Page 8 of Life Blood
What the hell?
“Looks like someone isn’t as welcomed at their lunch table as she thought.”
“I guess not,” I absently answered David.
“Good,” he pulled me over toward a table filled with kids we didn’t know, “Well, we’re already in here, so let’s eat.”
I looked over at that table again to see Braden looking at me almost angrily. He was the one who asked me to sit with him. Why humiliate me now?
Screw you, dick!
I had enough going on in my stupid life to deal with this. The last thing I needed to worry about was another guy who didn’t follow through.
Chapter Three
Ilooked down at the cold, sad hamburger on the tray Jen placed in front of me. I should’ve shoved it aside and waited to eat when I got home, but my stomach was growling, and I knew I couldn’t be picky.
I picked it up and took a bite, gagging when I realized I’d bitten into a tomato.
Gross!
I grabbed a napkin and spit the bite into it as discreetly as I could. As I pulled the pale colored tomato slice from the burger, David reached over, snatched it from my hand, and threw it in his mouth.
“You’re a pig sometimes,” I said, looking at him in disgust.
“I still have no idea why you’re with him,” Jen scoffed.
David looked at Jen as he swallowed the tomato, “Because I’m hot, can play a mean guitar, and she’s going to be the manager of a very successful band in the future.”
“A very successful band that plays for kids’ birthday parties,” Jen countered.
He rolled his eyes as he stood up from the table, “I’m gonna go get a soda,” he said as he walked away.
“You seriously need to get rid of him. He just adds to your problems.”
I shrugged, “You promised to stop bugging me about David.”
Jen shook her head. “Whatever,” she let the word out with an exaggerated exhale. “I just hate that he’s my problem too since he’s my best friend’s boyfriend.”
“You and I both know it all changes after high school anyway. He’s fun for the most part. Comic relief?” I begged her to agree with a goofy smile. The smile that always worked on her.
“I hate it when you do that,” she shook her head. “Whoa!” she said in a hushed voice, “One of the Banners is staring at you. The one with the black hair who’s facing us.”
Don’t look up.I Looked up.
I almost choked on the chip I had tossed in my mouth when I locked eyes with Braden Banner and felt that same familiar comfort. Comfort was beginning to seem like an inadequate word to describe the feeling. It was almost as if I was being lured—in a comforting way—to him. I could have easily gotten up and sat with him, forgetting the world around me.
One of the cousins snapped his fingers and Braden instantly looked at him. I blinked a few times as the warm, alluring feeling ended immediately…the moment he looked away from me.
That was friggin weird!
I let out a breath, dropped my eyes to my food tray, and inwardly prayed that no one had noticed what had just happened.
I felt Jen’s gaze on me, but I wouldn’t dare look up.
“Yoo-hoo,” Jen said, “Are you okay?”
I laughed, still trying to rid myself of the weird sensations I had just felt by looking at Braden for a few seconds. “God knows,” I looked over at her, “You’re the one who told me Braden Banner was staring at me. Dude’s gorgeous if you hadn’t already picked up on that.”
