Page 117 of The Perfect Spiral
“Alright, hand on butt it is. I’m not complaining.”
“Ugh, fine! Give me your stupid hand.” We intertwined our fingers once again. I glanced back at him. He was lying on his back, looking at me with a triumphant smile. It was starting to get on my nerves. I tried to ignore the warmth of his skin and the tingling sensation his touch sent through me.
“Stop smirking, you’re so annoying.” He ignored me and continued to smirk. Turning his head to face the sky, he asked, “So are you going to tell me why you cried and never called me back?”
I groaned loudly and ignored him. I wasn’t about to discuss this with anyone.
He squeezed my hand and continued, “Hey, you can tell me. I won’t say anything—”
“It was nothing, Knox. I was on my period and stressed from college, that’s all.” “Lie. Andy told me you finished yours three days before the Super Bowl. Don’t lie, baby doll. You know I don’t like liars. Tell me.”
“Whatever, there’s nothing to tell. The fact that you asked her is a little worrying.”
“Alright, if you won’t tell me, I’m going to guess and judge how right or wrong I am based on your reaction. I know you too well, baby doll. I will find out.”
“Knox, I’m not asking you, I’m telling you—leave it alone.”
“Was it because you weren’t there and Andy was?”
I stayed silent, not moving a muscle. Shit, he’s going to figure it out.
“Was it because I called you?”
Staying still was proving to be more difficult than I thought.
“Was it because I was talking to the cheerleaders?”
What? He was talkin— I felt myself tense slightly. I hadn’t even noticed until my eyes widened. Crap, I hope he didn’t notice.
“Ahhhh, so I’m close! Was it because I went out that night?”
Why was I sitting here, letting him interrogate me?
“Getting warmer... hmm, let’s see... Was it because you saw me with Lauren?”
I tensed up again, and he must have felt it because he whipped his head back to look at me in disbelief.
“That’s it, isn’t it? You saw me with Lauren! You’re jealous!” His grin widened with each word. He was hitting the nail on the head, but I wasn’t about to let him know that.
I wasn’t jealous, per se. It just didn’t feel good watching that scene unfold.
“No, why would I be jealous?”
“You’re jealous, baby doll! I’m guessing you saw her kiss me? I remember you mentioning something about me being with a girl and then you mentioned Lauren when I called you.”
“I didn’t see anything. Don’t flatter yourself, Carter. I’m not jealous, nor will I ever be. I don’t do jealousy. I couldn’t care less if you two kissed—”
“Correction, she kissed me, for the cameras. I stopped it immediately. But let me guess, you turned the TV off?”
“Damn right I turned the TV off. I’m not about to watch you play tonsil tennis with Miss USA.”
“So you did see her kiss me. I knew it.”
“Yes, fine, I saw you kiss. But that’s not the reason—”
“It is. I know when you’re lying, baby doll. You can’t lie to me. Just admit you were jealous. You wanted my lips on yours.” His statement caught me off guard, and I sat up slightly, hovering above him but not close enough to touch.
“I’m not going anywhere until you admit it.”
