Page 81 of Something Rad
He’s an evil genius.
“Good to see you, man,” Jesse speaks up.
I watch the way Robbie’s eyes sharply shift to Jesse.
“Jesse,” he nods. His fingers flex while intertwined with my own, our hands laying flat now against my chest. He starts guiding them in stroking circular motions. I assume he’s doing it as a way to distract himself, but it doesn’t stop the goosebumps from spreading across my body. I clear my throat, trying to signal to him to stop. He just pulls me closer, continuing.
Denise’s gaze flicks between the two of us. She looks calm,happyeven. But I swear there’s something in her eyes that’s betraying her content facade. “You look really pretty, Sara,” she says suddenly, completely throwing me off guard.
“Oh,” I say, glancing down at myself. “Thanks…Denise. You do too.”
“I’m pretty sure my mom has that same dress,” she says.
I swallow against the sudden dryness in my throat, refusing to let the embarrassment show on my face.
“She got it on clearance at a Nordstrom in San Francisco a few years back.”
Yeah, this dress definitely isn’t from a Nordstrom. And Denisedefinitelyknows that.
“Total steal. Super cute,” she adds, tilting her head at me and smiling like a school teacher would smile at a kindergartener.
“Thanks,” I mutter, not knowing what else to say. I keep scanning her from top to bottom, searching for something I can backhanded compliment, but there’s nothing to be found. Physically, at least.
“So,” Jesse says, cutting in. “I heard you're running for student body president, Sara?”
He’s asking me, but his eyes keep flicking over to Robbie. I open my mouth to answer him, but Robbie speaks up first.
“I don't know why you’re looking at me. She can answer you.”
Jesse’s eyes immediately snap to me, his throat bobbing and back straightening.
Something flutters low in my belly at that. Jesse has the upper hand here. Well, technically at least. He’s managed to steal Robbie’s girlfriend right out from under him.And yet…he’s still scared of Robbie. Still affected by him. I take a quick look around, seeing everyone in the circle’s eyes glued to us. They’re allsoaffected by him.
I was always aware of the power that Robbie Summers held. But seeing it first hand, being a part of it…it’s something else entirely. I feel like there’s electricity under my skin. Like everything around us moves with us. Like I’m in total control. I don’t know the last time I felt that way. It’s scary. But it’s also…empowering.
“Yes, I’m running,” I reply to Jesse, standing tall.
Jesse lips press together tightly, like that wasn’t the answer he was hoping for. “I am too,” he says.
“Oh, you are?” I ask, tilting my head like I had no idea.
“So is Ginger,” Denise adds. Ginger smiles tightly at me, holding up her punch glass.
I think they’re trying to intimidate me.
I also think it’s working.
With enough confidence you can make people think you’re capable of anything, Robbie’s irritating voice sounds in my head. I mentally swat him away, but listen to it anyway.
I raise my brows, holding my free arm out to the side and opening my mouth in feigned happy surprise. “Well, this should be fun, shouldn’t it?” I ask rhetorically, not appearing to have a care in the world.
They’re all quiet, simply staring back at me for a few seconds, then Denise breaks the silence with a laugh. The rest join in, the tension significantly easing.
“Well, let the best man win,” Jesse says, holding out his hand for me to shake.
I take his hand in mine. “Or woman,” I add, throwing Ginger a wink. She leans back, giving me a small smile in return.
“Right,” Jesse nods, releasing my hand. “Good luck.”
