Page 69 of Adorkable

I looked over and saw Mercedes sitting in Becks’s lap. She was running a hand through his hair and staring deeply into his eyes, pressing against his chest in her too-tight dress. The sight made me furious. Who did that skank think she was?

“Looks like someone’s trying to steal your man, Spitz. Better run on over there, and claim what’s yours.”

The anger in my chest withered away, settling in my stomach like a dead weight. Becks wasn’t mine, not really, just for pretend. At some point tonight, after our break up, he wouldn’t even be that.

“He’s not my man,” I said sadly.

Ash looked unconvinced. “Isn’t he?”

I shook my head.

“Well, he’s looking at you like he is.”

Snapping to attention, I saw Ash was right. Beckswasstaring at me from across the room, his face unreadable. As he went to stand, Mercedes caught his neck, and I made a break for it.

“Later, Ash,” I said, speed walking through the crush of people and entering the first door I saw.

It was a bathroom, the perfect hiding place.

Flipping the lock, I took in my surroundings.

It looked like one of those fancy schmancy bathrooms you’d find in a high price restaurant. Seriously, there was a small chaise, two chairs, toilet, shower, jet tub, mints, perfumes, hand soaps, gels and lotions, anything you’d need. A person could live in Mercedes’s bathroom, and I was going to do just that, at least for a while.

I’d already splashed my face, used some silky soft lotion, and eaten five mints when the first knock came at the door.

“It’s occupied,” I called, popping another mint into my mouth.

“Sal, it’s me. Can I come in?”

Eyes wide, I spit the mint back out, dropped it in the trash. When I opened the door, Becks was standing there, leaning against the jamb.

“Yes?” I said.

“What were you doing in there?” Peering past me, Becks’s eyes widened. “Whoa, that is one mighty fine bathroom.”

I crossed my arms. “Did you want something? Towel, hand sanitizer, mint?”

He looked at me. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You rushed in here pretty quick.”

“I’m fine,” I said. “Where’s Mercedes? Seems like she might want first crack at you after we’ve broken up.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” he said. “That girl is relentless, Sal.”

“That’s a nice way of putting it,” I mumbled.

“Relentless,” he repeated. “Are you mad at me or something?”

“What makes you say that?”

“You’re glaring hard enough to burn a hole through my chest.”

“Am I?”

“Yeah,” Becks said, lifting my chin. “You are.”

I tried to look indifferent but don’t think I succeeded. The picture of Mercedes sitting on his lap was still right there, blazing bright in my head. I couldn’t help but be mad at her for what she’d done and at Becks for what he didn’t do.

“You know, it’s not my fault Mercedes sat in my lap.”

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