Page 85 of Only With You

“You’re going to semi?” Saint interjects, smiling hopefully at us.

“No, I’m?—”

“Yes, he is.”

“I’m not. You know I don’t like that shit. I don’t know why you’d assume I’d want to go.”

“But you hang out with Julianna. What difference does it make?” Jaggers argues.

“I’m tutoring her.”

“Same difference. If you can tolerate being with her for the rest of the semester, then you can tolerate being with one girl for one night.”

The guys nod in agreement, but keep quiet and continue looking at the mugs, though really, they’re listening to our conversation.

“I’m getting paid to tolerate her.”

I wish I could still call it that. She’s not too bad to be around.

Knowing I won’t let up, he pushes me away from the guys until we’re far from earshot.

“We’re single with literally no obligations besides basketball and school. We’re supposed to be making the best of this last year together. And you did say you’d spend more time with me and make an effort.”

Right, I did say that.

“Fine, I’ll go, but no dancing, pictures, or afterparty.”

Jagger flashes me a lopsided grin. “Two dances, one picture, and no afterparty.”

I roll my eyes. “You pitiful piece of shit.”

“You love me,” he singsongs.

The things I do for this friendship. “Who’s the girl?”

He wouldn’t be making me do this if there wasn’t a girl. There’s always a girl.

“Sienna Forbes and you can’t take it back.” He says it all too fast, I almost don’t catch it.

“Jagger Arnold Spears.” I seethe. “You fucking?—”

He steps back, knowing I’m going to punch him. “If I had started with that, you wouldn’t have agreed. And please don’t ever use my middle name again. You know how much I hate it,Archibald.”

I roll my eyes at the emphasis of my middle name.

“She’s just”—I try to find the right word, but so many come to mind, I don’t know which one to pick—“too much.”

He winces, knowing I’m right. “Well…she’s…she’s not that bad…and she’s pretty and smart…”

Sienna Forbes is attractive and smart. I’ve been a TA in some of her classes to testify, but that’s all the good I can say about her.

She’s attempted a few times to sneak into my room, follows me when we’re in the same place and thinks I don’t notice. Once, she started a rumor that we fucked, but I shut that down real quick. She always tries to get photos with me even though I tell her no. And now that I have Instagram, she has nonstop messaged me and sent me pictures I didn’t ask for.

“Just one night.” He goads, clasping his hands together. “If she gets weird, we’ll leave.”

Begrudgingly, I decide against my better judgement and for the sake of our friendship, I agree. “Fine, but as soon as she gets weird, I’m leaving with or without you.”

“Deal.”

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