Page 62 of Romance Languages

I felt eyes on me, that instinctual prickle at the back of my neck. I turned around and found Seamus on the top bleacher. He had a charming smile and cocked an eyebrow, as if he was enjoying the show.

I had no choice but to swoon.

I shrugged, letting him know that yes, I had pep. A buzz zipped through my chest. It was only a day ago that he’d had his face in my crotch. But also, it was only a day ago that he revealed his secret pain and made me hold back every instinct to kiss him. Seamus was no longer just a crush that I’d put on a pedestal; he was real, achingly real. A man I wanted to hold and protect and love.

“Could you be any more obvious?” Amos wore a perfectly pleased smile.

“Technically, he could be more obvious, but not by much,” Chase added.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, playing it cool.

“Your moony eyes at Seamus,” Amos said.

“They were not moony eyes. He’s my friend.”

“Oh, please. You want him to stuff your Trapper Keeper so badly it’s not even funny,” Everett said. “Actually, I take that back. It is funny.”

“I’m starting to think our code language is more transparent than we think.” Chase scratched his head.

“It wasn’t moony eyes,” I said, compelled to defend myself. “We were just…”

But why was Seamus looking at me? How long had he been staring at me? Was he the one giving moony eyes?

“An inside joke. About pep rallies and never having eighth period. Remember how you used to hate pep rallies because of that, Everett?”

Everett rolled his eyes, refusing to admit I was right and refusing to admit he liked pep rallies now because of his boyfriend.

“Leave him alone, Everett,” Amos said.

“Thank you.” At least one of my friends was cool.

“It’s not his fault he’s got a crush on his friend. The heart wants what it wants.” Amos chuckled.

Heat coursed up my neck.

“I don’t have a crush.”

“Seamus is merely a coworker who makes you blush,” Everett said with full sarcasm.

“Will you guys shut the fuck up!” Fire spewed from my lungs.

Fortunately, my outburst occurred right after Raleigh said something inspirational, so it was drowned out by the cheers of the student body. But my friends definitely heard it.

They stared at me, white-faced and speechless.

“Just shut the fuck up. You guys can be real assholes.”

I got up and left my stunned friends to wallow in their shock. Again, my timing was great as everyone in the bleachers stood up at that moment to do the South Rock cheer. I slipped out unnoticed.

The halls were empty. My footsteps echoed as the rumble of the gymnasium became more distant. I passed a large bulletin board advertising the plethora of student clubs and wished for it to swallow me whole.

“Jules! Wait up!” Seamus jogged down the hall. He was slightly out of breath by the time he caught up to me. “Are you cutting class, sir? I’m gonna have to see a hall pass.”

Did attractive, charming people ever realize how attractive and charming they were, or were they completely oblivious?

“I was just going to the bathroom.”

“Riiiiight.”

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