Page 27 of Loved By The Bad Boy

“Oh. I do?” I say and tug on the hem of my customized shirt. She is wearing hers with black jeans to match Mira’s ripped ones. I am not tough. I am scared of getting my heart broken again by the same boy. I pack my hair into a bun to buy myself some time. “Why do you think so?”

“You don’t seem like the type to like anyone, especially a boy.” My brows knit in confusion, then worry. I don’t think it’s an insult, but it’s not a compliment, either. “Don’t get me wrong.”

“I think I already have,” I state.

Imani laughs and slides her hand into the crook of my elbow. “Calum likes you. He fought with Ben because of you. Dude is so into you, and everybody can see that. But you’re so oblivious.”

We walk a few feet from the entrance and stop at the corner without turning.

“I know Calum likes me.”

She folds her arms on her stomach, disbelief evident on her face. I understand I have been anti-social. I have kept away from boys because I don’t need any boy drama in my life, but I can like boys too. I like Ben. No, that’s not right. I don’t like him anymore. He’s wrong for saying that.

“I know Calum likes me, but I told the wet socks not to like me.”

Imani snorts. “Wet socks? How did you come up with that? Damn, I like it. Sam is a wet sock.”

We burst out laughing, hands wrapped around our bellies. Sam is indeed a party pooper. Our laughter dies down, and we lean on the wall. Things can never work out between Calum and me, and it will ruin our friendship and the dynamics of the group if he continues this. I can’t like him.

“I don’t know why Calum did what he did tonight,” I murmur, eyes closed. “It was so stupid.”

“Hey, it was cute.” I stare at the sky, and she nudges me with her shoulder. “Why don’t you like him?”

“I like someone else.” Not again. I didn’t mean to say that, but it’s too late to retract my words. Imani isn’t judgmental. None of the members of the group are. “I’m not over him. It’s hard.”

“The boy who broke your heart?” she asks.

That’s an excellent way to describe Ben. “Yeah.”

“But you still like him,” she says like it’s the solution to my problem. Love is stupid. Feelings are even more stupid. Love makes you feel what you don’t want to feel when you don’t want to feel it. Her gaze softens a bit, and she moves to my front. “Why can’t you forgive him, Tessa?”

Why? I don’t really know.

Sure, I love Ben. It shouldn’t be this hard to forgive the person I love. Then again, it’s tough. First, he bullies me and apologizes after. Then, he picks another girl over me and still apologizes.

What will he do next?

“Because I don’t know for sure that he will not break my heart again,” I reply sincerely.

Imani hugs me. I don’t know why, but she wraps her arms around me, and the waterworks start. It feels good to be hugged. The last time anyone of my age hugged me was last year. Maria. I miss her. I miss having a boyfriend. I don’t think I’m over him. I don’t think I can ever be over him.

“It’s okay,” she says when she pulls away.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. If you can’t forgive him, I guess it’s a sign you two are not meant to be together.” I think so too. I hug her again for a few seconds. “You should give Calum a chance. You never know.”

“You never know what?” a voice says, and we separate. Calum wiggles his brows. Gap closed, he pulls me against his chest and hugs me tight. “What were you two talking about? Tell me, baby girl.”

Someone clears their throat behind us. Ben. His lips twitch, but the smile never forms. I can try to get over him. I slide my arm around Calum’s waist, and his face lights up in a smile. He’s cute.

Mira and Imani are off in the corner arguing, or so I think, until they kiss. They kiss too much. Sam and Lucas join us. They ramble about going somewhere to hang out, but I am not listening.

“I’ll have to consult with my girlfriend first,” Calum says with his eyes on me. I blush.

“Who’s your girlfriend?” I whisper.

“You.”

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