Page 14 of Blinded By Love

I didn’t notice it four years ago.

Natalia lets go of me and she pats me on the face before going back to Chris who wraps his arm around her. “Good fight. Now let’s eat because I’m hungry.”

We all sit down at the table Chris reserved and Jaclyn is sitting right in front of me. She is looking everywhere but me while I can’t keep my eyes off her. She is wearing minimal makeup. Only mascara and I’m assuming that shit you put on your face to cover your pimples and scars or whatever.

The waiter gets all of our drinks. I order a whiskey while Jaclyn orders a water after smiling sweetly at the waiter. The waiter tells us he’ll be back to get food orders in.

“So Jaclyn, where are you from? I’ve never seen you around here before and I know almost everyone,” Max asks her while giving her a flirty smile like he did at the diner.

“California. I moved here not that long ago.”

So she still lives there?

“Really? What part?” Kayden asks her.

“Orange County area.”

“Jaclyn is actually in my journalism class and she is also studying psychology too,” Natalia mentions while smiling at Jaclyn like she is proud of her. “I told you that Hayden is also studying psychology, right Hayden?”

Natalia looks at me but I keep my eyes on Jaclyn who is avoiding my gaze. She keeps her eyes on Natalia.

“Why don’t you look at me? It’s rude to not look at someone,” I say, directing my words at Jaclyn, trying to get on her nerves.

She finally looks at me with those fucking eyes. “You’re not talking so why should I look at you?” She raises an eyebrow, fire starting to form in her eyes as she gives me a deadly look.

Her voice seems calm and collected but I know I’m pissing her off.

Still the same girl, just more deadly.

“You’ve been avoiding my gaze this entire time. Are you scared or something?” I raise an eyebrow at her.

“No.” She furrows her eyebrows at me. “Why are you acting as if you are the only person in the room and I should be staring at you?”

“You look at Kayden and Chris even though they aren’t talking. Am I special?” I lean back into my seat and raise an eyebrow at her while trying to conceal the smile that’s wanting to spread on my face.

“You’re trying to start a fight on purpose. You’re acting like a child doing that. I feel bad for whoever you spend all your time with. I bet it's exhausting. Do you start a fight with everyone you talk to?”

“I think-”

“No, Jaclyn, I don’t always do that,” I say, cutting Natalia off.

“So what am I just special then?” She gives me a sarcastic smile and tilts her head slightly.

I shrug. “Sure. Something like that.”

Jaclyn rolls her eyes and her lips lift in a small smile. “You’re unbelievable,” she mutters before leaning toward me and resting her elbows on the table. My eyes can’t help but go down to her chest where I see a glimpse of her cleavage. “What is wrong with you? I am just sitting here not bothering you or anything and you decide to pick a fight. Are you okay? Do you still have those mommy or daddy issues we talked about?”

Something in me snaps and I can’t help but want to pick apart every little insecurity about her and turn it into an insult.

I lick my bottom lip before leaning out of my chair and towards her. “I wouldn’t be talking about attention. You’re the one who is wearing a dress so short it’s making every guy's head break. If you want to look like a whore then maybe you should go to a strip club,” I say, not meaning it but I can’t help it.

Even though I barely know the girl, she makes me feel insane.

Jaclyn’s lips part and this time I see a hurt flash in her eyes.

“He didn’t mean that. Seriously Hayden?” Natalia says from the other side of the table but I don’t look at her, I keep my eyes on Jaclyn.

Jaclyn nods her head before grabbing her bag and looking at Natalia. “I’ll see you in class tomorrow. Thank you for inviting me but I just don’t feel like sitting at a table with him as he points out things he doesn’t like about me.”

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