Page 74 of Playing with Fire

She's quick to shake her head. "No, it's fine."

I gave her a look. "I'm serious, Hazel. Get him over here." I work to convince her to lead Felix away from the group.

Again, she shut me down. "It's fine, Em. Plus, it would be awkward," she shrugged.

"Why?" Kylie butts in.

"I don't know...we haven't spoken since-you know...that." She dodges the main issue while trying to convey her point. "I'm just really confused, that's all."

"Hazel." Kylie gave her a stern stare. "Tell us what happened."

"Well, it's what hasn't happened. After our kiss happened everything just stopped moving forward. We talked about it with jokes at the diner, but our relationship stayed the same. At least that's what I've noticed." She shared her story while fatigue clearly covered her face.

The truth is I developed feelings for him after that kiss. I assumed he felt the same way after our kiss but now I'm uncertain. She lets out an exhausted breath. I believe Savannah used me as a rebound because she cheated on him.

"Don't say that." I blurt. I noticed her frown and immediately searched my mind for something comforting to say to her. "I'm sure that's not true, Hazel."

"Well, what am I supposed to think?" she asked. I felt completely alone with my anxiety while we drove in the car. Maybe the only one is thinking about it." Kylie showed the same level of distress about this situation when I looked at her. The way

Hazel looked defeated and pushed me to the edge while Kylie reacted the same way. Of our group of three people she stands out as the most joyful one. "Alright, c'mon." Kylie pipes up. "We're taking a walk."

As I follow them Hazel gets pulled out of the water by her. My heart becomes heavy as I watch Felix from behind our group.

I glanced at Jaxon who looked puzzled as we passed him while walking. I look away and join up with the two girls for a walk.

"We're all officially mad at Felix." Kylie declares. "Why?" Kylie places her arm around Hazel's shoulder while asking a question.

The reason for our anger stems from his behavior of kissing my best friend and pretending there's nothing wrong. she reasons, and I agree. I can't imagine him doing it. —forgetting all just like that. I'm sure there's another reason. There must be.

As I come out of the shower, I hear voices in a room that I know and it's the room with the spinny chair.

As I unlock the door, I find exactly who I need to speak with on the other side. "Finley. Sawyer." His name slips from my mind as I close the door.

"Oh god. What did I do now?" With a sarcastic tone he breathes while JAMIE laughs next to him.

I shake my head and give him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Ow."

"Are you an idiot!?" I ask him.

"What? What are you talking about?" he asks, confused.

"I'm talking about Hazel, you dimwit. What makes you act like an idiot around Hazel? I stress.

"And that's my cue. My relationships always end after just one encounter. I don't do that emotional shit." He feels disgusted before he stands from the chair.

I roll my eyes again. You'll never find yourself in a relationship. "And I don't want to. I am perfectly content to remain a single man who turns heads, thank you very much. He uses sarcasm while raising a hand to his chest.

"JAMIE." We say in unison.

"Get out." Felix deadpans.

He leaves the room with an easy shrug and a playful salute.

What kind of idiotic behavior am I displaying with Hazel? He sat down in JAMIE’s chair while he asked about why he seemed an idiot to Hazel.

"You're making her upset."

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