Page 60 of Matched Up

I leaned against the brick wall and let him lift me up, so my back was pressed against it, my legs wrapped round him.And we kissed like we hadn’t been doing the same thing all night.

‘Lexie?’

I looked up quickly, scratching my back on the wall.Shane put me down and we both turned.

And there in the dark, staring at us, were Niall and Megan, their mouths open.

‘So it’s true.You know, I sort of hoped it was some kind of AI, Photoshop crap, but I guess I never was the smart one.’Niall was looking right at me.He didn’t even acknowledge Shane.

Megan tried to pull Niall away, but he didn’t move.‘Niall, let’s go.Leave them to it.’

‘Seriously, Lexie?Are you fucking kidding me?’He kicked the ground and twisted away before turning back to us with a look of complete disbelief.‘This prick?’Then he was looking at Shane and they were staring at each other like two animals before one of them pounces on the other.

And that’s when I should have said something, stood up for myself, stood up for Shane, but the words were stuck in my throat, and even if I could have got them out, I didn’t know what they would be.

Shane moved so he was standing in front of me, and I was so grateful.Not because I thought Niall would hurt me, but because I couldn’t bear to look at him any more.

‘Just leave it, man,’ Shane said.

I waited for it, the moment that Niall snapped and lunged for Shane, but it didn’t come.He just scoffed, took one last look at us, turned and walked away.

I thought it would feel good.Getting my own back on Niall, showing him that I was doing exactly what he told me to do.Living my own life.There I was, with my boyfriend at the school formal, showing my brother that I didn’t need him, that I could do what I wanted without caring what he thought.I thought it would be liberating.

But it wasn’t.

Niall’s look of disgust was directed at me, not Shane.And I felt even smaller than ever.

22

Niall stormed inside the school and didn’t look back.Megan hung behind, looking at me like she was going to ask something, then disappeared after Niall.

‘Are you OK?’Shane asked when they were out of sight.

I inhaled, trying to slow the heartbeat that was so strong it was thudding in my ears.

‘Yeah, I’m fine,’ I lied.I leaned into his chest.‘I just didn’t expect …’ I paused.

‘Expect what?’Shane asked, pushing wet hair behind my ear.

‘How upset he’d look.’

‘He kind of just looked pissed off to me.’

I gave a small laugh and stepped back from his chest.‘That’s the thing about Niall, when he’s upset, he gets angry.Like really angry.And he’s never been that angry at me before.’I sighed and leaned against the wall.

‘Ah, OK.But why?I don’t get it.Is it just the football thing?’

Blood rushed to my head, and I slammed my hand against the wall in frustration.

‘Hey.’He grabbed it, holding it tightly, pressing my skin to his lips.

‘Maybe you should go …’ I said, trying not to cry.

‘I’m not leaving you like this.’He had concern in his eyes.‘Let’s walk.’

I nodded and let him pull me away from the wall.I shivered and he took off his jacket, wrapping it round my shoulders.

‘Thanks.’

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