Page 159 of I Shouldn't Feel This Way

“So …what?”

“Distant.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re hardly making eye contact with me.”

Yeah, there’s a reason for that.

My cellphone suddenly rang, and I glanced at the caller ID. “It’s Jessica.” I picked up the call and grabbed my handbag. “Hey, Jess, I’ll be right out.”

“Aria, wait …”

I moved the phone away from my mouth and looked at him. “I won’t be home late.”

Pivoting on a swift heel, I left Noah behind in my bedroom and headed out the door.

“Pick up your phone when I call you!” he yelled out, but I ignored him and got into Jessica’s pink BMW.

“Everything all right?” she asked, chewing on some gum.

“Yes, just drive.”

“Okay, babes.” She turned up an Avicii track on the stereo and sped down the driveway.

****

We strolled into Westfield Century City Mall around a quarter to one. I was ten minutes late and not too happy about it.

“I hope he’s still here,” I said, fidgeting with the bracelet Noah had given me. I hadn’t taken it off, in spite of my anger, which contradicted the way I stubbornly refused to drive the Firebird.

You’re just a walking contradiction,I said to myself.

During the drive, I’d told Jess all about my uncle, and how Noah didn’t want me seeing him. At leastsheunderstood that I needed more family in my life.

“Aria, you’re not that late. Chill out. Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?”

“Yes, I can handle this. We’re just going to have lunch and talk. I don’t need you to hold my hand, Jess.” That came off sounding a little mean.

“Sheesh, you sure are edgy today, aren’t you.”

“Sorry, I didn’t get enough sleep last night.”

She had no idea.

“Were you out withRyyyyan?” Jess asked in that singsong tone of hers.

“No, I was not.” I quickly sent Evan a text and scanned the food court, hoping I’d find him sooner than later.

“Well, that’s too bad. You two should start dating already. I mean, come on, Aria. Please tell me you’re at least considering him as your prom date.”

“Yeah … Can we please have this conversation another time?”

She sighed. “Okay, fine. I’m going to go meet Steph and Chrissie upstairs at the H&M store—”

“Found him!” I exclaimed, ignoring everything else she shared with me.

“Where?”

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