Page 54 of Revolve
“You look like you need a towel, Si,” a voice interrupts, and I pull away from Dylan’s darkening eyes to see a man in a wrinkled white Lola’s chef’s coat.
“Ajay.” I try to exit the booth, but Dylan’s like a boulder in my path. I gesture for him to let me out, but he only looks at me with a blank expression. Giving up, I awkwardly scoot out the other end, and Ajay pulls me into a hug I’m not expecting.
I’m not a hugger, and even now when he embraces me tightly, I don’t hug him back. When I step back, he lets go and starts to ask me a question, but before I can hear what it is, my view is blocked. By Dylan Donovan.
TWENTY
DYLAN
THE FIRST THINGthat irritates me about this diner is the song playing on the jukebox. The second thing is the cook hugging my fucking partner.
They’re still tucked in a lover’s embrace to the sounds of those depressing vinyls Kian always plays. Sierra’s first to pull away and I try not to let my lip tip upward at the action. Her gaze flits to mine quickly then to a random spot on the wall. If the girl blushed, I’m sure it would show right now, and the thought irritates the fuck out of me.Ajay the cookstarts to ask her a question, but without a second thought, I outstretch my hand and stand between them.
“Dylan,” I introduce myself.
Ajay’s gaze drops to my hand. He’s just an inch or two shorter than me, and when he finally puts his hand in mine, he squeezes it a little harder than I expect.
“I know who you are, Donovan,” he says with a bite to his tone. “I’m Ajay.”
I have no idea why he seems protective of Sierra. “How do you know my partner?”
There’s an insinuation in my words that I don’t correct. There’ssomething about her standing next to me, soaked, and wearing my hoodie that makes the words come out harsher. The possessive cord wrapping around my irritation feels dangerous.
Sierra steps forward, her arm bumping into mine, but her eyes are on Ajay as she smiles.
“She used to come in here on the rare days she wanted a cheat meal. Though her ‘cheat’ meals meant a lettuce-wrapped veggie burger.”
Sierra laughs. “He still managed toaccidentallysend me an order of cheesy fries.” There’s an unspoken memory that plays between them. I want to crush it with my bare hands.
“Probably better than the sandwiches I make you for practice, huh?” I interject.
Ajay looks between us. “You two practice together?” His words are slow and uncertain, like he’s contemplating whether he wants to know the answer.
“Yeah, he’s my new partner.”
“Is that all we are?” I’m hoping the smirk on my face suggests so much more, because the glare she sends my way is not going to play out well for me later. But I couldn’t care less. I take the chance to throw my arm around Sierra.
“What made you stop by?” Ajay asks her.
“Our coach’s car broke down and our phones are dead. We’re kind of stranded,” Sierra informs him.
Ajay looks confused but nods when he assesses our soaked clothes. Namely, my hoodie on her. “You can use the kitchen phone; it’s right down that hallway.”
Sierra smiles gratefully, then turns to me. “I can try calling Scarlett, but she’s probably studying with her phone turned off.”
“I’ll call Kian,” I offer. Ajay points to the hallway with the phone, not even looking at me. He smiles down at Sierra, and I have the urge to pull her with me, but I tamp down the weird possessiveness taking over. Why do I even care?
The kitchen phone hangs on the wall, and it’s one of those old rotary-dial ones. Kian answers on the last ring, and his voice is laced with sleep.
“Hey, I need you to pick me up from Lola’s.”
“Dylan?”
I sigh. “Who else, Ishida?”
“Oh right, well, I totally would, man, you know that, but I just got back from a date with Aiden and Summer, so I’m kind of super tipsy from all the wine.”
“Why were you on their date?” I ask.
