My mouth is full-on gaping as I bounce my still-wide eyes between them. What is going on right now? Is there really a tension in the air and I'm not just imagining it? But for what? And why do they look like they’re sizing each other up?
“Right.” Justin clears his throat, breaking the tension. Then turns to me with a forced smile. “Guess I’ll just catch you later, Allie.”
I just nod, speechless, watching him head toward a group of his fellow Maple Grove Prep students a few tables away.
“Who the hell was that?” Duane demands as he pulls up the chair next to me instead of the one across the table.
I frown at him. Why is he acting weird? “Well, if you had let me speak first, you would have known that I met him at Indie Reads.” The name I accidentally uttered a couple nights ago, but I don't add that part.
“Right. The potential new boyfriend,” he scoffs, sliding the other cup of rocky road toward me as he starts diving into his.
So, he remembers. Is that why he's acting strange right now?
Not knowing what to make of his weird behavior, I glance toward Justin and his friends. He’s staring this way so I lift a hand and wave.
He responds with a wide grin.
At the same time, I hear Duane scoot his chair closer. Then before I can ask him what’s up, his arm is already draped over the back of my chair, making me freeze and my heart stutter.
When I whip my head to him in silent question, he simply taps my nose and smiles. Seriously, what’s going on with him?
Shaking my head and mentally taking note to ask him later, I shovel a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth, relishing its flavor.
“So, uh, when did you meet him?”
“Who?” I ask without raising my head, taking in another spoonful. This is why I love this place.
“This Justin guy.”
“Just over this weekend.” I glance up at him. “Why do you want to know?”
“You have something in the corner of your mouth.”
“Huh?”
He gestures to the side of his mouth.
Oh. Ugh. How embarrassing.
Blushing, I put my fingers to my mouth to wipe it off.
But then, Duane grabs my hand, his eyes suddenly dark and determined. “Let me.”
"Uh, okay."
But instead of wiping off my mouth, he takes my glasses off.
"Wait. What are you—" I’m not able to finish what I was about to say. Because the next thing I know, Duane’s lips are on mine.
I gasp in shock, my eyes flaring wide. Why is he—
But then his lips move against mine, soft and gentle at first, effectively obliterating the question in my head. Then his hand grips the back of my neck, applying pressure on the kiss, delving his tongue deep in my mouth, as if to demand a response from me.
And I'm helpless against him. My eyes close as my lips answer his demand, matching the intensity of his movements. My hands shake. My heart beats wildly in my chest. My skin heats up deliciously.
This kiss—it's nothing like the first one. That was quick and only lasted for a few seconds, but this one seems to go on forever, threatening to suck all the air out of my lungs and leave me breathless.
Who am I kidding? My lungs are already emptied out.
When he pulls away, I slowly open my eyes, staring at him in a mix of wonder and confusion. I have some questions.
But Duane isn't staring back at me. There’s a triumphant look on his face as he stares ahead. When I put my glasses back on and follow his gaze, I see Justin frowning at us.
Did...he kiss me because of him?
CHAPTER 9
Staring up at the ceiling of my room as a Nirvana song plays on my iPod, I bring my fingers to my lips and grin.
Duane kissed me. Not a simple three-second kiss, but a full-on kiss kiss.
And now I can't stop grinning like an idiot. Especially since there was no real reason for him to do that. Heather wasn't around—nor any of her friends to report it to her. The only one there was Justin.
Which is exactly why I can't stop smiling. Because why else would Duane kiss me in front of Justin?
He wanted to stake his claim. Because he was jealous.
I mean, it doesn't make any other sense. Justin had nothing to do with Heather. He doesn't even go to our school. So the only explanation I can come up with is that Duane was jealous—plain and simple. And I didn't just make the conclusion due to the kiss, it was because of his open hostility toward Justin, too.
Does it mean he's starting to develop feelings for me? I know I shouldn't get ahead of myself, but I can't help it. Not when his actions are giving me hope. It doesn't help that he doesn't even seem keen on getting back together with Heather. I saw her give him an opening, but he didn't take it.
At least, as far as I know. When I asked him about it, he simply said no. He didn't even elaborate.
But then, doubt starts to creep in, slowly tearing down the hope in my chest. Maybe he's just making her wait, playing hard to get. I advised him to do as much, didn't I?
Groaning in frustration, I bury my face into my pillow. I'm so stupid. One kiss from him and I'm already making crazy assumptions.
I can't have my hopes up only to end up with a broken heart.
What makes you think your heart isn't going to end up battered and bruised, anyway?
Letting out another groan, I force myself out of bed. I have a party to get ready for. I can mope about my unrequited love for another day.
As if on cue, my phone pings with a text. Grabbing it from the middle of the bed, I stare at the message.
It's from Indie: I'll go get Gray. You get your man. See you in an hour.
My man? I have to bite my lip to keep from smiling. Ugh. I'm so hopeless.
Shaking my head, I text Duane about the party—which he already knows about—and get a response a minute later.
Duane: Okay. I'll come pick you up.
Of course. Arriving together at the party will further emphasize the fact that we're "dating." Didn't he use to show up at parties with Heather? Now, she'll see me with him.
Standing in front of my closet, I stare at my options. Whenever I go to parties—which doesn't happen often—I usually just throw on a simple shirt and jeans. I don't feel like doing the same today. Instead, my eyes lock on the sleeveless teal dress that falls mid-thigh, which Indie insisted I buy for myself during one of our trips to the mall. She said it was a great fit for me.
But I haven't put it on since that day.
Then now's a good time as any to wear it again.
*******
We're here. Where are you? I send the text to Indie the moment Duane and I step inside Brad's house.
The music is pumping through the speakers and there are dancing bodies everywhere. Finding Indie and Gray among the crowd will be hard.
"Let's get some drinks," Duane yells into my ear then pulls me toward the kitchen, keeping his solid grip around my hand even as people bump into us from every direction.
I let out an audible breath when we reach the kitchen. While there are people around, it's not as crowded as the other parts of the house. I'm not feeling claustrophobic anymore.
"Brad sure knows how to throw a party, huh?" I tell Duane with a chuckle as he procures two bottles of beer from the large ice bucket on the table and hands one to me.