’t like that. She was the girl who remained silent, too embarrassed and worried about what others would think to approach anyone she liked.
    “Aren’t you curious what I could want from you?” Aiden asked, interrupting her ruminations.
    “Maybe a little,” she replied, not wanting to sound too eager in case it all turned out to be a huge wind up.
    “As you probably know, I’m way out of my depth with performing. You don’t understand how much of a relief it was when I saw you in that room. It freaked me out what you were doing, but I was thankful I knew one person who wouldn’t laugh at me.”
    Who said I wouldn’t laugh
? She kept the remark to herself.
    “Anyway, what I want is for you to help me get in the show. Ellie told me you’d help me, and that you may be able to pull some strings?”
    At the mention of her best friend her head snapped up. “Shit,” she cursed before realising it slipped out.
Damn you to hell Ellie Jeffords. Even miles away you’re a meddling, good-for-nothing, lying, traitorous—
    “Okay ... not the response I was expecting,” Aiden interrupted her silent rant.
    “Sorry, Ellie told me none of that.”
    He shrugged. “Well, she may not have said the exact words, but I’m sure she would if I’d asked her.” He grinned. “So, can you help me?”
    “You mean ... you mean you want me to put you in the show without auditioning because I’m vice president?” she said, taking back her thoughts of her best friend.
    “I didn’t know that was possible, but that would be great.” His face beamed with happiness.
    “It isn’t possible, I was trying to understand what you wanted. I can’t take a risk like that, Aiden, not if I want to beat Adam and become president next year. You’ve got no history to back up a decision like that.”
    “All right, all right. Calm down, it was worth a shot. What
can
you do then?”
    Kayleigh frowned; she didn’t need calming down, she wasn’t wound up. “You have to audition like everyone else,” she stated, using her most authoritative voice. Talking about drama and acting the part of vice president she could do. It was a safe topic and allowed her to be in control.
    “Okay, what do I have to do?”
    “You know they’re