Page 61 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
I obediently scooped my hair up into a ponytail. “I thought you said my hair looks better down,” I grumbled.
“She does look good all the time,” Kyle butted in, reaching up and tugging on my ponytail. “At least to me, she does.”
I wrenched away, but his fingers tangled in my hair, tearing. “Can you keep your freaking hands to?—”
“Ugh, quit flirting and let’s go in already,” Jade cut me off, starting off toward the diner’s doors without glancing back.
Kyle snickered under his breath as I picked up my pace after her, squinting at the back of her head. Ithought of Jade’s order earlier in my bedroom.Date Kyle. Was this her way of sneaking in a double date? Surely.
The comforting smell of Wallflower’s kitchen hit me as soon as Kyle pushed the door open. I scanned the space immediately, noting the empty tables, until I froze.
Straight ahead from the door sat Maisie Matthews and her boyfriend.
You’ve got to be kidding.Would Ievercatch a break?
More importantly—was this another coincidence of Connor’s? He wasn’tactuallyintentionally crossing paths with Maisie… was he?
“Jade—” I began, but never got the chance to finish.
“Fancy seeing you two here,” she said as she approached their table. “You know, that burger is so greasy.”
“Careful,” Maisie replied, sounding bored. “With how clumsy I am, I’d hate for all that grease to get on your costume.”
I glanced at Jade’s white cheer top and blue pleated skirt, almost gasping at the mere threat of getting a stain on it. Hell would absolutely break loose. “Jade,” I murmured, brushing her arm. “Come on, let’s get a table.”
Jade ignored me, and instead focused her sights on Maisie’s boyfriend, who seemed perfectly star-struck by our presence.
Kyle gave a snort/scoff combo. “I’m going to sit down. Come join me when you’re done gossiping.” He slipped his hand underneath my ponytail and tugged, jerking my head back again.
Connor walked in then, straightening his varsity jacket sleeves, stride faltering when he saw us still standing—and saw who we were talking to. In thatmoment, I could instantly tell that this wasn’t a planned meeting. Of course it wasn’t—why on earth would Connor planto run intoMaisie? “What’s going on?” he asked.
“We’re chatting.” Jade had mastered the art of looking sweet and sour at the same time—her lips said one thing but her eyes said another.
Connor glanced at me.Do something.“If you’re done talking,” he said, “I’m starving.”
Maisie’s boyfriend—I still, for the life of me, couldn’t remember his name—practically fell over himself to get to his feet. His eyes were almost bug-like with how wide they were. “Connor, man, you did great tonight,” he gushed like a total fanboy. “That final touchdown? Man, it sailed right into your arms, didn’t it?”
I glanced over at Maisie as he spoke, noting her jaw clamped shut, gaze focused on her plate.
Thankfully, though, with a quick and casual “thank you,” Connor was able to extract us from awkwardly hovering over their table, but Jade couldn’t walk away without one last quip. “Oh, and Maisie? Bring Connor back his sweatpants on Monday. Don’t be creepy and keep them in your closet.”
Underneath the table, Maisie’s hands curled into fists. A habit of mine I’d picked up from her.
When we were enough of a distance away, Connor’s grip tightened on Jade. “Knock it off,” he muttered.
“It’s pathetic.” Jade, for the first time in the whole ordeal, looked to me. “It’s like he doesn’t even want to date her.”
I fought the urge to glance back. “That makes him pathetic?”
“I meanther.”
“Careful,” Connor hissed. “I can think of a situation someone’s in that’s similar.”
I had to lock my jaw to keep it from falling open, but there was no stopping how wide my eyes widened. Jade just gave him a biting smile.
I sank into the booth beside Kyle, keeping a distance between our shoulders. The waitress came around to us immediately, taking our orders for three chocolate shakes and one strawberry—mine. “Tired, dude?” Kyle asked Connor. “You took a beating tonight. You need to join us for morning weightlifting, and maybe your scrawny back won’t get battered around so much.”
“At least I’m not a senior who doesn’t get field time.”
