Page 44 of With a Little Luck

This is the worst idea I’ve ever—

“Yes,” says Maya.

My lips part.

Her grin widens. There’s a sparkle in her eye, like maybe she’s teasing me, or maybe she’s amused by me, or maybe she feels sorry for me, and maybe all of the above, and maybe something else entirely.

Crap. Where’s Ezra? Where’s Lucy? Does anyone around here sell a Maya decoder ring?

“Yes?” I ask her.

“To whatever you’re asking,” she says.

Brynn makes anooohsound and nudges Maya with her shoulder.

“Uh … I actually just wanted to say …” My brain is exploding. I need to wrap this up. I need to get out of here. “I had a good time last night.” I grimace, my voice growing tight. “That’s all.”

Katie snickers, but Maya just leans back, still smiling. “I did, too.”

“Cool,” I say, and did I really just give her a thumbs-up? Who is even in control of my body at this point? “Well. That’s all. I’ll see you in class.” My face is burning as I turn away. I shove my hands into my pockets and clutch the dice like it’s my security blanket.

“Jude?”

I groan inwardly. No, please, just let me escape this. I will never again pretend that I could possibly attract the attention of a girl like this. I’m done pretending. I’m done.

Gritting my teeth, I turn slowly back. “Yeah?”112

“Do you want to sit with us at lunch later?”

Her friends gasp. Literallygasp. And look at her like she’s lost her mind. Heck, I’m looking at her like she’s lost her mind.

Did Maya Livingstone just invite me to join her for lunch? Like, in the cafeteria? Surrounded by people we go to school with? People with thoughts and opinions and judgments? People who willtalkabout us?

“Your sister, too,” she adds, nodding in a direction somewhere behind me. “And Quint. And … EZ?” Her expression becomes less enthused, and I remember that she and Ezra were lab partners in biology last year, and yeah, I’d probably be a little traumatized after working with him for a full year, too.

“Oh. Thanks,” I say. It comes out a little squeaky, so I clear my throat and go on. “Pru and Quint have second lunch. I guess I can mention it to Ezra.”

Whether Maya can sense my feelings on the matter or she herself isn’t Ezra’s biggest fan, she leans toward me and whispers, “Or not? That would be fine, too. So … I’ll see you then?” She grimaces. “I mean, I’ll see you in first period, obviously. And second period. But then … lunch.”

The look she has then—likeshe’sthe awkward one, saying awkward things—makes me fall in love with her even more.

“Yeah,” I say. “Lunch.”

113

Chapter Fifteen

“Wereweinvited to eat at her lunch table?” asks César, afterI’ve done my best to explain why I won’t be sitting with them today. He, Matt, and I are in line in the cafeteria, pushing our red plastic trays along the bar, but none of us are paying much attention to what the lunch attendants are putting on our plates. Russell said he had a big idea for a new scene in his novel, so he rushed off to the library as soon as the bell rang. Russell cares as much about my girl drama as I care about national sports—which, after all the stares I’ve gotten today, is sort of refreshing.

“I don’t know,” I tell César. “She didn’t mention you guys. But it would probably be okay?” I glance at them. “Do youwantto eat at her lunch table?”

They hesitate, looking at each other, unspoken words passing between them.

“Not particularly,” Matt finally admits. He looks a little guilty about it, but honestly, I get it. I’m not entirely sureIwant to eat with her. But I figure I can’t be considered as potential boyfriend material if I won’t hang out with her during school, right?

And it really isn’t about hanging out with Maya. She’s intimidating enough. But Mayaandher friends? What am I supposed to talk to them about?

I find myself intentionally dragging my feet as we make our way through the line. Wasting time as I decide over mashed potatoes or corn bread.

---