Page 44 of How to Lose at Love
“I heard half of what you said, most of it was ‘blah blah blah are you listenin’ to a word I say.’”
Finally, the light changes and we’re not alone any longer, students at the corner joining us on our walk across the street.
We’re like a small herd of sheep.
Dallas Colter is still trailing after me, the hood of his sweatshirt pulled up over his hat. Shoulders slouched. He either doesn’t want to be recognized or he’s freezing cold. Can’t tell which one.
I halt at the end of my road, determined to ditch him.
“You’re like a bad rash I can’t get rid of.”
“Like herpes?”
“I take it you speak from experience?”
“Nope.” Dallas doesn’t have the decency to look insulted by my barb. “Can we stay on the subject, please?”
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you’re on a mission.”
“If I weren’t on a mission, would I be following you?”
My chin tilts up in triumph. “So you admit it—you’ve been following me.”
“I can’t help it if we’re goin’ in the same direction.”
“Has anyone told you how annoying you are?”
“Nope, just you.” His toothy grin spreads across his entire face. “About a dozen times now already.”
The fact that this doesn’t bother him is seriously so obnoxious. Any other guy would have taken the hint. Any other guy would have walked off with his tail between his legs and left me alone. After all, I’m a girl who was just dumped, and I deserve a moment of reprieve from bullshit like this.
“It’s about to be a dozen and one…”
It’s then that I notice a small cluster of students—two girls and a guy—watching the exchange between Dallas and me, phones out and being held in a way that tells me we’re being filmed bantering. Or our photo is being taken.
“Do you see that?” I tilt my head, nodding in their direction.
“What?”
“Those three—I think they’re taking pictures of us.”
“Oh yeah. Happens all the time.”
I falter in my steps. “Well. Not to me.” I don’t like it. “Could you walk away from me, please, so they stop?”
Git.
Go!
“Not before we’re done with our talk.”
That’s right—he’s been trying to hit me up for a favor. Blah blah blahare you listenin’ to a word I say.
“All right.” He has my full attention. “Say what you want to say.”But be quick, I want to add.Be quick so I can go home, get warm, take a shower, and study…
“I need a favor.”
“Right. You mentioned something about your agent.”
