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“What’s it to you? Let me save you some trouble. She’s not going to fuck you if that’s what you’re after.”
Tears burn at the creases of my eyes. “You’re a real miserable prick, you know that? I hate you,” I seethe as the moisture thickens, threatening to run down my face in hot, heavy streaks.
Kyson doesn’t respond and we enter into a stare down. Gauge gives up trying to mediate and starts filling his tank up.
Tension crackles in the air around the three of us, and like a saint with perfect timing, Lauren drives up to the opposite gas pump. I unclasp the seat belt as she gets out of her car. “Hey guys,” she calls out, not picking up on the tense vibes.
“Do you think I could spend the night with you?” I blurt out.
“Yeah. That’s cool.”
Kyson glares at me as I exit the Bronco and saunter past him to Gauge. “Thanks for…well I don’t what but thank you. Tonight was interesting.” I debate testing the limits of Kyson’s patience further by kissing Gauge on the cheek, but I don’t trust him not to start another fight. I can’t handle another second of his drama.
“Don’t mention it. And hey.” He grabs a can of Coke off the hood of his truck. “Don’t forget your drink.” He has this uneasy smile on his face after the scene Kyson caused. I can’t blame him. He knows how Kyson is better than I do.
I shoot him a jaunty smile and squeeze into the back left seat of Lauren’s car since that guy she’s had with her since the warehouse is riding shotgun.
“I’m Dahlia,” I tell him, formally introducing myself, trying to pretend that none of what happened actually just happened. Except the fingerprints marking my arms tell another story.
“I know who you are. I’m Ray.” I crinkle my brows and he grins. “Lauren told me about you.”
“Only good things, I hope.” I catch a glimpse of Kyson and Gauge exchanging words, but I can’t hear what they are saying to each other.
“Nothing too bad.” He reads my put-out expression. “Relax. I’m fucking with you.”
“It’s been a weird night.” I don’t relax until Kyson and Gauge both leave. Then I remember I should try to send Helen a text to let her know that I’m staying with Lauren. There’s no way I’m going home with Kyson in the hateful mood he’s in. Knowing him he’d drive me out to the middle of nowhere and leave me stranded so he could chase after Britney some more to make me look stupid.
“Thanks for this.” I tug at the hem of the white and pink striped tank that matches the pajama pants Lauren loaned me to sleep in. “You sure your parents don’t mind me just showing up and crashing?” Her parents didn’t seem bothered more surprised than anything that I exist. Her mom shook my hand as though she needed to make sure I wasn’t an illusion.
“Nope. They’re probably glad to see I have a real friend. This will sound lame, but this is my first sleepover. Sad, right?”
“No. This only means we have to stay up late talking about boys and eating junk food.”
That earns me a smile. “Deal.”
“I do need to ask you something.” I roll to my back on the cot Lauren’s dad brought in from the garage.
“Sure. What’s up?” She goes up, resting an elbow on top of her Hello Kitty comforter.
“Do you know anything about this picture that was posted tonight of Gauge and me?” I flash my screen her way.
Lauren bites her lip pensively. “Um…are you mad?”
“I’m worried about what Matt will have to say. If I ever text him back.” I let out a sigh.
“Oh crap. The boyfriend. My bad. I can take it down.”
I flip through my notifications. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”
Why are you ignoring me?
If this is your way of getting back at me because you were jealous, it’s quite childish.
I’m not playing games.
Are you going to respond?
Really, Dahls. I expected better.
