Page 40 of Make Me Want it Too

I hand Zayne the microphone on the way back to my seat. He and Dane start to do an amazing duet of “Summer Nights” from Grease.

I put down my water glass after emptying it and look over to Macy. “You want to dance?”

She’s almost startled by my words. She looks around. “No one else is dancing.”

“We would be. Does anyone else matter?”

She hesitates a second then shakes her head again. “You know I don’t really dance.”

I nod. “I know.”

“Anyway, I need to go to the bathroom.” Macy grabs her little purse/bag/clutch thing, whatever she called it, and leaves.

Zayne and Dane are now doing an encore performance of “You’re the One That I Want,” Livvy is standing over with Bex which means it’s only Noah and me at the table. He’s giving me a look, and I know what it means.

He slides two seats over into Macy’s empty chair. Oh boy.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“Nothing. Just wondering how things are going with you and Macy.”

“Good. Why?” That was a little defensive. Be cool, Wood. Jesus.

“I don’t know. I haven’t had the chance to ask you about it yet. I’m just concerned about you.”

“Concerned?” What the fuck.

“About you getting hurt.”

Being an only child, Noah’s always been more like a brother than a cousin to me—especially after he lost his family in a car accident—so I relax my shoulders. “What do you mean?” I ask calmly.

“I mean”—Noah lowers his voice—“you’ve been in love with her for years, and she just got out of a long-term relationship. You’re the serial-dating fun guy. Are you sure this isn’t just a rebound for her? That she’s not using you for a good time, not a long time? She’s not just another girl to you. I don’t want you getting your heart broken.”

I give him a clap on the arm. “Thanks for looking out, bro, but I’ve got this. You don’t need to worry, trust me.”

The muscle in his jaw flexes. “Are you sure? Are things good when you’re alone? Because I’ve been watching you two tonight, and it doesn't even seem like she likes you.”

A soft gasp comes from behind me. I turn to see Macy standing there, holding her clutch thing tightly with both hands.

“Fuck,” Noah sighs under his breath.

“I’m going to go up to the room,” she says quietly.

“I’ll come with you,” I say, already getting up.

“You don’t have to. You’re having fun. Stay.”

There’s no fucking way I’m letting her go alone. “I’ll have more fun with you. After you.”

I follow her up to the room, glad not to have a run-in with Spencer this time.

She’s quiet. Quieter than usual.

I close the door behind us as she’s taking out her earrings at the dresser and kicking off her shoes. I go to use the bathroom and brush my teeth quickly. She rushes in after me, avoiding eye contact, and I hate this feeling. I want to make her happier, not sadder.

I change into a clean white shirt and sweats and get into bed. Maybe this whole thing really was a dumb idea.

She comes out after a while in her oversized Garfield T-shirt, hair up, face scrubbed clean. The first thing I notice is how adorable she looks. The second thing is that her eyes are red like either she was just crying or is about to.

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