Page 19 of It Was Always You

Lexi raised her eyebrows and leaned closer; the fruity smell that I was coming to know as her personal scent wafted to my nose. "So you really aren't over Ashlyn then?" she whispered in my ear. To an onlooker it would seem like we were having an intimate conversation where she was whispering sweet nothings to me.

So I decided to take her lead and whispered back, "Just because I care that they're watching doesn't mean that I'm not over her."

She shivered involuntarily, like she'd enjoyed being so close. But then she pulled back to give me a look that told me she wasn't buying my load of crap. "That may be, but the way you grit your teeth every time you see them together tells me otherwise."

I automatically clenched my jaw. I was not still in love with Ashlyn.

At least I was trying really hard not to be. I'd messed things up while we were dating. That ship had sailed. I wasn't just going to wait around and hope Luke suddenly sprouted warts all over. We had already called our truce.

So I decided to turn it back on Lexi.

"Okay, since you're this all-knowing psychologist, what would you have to say about someone who noticed all those things about me? Do you think a psychologist might wonder ifyouwere the one with the real crush?"

Her jaw dropped, and she shoved me away. "Just because I'm observant doesn't mean that I'm in love with you."

I shrugged and winked, just because I knew it would make her mad. "Whatever you say, sweetie."

She stabbed her salad with her fork and refused to look at me.

Mission accomplished.

"Is this how it's always going to be then?" Raven said, staring at me and Lexi. She must have finished trying to convince Easton to come to her side of the argument.

"What do you mean?" I sat up straighter.

Raven rolled her eyes and screwed the lid back on her water bottle. "I don't know. You guys are just so weird together. It's distracting."

"Jealousy is not a good look for you, Raven," I retorted, feeling irritated that she couldn't just get off our case.

Raven gasped. "I am not jealous."

I raised my eyebrows in a challenge. "Then, what’s that look on your face you’re giving us?"

She huffed. "I just wanted you two to know that not everyone is comfortable being around that much PDA."

Yeah, since she hadn't just been crawling all over me at the beginning of lunch period.

I took a drink from my water bottle and set it down on the table. "I'll keep that in mind." I was totally going to play up the PDA in front of Raven now. Yeah, she was hot and there was that one time we made out at Jake Haley's party. But if I hadn't been mad at Paul for hitting me, or if I hadn’t been trying to forget how I'd been rude to Ashlyn when she showed up in her pajamas, I would have been in a better frame of mind and never kissed her.

Raven stirred her pudding with her spoon. "So, how long have you two been dating then?"

"Yes, I'm just dying to know how long you two have been sneaking around behind my back." Easton smirked.

I shook my head at Easton. A stab of guilt coursed through me when I noticed Raven’s eyes were glistening. Had she really thought that night meant something to me?

Instead of answering, I turned to Lexi, not having it in me to pound in the final nail.

Lexi shifted in her seat, as if startled that I'd let her take the lead on this.

"Well..." She glanced at me, her gaze searching mine for some kind of indication on what to say. I nodded my encouragement, so she cleared her throat and looked back to Raven. "I guess it's kind of been going on for a while. Probably since the middle of football season when I noticed Noah couldn't seem to keep his eyes off me as I sat in the pep band."

I almost snorted when the image of her in a polo shirt that was two sizes too big came to my mind.

Yeah, that pep band shirt was about as attractive as a circus tent would be on her.

Lexi continued, "Anyway, he practically begged me to give him a chance after that. And I guess you could say things have been pretty serious for about a month."

I nodded, squeezing her closer to my side. "Yep. I just can't get enough of this girl. And I'm just glad we don't have to hide it anymore."

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