Page 76 of Overdue I Love You's
Dean didn’t pick me.
Betrayal sinks into my lungs.
Not even adding books to my cart can make me feel better.
“Nova and Rhys,” Austin finally addresses us. The two unmatched pair of the evening. “You are the only ones unmatched for the day, but today’s your lucky day. Rhys and Nova, you’re matched for a date.”
Sounds great to me.
But also, frick me.I need to make better choices.
I turn to look at Rhys, expecting to see a familiar expression of disappointment. Or even a sliver of what may be an oncoming silent treatment, but there’s none of that. He turns his head, tilting it with a boyish smile. “At least we’re together, right?”
The inner me, the same one who guffaws at cliché lines, is cringing terribly.
But outer me is smiling alongside him. Because screw Dean Vuk and his chronic lying abilities. If he wants to mess me over, then so be it. I’m great with messes. I’m a fan of them. And I don’t back down from cleaning them up and making sure I never have to deal with it again.
His softened glaucous eyes and grumpy behaviour momentarily distracted me from my goal. Consider me undistracted now. I am back in my damn senses.
“Yep, at least we’re together, Mr. Silver.”
Rhys’ dimple deepens in response to my smile.
The heat of Dean’s gaze burns my skin.
I don’t look.
He lost the privilege of my personality the second he shut me out and went back on his word.
Dean looks at me throughout breakfast and when the group decides to spend whatever time we have before our dates in the backyard, he doesn’t look away once.
“Why is it so sunny today?” Hina cowers under the shade. Katarina stands near her with Shaan in between.
Some call their skin tan, I call mine loved by the sun.
I head straight towards the plants. I’ve been checking in on them as much as I can, but it’s hard taking care of them when I can’t let anyone know my true job.
I head straight towards the Jasmine bush.
Mom used to love tying the small flowers into a head crown.
“Should we play a game of twenty questions?” Katarina suggests.
I brush my thumb against the stems, feeling for any abnormality when a shadow crouches down next to me.
“When did you pick up this hobby?” Rhys takes a sip from his water bottle. When he’s done, I steal it from him and pour some in my palm. Then, I let it trickle over dry stems.
“When I was a kid,” I return his bottle. “Just a little stress-releasing activity.”
“Plants and colouring, you’re every mother’s dream daughter-in-law.” Rhys eyes the flowers. “You don’t need to water plants every day, right?”
My ears perk up. “Depends on the plant. But each of them can go a set amount of days without water due to evapotranspiration.”
A look of puzzlement crosses his face.
“Let me explain,” I sit back on my heels. “It’s the process of water going into the ground and transferring through soil to the roots of plants. It then travels upwards letting the plant absorb all the nutrients it needs, and when it reaches the very top, the plant releases that water vapour into the atmosphere. It’s interesting to know how much these beautiful plants play key roles in our ecosystem. If they weren’t here, how would we?—”
“I didn’t notice the lake running around this mountain too,” Rhys notes the water rushing below us. “I should get that checked out to make sure it isn’t a hazard to us.”
