The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 637

It takes every single bit of Jesse’s control to keep his cool in this moment. To not shout in victorious joy, and pump his fist in the air, and snatch Daphne up into his arms and spin her in a circle. To refrain from telling her that hitting on her was never a joke – that he was just shit at it, and didn’t know what to do – and he just wanted to make her laugh, always just wants to make her laugh –

For the rest of his damn life wants to make her laugh –

But Jesse just exhales slowly, looking away to the side with a shrug, trying and failing to keep a smile off of his mouth. “I mean, sure, that’s fine,” he says, his voice only shaking a little tiny bit. He turns his eyes back to her. “Do you want me to like, start right now?”

Daphne’s blush deepens even as she beams, turning towards the door with the key in her hand. “No, Jesse, don’t be ridiculous,” she murmurs, laughing as she jabs the key at the door and then realizes that, of course, she doesn’t need it. That the lock turns from the inside in here – she won’t need the key until they’re out in the hall.

Jesse grins as Daphne’s whole face goes red and she hastily pulls the key back, unlatching the door and pulling it open.

“Because I can start now if you want,” Jesse says, following her out into the hall, his voice light and teasing as he peers at the beautiful rosy color on her cheeks. “I mean, your beauty outshines the moon and the stars, Daph –“

“Oh, shut up,” she says, laughing and giving Jesse a little shove as she pulls the door shut and deftly locks it, slipping her keys into her pocket. “You’ll embarrass me.”

“Ah, I’d never want to do that,” Jesse murmurs, giving an easy shrug and he smiles down at her. Daphne takes a deep breath and regains her equanimity, looking back up at him when the fire fades from her cheeks. “We’ll…give it a grace period. See how it goes.”

“Yeah,” Daphne says, her hands reaching up to play with the ends of her hair as she just stares up into his face. “Grace period sounds good. Sounds…logical.”

Jesse nods.

“Um, I’m this way,” Daphne says, nodding to the stairwell behind her. “And you’re that.” She lifts her chin to the hall behind Jesse. “So…I’ll see you soon?”

“I’ll walk you,” he offers, taking a step towards the stairs, meaning it. A step that conveniently brings him…very close.