Page 7 of Life Blood
“Save it, David. I already know you suck, and I’m actually trying to figure out why I’m still dating you.”
He easily kept up with my brisk pace, “Don’t say that. Listen, it won’t happen again.”
“Really?” I stopped again.
“Promise.” He smiled and took my hand in his, “I feel awful you had another rough night with your mom.”
“The next time you want to ditch me, please let me know first.” I didn’t want to think of myself as a pushover, I just really didn’t want to have to deal with his theatrics if I held this grudge for too long. I couldn’t handle that today.
He slid his fingers through mine, and we turned just in time to catch Jen rolling her eyes at us and our dysfunctional relationship.
“Let’s go, I have a table next to—”
I glanced over to the large auditorium building that housed the school for lunch, “Listen, I promised one of those Banner guys I’d have lunch with him and his cousins today. He helped me out of a pretty creepy situation last night.”
Jen crossed her arms and eyed me.
Shit!I realized I didn’t elaborate on who exactly helped me out of my predicament with Jackson when Jen asked about the mysterious phone call last night. I certainly wasn’t going to go into it with David standing right here either.
“Did something happen at the coffee shop?” David asked obliviously.
“It was nothing, that’s why I’m a little confused as to why the guy asked me to join him for lunch,” I lied.
David stiffened at my side, “The Banners? Trust me, they don’t need the company,” he said, annoyed.
“You’ve met them?” I asked.
“I have two classes with three of them. Logan,” he paused, “I can’t remember the rest of their names, but they definitely don’t seem to fit in here.”
If the others looked anything like the one I met last night, they sure as hell didn’t belong in this one-horse town.
“Well, whatever,youdon’t have to join us, I’m just doing this because he helped me out, that’s all.”
“Oh, I’m joining you. Which one was it?” David asked.
“I think his name was Bradley or Brandon?”
“Braden?” David finished my guess with the name.
“Yes, that’s his name. Nice guy.”
I ignored his exasperated sigh.
“Have you met any of them yet, Jen?” I asked.
“Yes,” she eyed me with a stunned expression, “I’m actually surprised that they’d ask anyone to sit with them. They seem to stick together.”
“I guess they just moved here,” I said, “Maybe they just want to get to know people. I don’t know.”
We walked into the lunch area, and that’s when I felt a strange pull of energy. Weird. Like a warm summer day when the breeze drifts across your face…that feeling washed over me and wrapped itself tightly around my body. Then, as quickly as it came, it went.
“You okay?” David asked.
I looked at the hairs standing up on my arm, and I rubbed the evidence of what just took place away. I knew I wasn’tthatexcited to meet all of the Banner Cousins.
The table in the far corner was where they all sat, three had their backs to me and Braden’s eyes locked onto mine from across the room. I smiled but felt the heat hit my cheeks when he dropped his head back to his food and pointedly ignored me.
The three others shot annoyed glances over their shoulders.
