Page 51 of Introvert

With that, we made a mad dash to vacatethe venue.Security met us by the doors leading outside.Nervousness filled me, but I steeled myself for what was to come.We were about to walk out into a pretty large crowd of people who'd apparently hung around, waiting for the guys. I could hear them on the other side of the door.

Right before we stepped over the threshold, Felix offered me his hand. I looked up at him in question.

"Wouldn't want you to get lost," he said.

I saw right through him. "I'm not helpless, Felix."

"I know."

He didn't move.

"Girlfriends hold hands with their boyfriends, right?" he said.

"You mean fake girlfriends," I said.

"Whatever."

Despite his words, I couldn't shake the feeling he was doing this for me, that Felix somehow sensed my tension and didn't want me to have to walk out there alone.

"Princess?" he said.

"Right," I said with a nod.

Placing my palmin his, I ignored the tingles racing up my arm as his fingers closed around mine, and we rushed onto the bus. Once there, Felixlet me enter first, walking close behind meup the steps. Essie's disapproving frown turned into abrightsmile as I passed, and following her gaze, I realized we were still holding hands. I knew Felix would extricate himself as soon as we werecompletely inside. Ourrelationship was for show after all.

But for some reason, he didn't.

I came to a stop wondering why—but I couldn't think about it too long because in the next second a person-sized blur of motion threw themselves into Felix's arms. He fell back a step on impact,causing him to drop my hand.

"Whoa," he said.

"Fe, it's been too long!"

It turned out the blur was actually a girl—well, a young woman. She smelled like freshflowers and honey.After a moment, she pulled back, and I got my first glimpse of her face. She was beautiful, effortlessly so, the kind of gorgeous that made people stop in their tracks.Flowing dark brown hair, flawlessly shaped eyebrows above brilliant ice blue eyes, pink heart-shaped lips, perfectteeth. Her smile was directed at Felix, and I felt myself drawing inward.

"Why haven't you written or called? It's been forever," she said.

"Been busy," Felix mumbled.

"Too busy for me?"

He grunted, and she just shook her head like he was the cutest thing.

"Well, I know you missed me," she said andraised her voice to encompass everyone on the bus. "I know you all did—even ifsomepeople won't say so."

Then her eyes landed on me.

"Hey," she said, "I don't think we've met."

I swallowed.

"Oh, I love meeting new people."

She not-so-discreetly nudged Felix with her elbow.

"Fe, introduce me to your pretty friend."

Friend, I thought.

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