Page 52 of The Off-Limits Play

“Shut up,” I growl. “She still shouldn’t be living in this house.”

“They’re working on it.”

“Well, they’re taking too damn long!” I jump up, stalking out of the room and bumping into Zander as he comes down the stairs.

“You staying for lunch, man?” he asks. “Everyone’s gonna be here. It’d be great to have you.”

“Yeah, maybe.” I give him a noncommittal shrug and take the stairs two at a time, hiding away in my room while I wait for this lame-ass party to start.

What the fuck has become of my life?

Last year, I played hard, partied even harder, and was living it up.

This year, I don’t know what the hell is going on.

Pacing my room like a caged animal, I walk from wall to wall, psyching myself up for this barbecue and willing myself not to think about a certain movie theater where a certain girl will be waiting.

I seriously can’t fucking go.

CHAPTER19

NYLAH

I’ve been waiting outside the movie theater for twenty-five minutes. I told Carson not to be late so I arrived early, not wanting to miss a second of time with him.

But maybe he’s not going to show.

Maybe he looked up the movie and was like “not gonna waste my time with that one.” But it’sSpecies.That’s ’90s sci-fi gold. Surely he’s into it.

So why isn’t he here?

Disappointment fries my insides.

Shit.

I thought he’d want to come just so he could be with me.

After those kisses on Monday night, I’m completely hooked. I’ve been looking out for him around every corner of campus. I even showed up to practice on Wednesday a few minutes early, hoping to catch him, but Dad saw me coming and took me down to his office to wait. I think I saw the back of Carson’s head as we were leaving the stadium, but that was it.

Dammit. I’ve missed him all week.

And now he’s not here.

He’s bailing on me, and I don’t know why.

Unless Dad got to him. Shit! Did he find out about Fledgling and the motorcycle ride and?—

Calm down. He would have said something to you. You know he would have.

I comfort myself with that truth, spinning on my good leg and pacing back along the sidewalk.

The movie starts in like two minutes. They should still let us buy tickets and sneak in late. But I hate being late.

Dammit. I told him not to be!

He’s not coming, Nylah. Just face the facts.

Now I’m suddenly not sure if I even want to seeSpecieswithout him.But it’s such a great movie! I should just go in. I can get over my disappointment with popcorn and gummy bears and a gorgeous alien trying to kill everyone on-screen. It’ll distract me from this burning sensation in my stomach. The one that’s teasing me about how I might not be irresistible at all.

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