Page 19 of Nothing Like the Movies

“I’m not worried aboutthat,” he said, shrugging. “I mean, I’m assuming we will fake–break up in the near future, once you know how to handle yourself around him.”

“Yeah, for sure we will,” I said, wondering if I’d ever know how to do that.

Because I never would’ve guessed that at this point in my life, almost two years later, I’d feel so shaken by his presence. I would’ve expected a polite reunion, with a few lingering unkind thoughts about him that would disappear the moment he walked away.

That was how it was supposed to go.

Whyyyyyyyy aren’t I numb by now?

“Okay, so maybe this,” Clark said, getting that patented Clarkgrin on his face that meant he was all in. “Let’s go with what we just said to Bennett, that this is brand-new. Like, we just discovered we have feelings, and we’re just starting to explore it. That way when people act like he’s wrong, like,no, they’re just friends, it makes sense why no one knows.”

“See, this is why I want to date you,” I teased, feeling a little better. “You think of all the details.”

“Right? I’m awesome,” he said around a smile, pinching my cheek again. “This is going to be kind of fun.”

“I will stab you,” I said as I smacked his hand, laughing in spite of everything, “if you don’t keep your enormous pie-plate hands off my face. Got it?”

“Oh, Lizard,” he said, giving in to a loud laugh. “You’re adorable when you huff. Let me text our roommates so they know the plan, and then let’s go get you another drink, girlfriend of mine.”

We went back into the party after he sent Campbell and Leo the message, and I was glad I had a buzz when he grabbed my hand and led me into the kitchen. Because there was Wes, sitting on the stool where I ate my yogurt every morning, grinning and playing cards with his friends.

Who were actually my friends.

Who’d actually been my friends first.

And he was in my kitchen, what the hell?!

I felt like I needed a time-out to get my head right because it was all too much.

“Is Buxxie actually going to hang with us?” Wade teased, his hair a mess since he’d finally shed the stupid hat. He had a handful ofcards in his fists and a few cans of beer in front of him as he grinned and said, “I thought you only did music at your parties.”

“I begged,” Clark said, pulling me closer and wrapping his arm around my shoulders, “and Lizzie was nice enough to choose me over music. At least for a solid five minutes.”

“Lizzie?”Mickey, who was at the other end of the table, said. “What the hell is this ‘Lizzie’ shit? Are we allowed to call you that now? Because I recall it being expressly forbidden.”

I really wanted the attention to land on anyone else, because I could feel Wes watching this stupid interaction.Wes, the only person to ever seriously call me Lizzie.I pushed my lips into a smile and said, “Well—”

“OnlyIcan call her that,” Clark interrupted, his voice loudly obnoxious.

Oh God. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Wes’s face.

Wade’s eyes narrowed. “Did I miss something? Are you guys a thing now?”

I sucked at lying, so I just shrugged and smiled. “Maybe.”

“Oh my God, little Buxxie’s blushing,” Mickey said, and I knew blushing had to be an understatement because it felt like my skin was on fire. “This is adorable.”

“Shut it,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m going back to the music.”

“Oh, come on, baby,” Clark teased. “Don’t go yet.”

That made Mick laugh, and I wriggled out from under Clark’s arm as the moment passed and the card game moved on. I turned to escape to the living room, to get away from the kitchen and lose myself in the music, but not before making eye contact with Wes.

Whose dark eyes were intensely on me, like he was searching for something.

That face was impossible to read as I held his gaze like a deer in the headlights, unsure what was passing between us. I swallowed and tucked my hair behind my ears—get it together, Buxbaum—and it felt like my knees might literally give out as I exited the kitchen as quickly as possible.

What. The. Hell. Universe?

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