“That used to me already?”
She nods, a little smile curling her lips. “Maybe.”
“Hope that’s not a bad thing. Don’t want you to get bored with me.” I’m teasing. Flirting. Fumbling a little with it, but fuck it.
This is happening. Addie and I are turning into a thing.
Fucking finally.
“You don’t bore me, Beck Callahan. Not even close.” Her smile is knowing as we enter the massive hallway where our English classes are. “I was bored in the library the last couple of days without you there. Got all my homework done though.”
“Are you saying I’m a distraction?” She completely distracts me, I know that.
“Definitely,” she says with a firm nod, stopping near her classroom door. “I’m leaving after second period for Mammoth.”
Disappointment hits me. “Oh, right. Now it’s my turn to miss you,” I say, my smile faint, my hands itching to touch her.
“Yeah.” Her voice is soft and she glances around before taking a step closer. “I’ll miss you too.”
I give in to my need and pull her in for a hug. She feels good. Smells better. I drop a kiss on her temple before I pull away. “Be safe.”
“You too,” she says, looking a little dazed. “Bye.”
“See ya.” I get it, is what I want to tell her. I understand that dazed look and the feelings that come with it.
But I don’t say anything at all. Instead, I leave her where she’s standing and walk into my class, settling at my desk with a big ol’ smile on my face.
My morning classes pass by quickly, and by lunch, I’m leaving campus with Dom, hopping into his car and heading for the local pizza place that always has a Friday special he likes to take advantage of.
“Already missing Tori?” I ask as we’re driving.
“Yeah, but it’s cool. I hope she has fun in Mammoth,” Dom says.
“You and Tori official yet?”
“I mean, we’ve not said anything to each other. I haven’t asked her to be my girlfriend. But we talk all the time. We went out after her volleyball game Tuesday. And we’re not talking to anyone else,” Dom explains.
“Sounds official to me.”
“We’re not into labels.”
I laugh. “No one is lately. I guess that’s why Marcus is trying to get with two different girls?”
“Now there’s some drama.” Dom shakes his head. “Marcus is playing with fire. I wouldn’t mess with Emma or Monique.”
“Monique will just find someone else. I think she’s getting off on the fact that she still has power over Marcus,” I say. “Addie told me Emma is super pissed at him, yet they still meet up after school.”
“Right, because Marcus is fucking around with Emma and Monique. He’s crazy,” Dom mutters.
“Yeah, he is.” I can’t imagine playing two girls. First, I would feel like absolute shit. The guilt would be tremendous. And second, that’s a hell of a lot of work. I’d be exhausted, keeping my lies straight. Eventually I’d mess up and ruin it all.
“What’s really going on between you and Addie?” Dom asks me, changing the subject.
“We’re like you and Tori. We’ve—hung out.” Hooked up. “We talk all the time. Text each other a lot.” I glance down, picking at a loose string on the hem of my shorts. “Guess I’m finally taking my shot.”
“About fucking time,” Dom says, making me glance up and glare at him. But he’s grinning at me, so my glower can’t last too long. His smile fades fast though. “I saw something happen after second period you should know about.”
“What did you see?” I ask, hating the worry that’s suddenly filling me.
“Liam and Addie talking. Didn’t look like he was being a dick to her or anything, but they were definitely having a conversation,” Dom says.
Asshole. I guess I can’t blame him for trying to talk to her since they haven’t spoken since the fight Monday in the library, but still.
He needs to stay away from her.
“Did she tell you about it?” Dom asks me.
“I haven’t talked to her since before first period, and they’ve already left.” That’s probably why she hasn’t mentioned it. She sent me a couple of texts and selfies after she left, but nothing major.
We can’t have a conversation like that while I’m in school and she’s trapped in a van with half the volleyball team.
“Tori keeps sending me selfies,” Dom says. “With Emma sitting right next to her, scowling into the camera.”
“That girl is always in a bad mood,” I say irritably.
“I’d be in a bad mood too if my supposed boyfriend was getting with another girl.” Dom shakes his head.
When we arrive at the pizza place, it’s packed with students all coming for the same lunch deal, including Marcus and Liam, who are at the end of the line.
No girls in sight, thank God, which means no shitty Monique to deal with. Not sure how I feel about seeing Liam for the first time after the fight, though.
“You can’t avoid him forever,” Dom says, pulling open the door. “You’d be having this conversation with him either after school or right now.”
“Off campus means he can throw another punch and not get suspended,” I say, wary as we enter the restaurant.
“Off campus also means someone can call the cops and Liam will get tossed into jail,” Dom says. “He’s already eighteen, remember?”
“I will be soon too.” My birthday is in September, only a few weeks away.
“Yeah, but as of right now, you’re not, which means he could go down for assault on a minor.” Our voices lower as we draw closer to the line. “Just be cool.”
Like he needs to tell me that. I’m the level-headed one of the bunch, though I went against type by getting in that stupid fight.
Marcus spots us first, nudging Liam’s side with his elbow before they both turn to face us. “Fancy meeting you dicks here.”
Dom rolls his eyes. “Fuck off, loser.”
I say nothing.
Marcus is the biggest shit-stirrer on the planet, swear to God.
“We gonna pretend that fight never happened or are you two going to talk this out?” Marcus asks, his gaze going from Liam to me.
I say nothing. I refuse to apologize. I’m not the one who started this shit.
Liam fully faces me, the shiner I gave him a vivid combination of yellow and purple bruises, with a streak of red. “Callahan,” he says through tight lips.
“Thatcher,” I return, tempted to call him Snatcher like Dom always does. I always thought that shit was hilarious.
Right now, there is nothing funny about Liam.
Dom groans. “Please. No standoff in the pizza line. I just want to get my lunch in peace.”
“Same, bro,” Marcus adds.
Deciding to be the bigger man, I thrust my hand out toward Liam. “We good?”
Liam eyes my hand like it might be a snake ready to strike. He slowly lifts his gaze to mine. “Sure.”
He shakes my hand, giving it one pump before he lets it go.
No apology, but it’s a start.