Page 33 of Nothing Like the Movies

But Liz was not capable of being “one of the guys.”

Was she?

“You’re telling me that a girl who looks likethat,” I said, even quieter than before, “is thought of as one of the guys.”

He shrugged. “She doesn’t date, doesn’t take any crap, is hilarious, and she’s great at what she does.”

“She’s dating Clark, remember?”

“I still can’t believe that.” He screwed his face together like he didn’t get it. “So I guess she didn’t date untilnow.”

I did glance over then, and Clark was standing next to her, saying something that was making her smile the smile that I hadn’t seen in so long.

Her undiluted happy smile.

God, that smile.

I stared, frozen, just memorizing the curve of her mouth. I felt more than jealousy as she gifted him that grin—I felt hungry. Desperate. Like he was getting a lavish buffet of something I was starving for. Like he was rolling around in piles of money while I begged for pennies.

Like he’d won the lottery and was making me watch him claim the prize.

Her eyes shifted. Found mine.

Shit.

I winked—what the hell are you doing, you tool?—and attempted to go back to studying.

“Waters,” Mickey said, his voice freakingloud. “How’d you get Buxxie to go out with you?”

Every head in the study hall turned in their direction.

“Are you kidding me?” I heard Eli say from the other side of the room. “Bux and the giant?”

Liz blinked fast, those green eyes looking guilty as her cheeks got instantly pink.

Clark, on the other hand, smiled proudly and put his arm around Liz. “Yes, we’re talking, but kindly mind your own business, okay?”

I hate him. I don’t care that he’s nice.I fucking hate him.

Also, why did he have to hang all over her like that with his giant ape arms? Give the girl some breathing room.

She couldn’t like it.

I mean, who would want the weight of that ridiculous arm on their shoulders?

“How long has this been going on?” Eli asked, undeterred. “Buxxie?”

“It’s new,” Liz said, shrugging. “Now shut up so I can take pictures of you geniuses studying, okay?”

I used my fingerprint to unlock my Mac and clicked into email, trying to get control over the way my gut felt when that Neanderthal started laughing like everything was hilarious. I needed to be studying, not creepily watching Liz as she smiled at someone.

Focus, you jackass.

I was looking for the email from my speech professor about our group project, but the first message I saw was from someone named Lilith Grossman, and the subject was “interview.” I had no idea who that was, but when I opened it, I found out quick.

Anger filled my chest as I read the message.

From: Lilith Grossman

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