Page 90 of Giving In

“Guys, who are you taking to the ball?” Emily asks as she looks at the three of us through her mirror.

Rose huffs before replying. “Ciara.”

“What?” Luke asks in shock. “Since when are you and Ciara a thing?”

“We’re not,” she replies, annoyed. “But my initial date thinks I cheated on her with the cheer coach in case you don’t remember. So, we’re going...as friends.”

“Coach Swift?” Emily laughs. “He’s gay!”

I would know that. His partner used to be my therapist.

“I know that,” Rose replies, rolling her eyes. “Only Rachel doesn’t seem to believe it. Or the fact that I would never flirt with some random old dude. Hey Emily, do you want to go with me to the ball?” she says with a lopsided smile on her face.

Emily’s face blushes straight away and Luke turns in his seat, pointing his forefinger at Rose. “Fuck. Off.”

Rose and Jake explode laughing. “When did you become so jealous?” Jake asks.

“Since Rose wants to put her dirty paws on my girl.”

They all laugh but I keep silent, looking out the window with my chin in my hand and my elbow resting on the door. I’m really not in the mood for jokes.

“My paws ain’t dirty,” Rose jests. “They’ve definitely seen more pussies than yours though,” she mumbles, making everyone’s laughs double.

When the laughter dies down slightly Emily starts on the initial topic again. “‘Me, you should go with Chris. I heard of that kiss…”

I straighten up and widen my eyes at her in the mirror. What iswrongwith her? Why would she bring this up?

Because she has no idea what truly happened that night.

“Goody can’t go with Chris. She’s going with me.” Jake’s voice turns the car silent as he puts his hand on my thigh.

“Are you two hiding something from us?” Emily giggles.

She would love it if we were both dating guys from this group. Except she doesn’t know what Jake is really like.

“Dude, you broke up with Camila like two days ago. Do you want Jamie to lose her head?” Rose chuckles in her raspy voice.

My eyes widen without me being able to control my reaction. Jake broke up with Camila? When? On Friday? This weekend? Before or after the bathroom incident?

As if reading my thoughts, Emily lets out a shocked, “Whaaaat? When did you break up with her?” she asks.

“Friday,” he shrugs.

“But she’s always the one who breaks up with you,” she keeps going.

Emily has this power of making friends with anyone. She was never close to Jake but is capable of talking to him as if they’ve known each other since elementary school.

“She is. I guess it’s for good this time. I’m done with her.”

I cut their conversation short when I interject. “Sorry but you’re going to have to find someone else. I’m not going with you.” I take his hand from my thigh and push it away.

He turns to me, his brows rising in surprise that I dared to push him away. His facial expression quickly turns from surprise to evil as if telling me I will regret the gesture. I don’t care though, I hold his dark gaze with mine because I can’t do this to Nathan.

No matter how much my body is calling for Jake.

Rose’s mocking laugh cuts our stare down. “I hope you didn’t delete Cam’s number.”

It makes the two at the front laugh again, but Jake’s eyes don’t leave me and his mouth turns into a tight smile.

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