Page 38 of Foolish Games

“What?” I ask.

“Did he do that with you, too?” she asks, her tone resentful and a little challenging, like she doesn’t believe he actually did that other stuff with me.

“No,” I admit. “He always said he didn’t like dancing.”

“Well, he likes dancing with me,” she says smugly.

Suddenly, I remember how they danced the night away at the Founders Ball while I was stuck dancing with the half dozen Darling boys. And how I was glad Chaz had someone to dance with this year, so he wouldn’t have to sit at the table feeling awkward and alone while I did my duty as a founding daughter.

“Good,” I say. “I’m glad he found someone who enjoys his dorky dance moves. I’m more compatible with Sebastian’s kind of dancing, anyway.”

The other girls’ eyes widen like they think we’re about to get in a fight, and Sasha snickers before glancing nervously at Krissy.

The bell rings, the harsh jangling sound accompanied by notebooks slamming and chairs scooting back. Krissy stares at me, her nostrils flared.

“And what kind is that?” she asks. “The horizontal tango? Because I’m sure Sebastian doesn’t know anything else.”

“And I’m sure it must suck to know you’ll always be Chaz’s second choice,” I reply, slipping off my stool. “If he liked you, don’t you think he would have asked you out in the last ten years?”

“He didn’t want to ruin our friendship,” she says weakly.

“Or maybe he sees you like a sister, like he always told me.”

She flinches, her face going red.

“Face it, Krissy. You’re just my rebound, and the only reason he’s dating you at all is because he wanted to save face when he got dumped, and you took no effort.”

“Yeah, well, at least he actually likes me,” she snaps, jumping up so fast that her tall stool crashes to the floor. She snatches it up and shoves her glasses up her nose. “Sebastian Swift only wants one thing from girls, and everyone knows it. I can’t believe you actually think y’all are dating. I wasn’t going to tell you this, but he was at the show last night too. With another girl.”

She delivers the news with such obvious relish I have to resist the urge to snatch her glasses off her face and hurl them across the room. I hate that I don’t have a comeback. I hate that Sebastian’s only doing what I told him to—dating other girls and being discreet about it. He even took her out in another town, probably not realizing someone from school would see him there. But most of all, I hate that he’s dating other girls at all.

Which is ridiculous. He’s not my boyfriend. Why should I care?

I’m too eaten up by jealousy to even answer Krissy, though.

Seeing she has the upper hand, she goes for the killing blow. “He’s just sleeping with you because you’re easy, Vivienne. I would have thought a girl going to Stanford would be smart enough to figure out when she’s being used.”

I straighten and give her a cool look. “I would have thought a girl going to Columbia would.”

We stare at each other across the lab station for a second, and I realize it’s just us left. The other two girls have gone. A few stragglers remain in the room, and a few people from the next class are already filtering in.

“As soon as he gets bored, he’ll dump you like every other girl he’s played,” Krissy says, her gaze flickering to the door behind me. “And you’ll be just another pathetic slut who let him.”

A strong, warm arm snakes around me from behind, and Sebastian nuzzles his chin into my neck. His warm breath sends shivers racing through my body, and I have to fight the urge to close my eyes and melt back into him. That would only make Krissy think I was more pathetic.

“You’re tense,” Sebastian says, straightening and turning me in his arms. He lifts a handful of my beachy waves back over my shoulder before massaging his fingers into the knotted muscles. He gazes into my eyes, his brow furrowing with concern so sincere I almost forget he’s faking it.

After a second, he turns his attention to the girl standing behind me. “Are you giving my girlfriend shit?”

“Since when do you have girlfriends?” she asks.

“Since I found one worth having,” Sebastian says, his arm circling my waist as he pulls me flush against his chest. “Now beat it, nerd girl. Those beaver teeth aren’t going to file themselves down, and if you’re late to your dam building class, the others might get all the good logs.”

Krissy snatches up her books and rushes out, her head ducked.

“You’re terrible,” I say, trying not to smile.

Sebastian tips my chin up, his other hand sliding to my lower back and pressing my body against his. “You love it,” he murmurs, his nose skimming mine.

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