Page 118 of All Too Well
“No, you can’t, you stupid idiot, because you were just as bad as him!”
“You liked losers,” I inform her. “Really, if they were good enough for you, they would’ve fought for you.”
“Like you should talk? You were with Ava Holtz, who is a raging bitch and was dating you because she wanted a ride everywhere.”
I chuckle. “I got to ride too.”
Her nose crinkles. “Gross.”
“I was seventeen. Cut me some slack.”
“No. You are trying to shame me for my dating, when I didn’t even date!”
“I’m just informing you that if Caspian should ask, I told him that I had feelings for you, and he told me you love me, which I’m pretty lovable, so ...”
She glares. “I’d love to hurt you right now.”
“I’d rather you kiss me.”
“I bet you would.” Ainsley turns in her chair, letting out a heavy sigh. “Did you tell him we were sleeping together?”
“No.”
“I guess there’s that miracle. So what exactly did you tell him?”
I launch into the conversation, recalling what I can remember, and she seems mollified. At least for now.
I reach over, resting my hand on her thigh. “Forgive me?”
Ainsley tilts her head to lie on my shoulder. “I guess.”
Sometimes her inability to hold grudges works in my favor. She’s always found a way to just let things go, unlike me. I hold on to shit forever. I pretty much have learned that people are who they show you they are.
If you allow people to walk all over you, they will.
I’ve found it’s better to find the right friends than have many who aren’t worth their salt.
A slow song comes on, and I push out my chair and stand. “Dance with me?”
“You want to dance?”
“I just asked you, so yes.”
Ainsley smiles and places her hand in mine as I lead her to the dance floor.
Like two pieces of a puzzle, we fit together and then sway to the music. Ainsley’s fingers brush the back of my neck, sending emotions through me I wish didn’t exist. She makes me want more, want love, want a life that we can’t have.
“I think this is the first time we’ve ever danced,” she says wistfully.
“No, I’m sure we’ve danced before.”
“Nope. I would’ve remembered. At prom you were with Valorie and there wasn’t a chance in hell you were going to ask me.”
“You were a freshman.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, yes, the peon of the high school days.”
“You didn’t ask me either,” I toss back.
