Page 91 of Come Break My Heart Again

“Neither do you,” she tells me.

My fingers tap faster. I do, I think. This would be a hell of a lot easier if I didn’t. If our connection was just a fascination with something different. Reese is right; I can’t offer her anything like she’s used to. I don’t dress like I’m headed to a golf tournament, and I’ll never be able to buy her a steak dinner.

“Thanks for the advice.”

Reese sighs again. “I’m just trying to look out for you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I force another nod. Reese leans forward and turns up the radio.

Five minutes later, Tuck parks on the east side of the lot. I glance toward the main entrance reflexively, Elle’s red convertible easy to spot in its usual place a few spots to the left of the columns. She’s leaning against the bumper, talking with a few other girls.

“See you guys later,” I say, pretending not to notice the look Tucker and Reese exchange before I walk away. Wondering whatI’m about to do, same as me. I’ve only got a couple hundred feet to figure it out.

Elle’s not going to approach me, not after how we ended last night. And I don’t know much about relationships, but I do know the longer we go without talking, the bigger a deal last night will become.

She’s laughing at something one of her friends said, raising a hand to tuck her hair behind one ear, when she sees me. The stutter in her movements and droop in her smile are subtle. But if you’re watching closely, like I am, they’re noticeable.

Fuck it.

I swerve to the right, my heart rate picking up speed with each step I take.

Elle goes completely still when she realizes I’m headed straight toward her. One by one, her friends notice and glance this way. Two of them share a surprised look.

“Good morning, ladies.” I flash a polite smile around, wincing internally when I recognize Maddie is part of the group. After the awkward encounter at her party, I was kinda hoping to avoid her.

Maddie tilts her head, watching me closely.

I shove my hands in my pockets and focus on Elle. “Can I talk to you?”

She clears her throat, tucking more hair behind one ear while holding a textbook to her chest like a shield. “I’m busy.”

I hold her gaze. “I’ll wait.”

Tangible tension hums in the air between us. It’s cooler today, the first traces of fall’s crispiness cutting through the heat that’s lingered ever since I returned to New England.

Elle sucks her lower lip into her mouth, studying me. All it accomplishes is making me recall kissing her last night. Wanting to do it again.

The group of girls surrounding us is all silent, waiting to see what happens next. We’re probably drawing attention from all over the parking lot.

As ridiculous as it sounds, me talking to a One is a rare event. There’s already speculation about my departure and return. And Elle istheOne. Unattainable and unapproachable.

“I don’t think we have anything to talk about,” she tells me.

“I disagree.”

I’ve never paid much attention to the spaces between seconds before. But I’m painfully aware of each tiny stretch of time now, waiting for Elle’s response.

“Fine,” she finally says, flipping some hair over her shoulder with a bored expression I can tell is fake.

They all appear blatantly curious, but her friends start to move around us, grabbing backpacks and turning their attention to phones. I recall all the messages Elle showed me at Maddie’s party, certain a text flurry about us is taking place right now.

“See you in homeroom,” one girl tells Elle before walking off with the rest of them.

Elle doesn’t move once her friends leave. “You just told everyone.”

“I know.”

She glances down, running a finger along the spine of her textbook. “So … talk.”

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