Page 57 of More Than Chemical
He skated to the exit door and slid to a stop. My jaw dropped. Hanging over the barrier was Priya. How had she gotten over there?
She held out her fist, and they gave each other knucks. Priya was talking to him, and then she pointed at me. Before he even turned to look, my neck and face turned spicy hot.
We made eye contact, and a surge of energy sizzled between us, making my eyes water. He grinned and waved. I gave him a thumbs-up.
A thumbs-up. How lame.
He said something to Priya and then walked out the door and stopped, because one of those chicks in a black peacoat was standing right in front of him. His back was to me, so I couldn’t see his face, but I could see hers. Bright, cheery, animated.
She twirled one finger through a long spiral curl, rose to her toes, and gave him a peck on his cheek.
I wanted to puke.
Stop it, Ade. Stop it.He wasn’t mine. Yes, I wanted his body, but not his soul. He could flirt with whomever he wanted. The more the better. No way could I get attached to him, then.
For all of my mental reasoning, my heart still ached. Which meant I was in deep trouble. I’d talked the talk—no strings attached. But maybe I was a spider, living on silk threads, unable to survive without capturing him in my web.
Twenty-One
Ditched
Atap fell on my shoulder. It was Priya, breathing hard. “You’re supposed to meet Dallas at O’Sullivan’s.”
“O’Sullivan’s?”
“The Irish grill and pub down the road. They have a tent set up in their parking lot.”
Emma pulled on Priya from behind her. “Would someone please tell me what’s going on?”
Priya ignored her and turned back to me. “I’ll go with you if you want.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I kind of feel weird about it.”
“Wait a second.” Emma stepped in between us now.
I looked straight at her.
“I thought we hated him,” Emma said.
Priya glanced at her. “It turns out we don’t. We’re going to O’Sullivan’s—are you coming with us?”
Emma frowned. “I guess, but I’m so confused, and what about Jay?”
He was still with his cross-country friends, watching the next race.
“Looks like he already ditched us. We’ll text him.” Priya grabbed my arm. “Let’s go.”
“Why are you doing this?” I asked Priya, keeping up with her as Emma trailed behind. “Why are you working so hard at making sure I see Dallas?”
I mean, I was happy I had a friend on my side, but at the same time, something was off.Iwas off.
“I’m living vicariously through you.”
The muscles in my face slackened. “What?”
“My love life is boring, routine. Yours, Ade, is exciting, and I’m having so much fun!”
I narrowed my gaze on her. “Have you talked to Luke about how you feel?”
