Page 45 of One Little Kiss
We both try to smile. I give a feeble laugh.
And this…whatever this new thing is between us… is miserable.
“Did Ryan tell you about his limo plan?”
“Mara did.”
He nods, tucking his hands into his pockets. “And I’m assuming you saidhell no.”
“Of course.”
“Cool. Then I’ll pick you up?”
“Yup.”
“Cool.” He bobs his head, glancing at the floor.
I nearly lunge for the biology lab door when it comes into view.
“Cool,” I agree.
We’re both lying. Because right now Elijah and I are many things…
But ‘cool’ is not one of them.
TWELVE
Elijah
I findLeah in the library, and she knows at a glance that all is not well in my world.
Her smile fades to a frown before I even reach the table she’s staked out on the far end of the library, well out of the front desk lady’s hearing.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, as I sling my backpack down with a thwack.
I shake my head. “Don’t wanna talk about it.”
“Okay.” She says it easily. Too easily.
I pull out my laptop and flip it open, automatically logging in. But once my home screen is up, I find myself staring at it blankly.
I can’t focus on anything but the encounter I’d just stumbled upon. Or…okay, fine. Maybe eavesdropped upon.
It’s not like I’d meant to creep on Noelle. But I’d seen her talking to Pamela and hung back, waiting for them to be done.
I’m not a fan of Pamela. Never have been, thanks to the way she treated Heath. So I’d hung back, not meaning to eavesdrop but…
Dominic’s single. And he’s hot, and kind, and an excellent kisser.
My chin drops to my chest as I take in a long inhale. Like some oxygen is gonna magically make this gaping pit in my gut disappear.
“Eli?” Leah’s voice is filled with concern.
It’s only then I realize I’m rubbing my chest, as if I’m in the midst of a heart attack or something.
Or something.
I take another deep breath, but it’s not helping. This isn’t the toxic anger I’d felt when I’d seen her kiss Dominic. Well, maybe it was a little of that. But this was worse. It was anger and frustration, yes, but it was mixed with…
