Page 82 of The Love Interest
She’s looking only at Juliet, who fidgets, her fingers bunching up her dress. “I’m Juliet.”
“Oh my gosh, I knew it! From the look of you I knew it. Dyl talks about you all the time, you with your precious little science experiments. He’s so smitten, it’s honey sweet.”
Juliet leans her head back. “He’s what?”
“I’ve never seen him like anyone as much as he likes you.” She raises her hands to her mouth. “Oh my, he’s going to be so mad if he finds out I said that to you. I know he’s got his big tortured-soul persona going, but believe me, deep down he’s a big softie. Now, excuse me, I need to go before I say anything else that will embarrass him.”
She strides away, heading straight toward another small group of kids. They gape at her as she reaches them. Juliet is staring at the floor, her expression alarmingly unreadable.Wait, was that scripted? Maybe Dyl is still fighting?
Natalie is scanning the crowd. “Any signs of Trev?”
“I can’t see him.” I turn to Juliet. “Do you want a drink?”
Juliet nods, and I step forward and approach a waiter who is holding a silver tray filled with flutes of champagne. I grab two glasses and pass one to Natalie, then give the other to Juliet. I spin back around and grab another, mouthing thanks to the waiter as I lift the glass off the tray.
“But there’s Dyl.”
I lower my glass. He’s standing in the doorway, staring at us. He’s wearing a black blazer over a white dress shirt and a skinny black tie. His hair has been pushed up and over his forehead, so it stands as a wave. The partygoers around him all stop what they’re doing and gape at him, but he ignores them all, keeping his attention fixed on us. His mouth curves into a lopsided grin. I grin back at him, even though it’s out of character. I can’t help it.
“You made it,” he calls. He approaches us, and now it’s my turn to look at the floor.Here we go, he’s going to ignore me again, I think. I notice his shiny shoes are pointing in my direction. I look up and see that he’s staring at me. His lips curl up into a small smile, like we have a secret, and he offers me his hand.
“It’s Caden, right?”
“Right.”
We shake hands.
“I’m glad you made it.” He lets go of me and kisses Natalie on the cheek. Then he faces Juliet.
“Juliet, you look lovely.”
“Hi, Dyl.”
“Can we talk?”
“Listen, Dyl—”
“It’s fine,” I interrupt. Juliet raises an eyebrow at me as her tone rings in my ears. That was the voice she used with me when she told me she couldn’t do the art project with me. So it’s the voice she uses when she’s about to let someone down. And if she lets Dyl down, it’s game over. He needs time to recover some ground. I don’t want him to overtake me, but I also don’t want this to be the end. Maybe if they talk, Juliet will reconsider her decision to decide tonight. “Hear him out.”
Juliet uncrosses her arms. “Okay, fine. See you later.”
They walk away, leaving Natalie and me alone. As soon as they mix into the crowd, Natalie slaps my chest. “Caden! What are you thinking? You just let that happen!”
“Yeah but, like, it’ll show her I’m not threatened by him, which is good for me. Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”
Her narrowed eyelids tell me she’s skeptical. “Okay, but be careful, all right? You haven’t won yet.”
“Noted. Thanks, Nat.”
I take a sip of my champagne, which tastes sweet and crisp, like a slightly underripe green apple. It’s okay, but it’s obviously not real champagne. Rather, it’s a nonalcoholic rip-off. It’s probably unfair to compare them, but it’s nowhere near as nice as beer is.
Natalie and I walk onto the wooden deck. A DJ with blond-and-green dreadlocks has set herself up in the corner. Loud electronic music is pumping from the large black speakers beneath her table. A group of guys is standing beside her, trying to get her attention.
The deck declines into a small stretch of sandstone before it drops off into an infinity pool. Two guys and two girls are already swimming. The girls are wearing frilly bras and underwear. They’re sitting on the shoulders of the guys, laughing like this is the best moment of their entire lives. The guys move toward each other, and then the girls grab each other and start wrestling.
“Looks fun,” I say, pointing toward them.
Natalie scowls. “Why don’t you join them?”
