Page 47 of Crazy for this Girl

Cal says something else to his mom, but I’m too busy selfishly reflecting on another female impeding on my Cal time. That the limited amount of it I have isn’t going to be the same as it always is and was.

These are facts. Regardless of if we eventually live in the same state or not. Cal is going to date, and I’m going to pine. I’m going to loathe all of them. I’m going to stew in my bedroom and pace the floors.

I’m going to drive myself crazy.

Cal is not mine.

I just wish my head and heart would get on board with that fact because this could turn deadly to our relationship if I get jealous or stupid obsessive.

I guess I am, in a way.

I don’t want anyone impeding on my limited time with him, and I don’t want to be the third wheel. I don’t want to know about what they’ve been fighting about or asking me for ideas for her birthday.

I definitely don’t want to see him kissing another girl.

“I’m going to go unpack,” I vouch, creating a way to get out of here and somewhere else where I can have time to go over everything in my head.

I need to get my head screwed on straight and my game face put back on. The damn thing keeps falling off the carousel ride of wanting and reiterating the same crap over and over again.

He’s my best friend.

Cal Harper is just my best friend.

“Laynee,” Cal calls out, pushing off the porch beam from my peripheral. “Hold on.”

I turn to look at him, forcing my lips to lift when all I really want to do is what he told me to do with Casey.

Punch him in the balls, even though it’s not his fault.

But it kinda is.

He didn’t break up with this Hallie chick, and now she wants my time.

Wow.

I never realized how much of a possessive person I was until this moment. I’m acting like Jonah when I touch the last piece of candy or one of his cards. I’m about to throw a temper tantrum.

“I’ll see you later,” I quip, trying to sound convincing that I’m fine, that this is fine. “Come by for dinner later. Dad’s making burgers and wings.” It’s the only thing I can say that sounds like I’m really just needing to go do what I just said, and not running away from a problem.

He mouths I’m sorry, and I roll my eyes as if he’s being stupid.

He is.

And he ruined everything.

Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake used to be a good song. That was, until Hallie blew it out within two days on repeat.

Cal and I are trying to fish, and she keeps hitting the wooden deck with her obnoxious dance moves, rendering my focus useless and my patience running thinner by the day. All she does is sway her hips and thinks she’s the sexiest thing that’s ever existed. That they’re actually good, but maybe they are to everyone else without clouded judgment.

Maybe Cal thinks she’s great and all that she’s doing is appealing.

I, on the other hand, don’t.

She’s annoying.

And what’s even more aggravating is that Hallie is perfectly put together with long auburn hair that’s straight and thick. Her lips are full and downturned with shiny pink lip gloss that she reapplies every thirty minutes. She wears too much blush, but her neutral eyeshadows and black mascara are on point.

I expected her to be a cheerleader with her thin frame and bouncy personality, but with the way she’s dancing, I can see why she’s not. The best way I can describe Hallie’s dance moves, is it’s like she’s getting either electrocuted or trying to dodge a swarm of bees.

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