even knows which guy, but she doesn’t mention him. Just hugs me and tells me everything will be okay.
She’s always my biggest cheerleader, even when I’m the one who screws up.
Sighing, I look up at the sky-- blue and bright, and not a cloud in it. It’s so sunny, blindingly so, typical Texas day. Swatting a fly away from my face, I huff.
I want a coffee.
Not really.
I want to see Alex.
I’ve been trying the last two days to find excuses to go back, get brave, but no sooner do I take the first step I remember seeing him leaning against the brick wall and bimbo clinging like a baby monkey and I just can’t see that again. So I leave.
Which is ridiculous. He and I aren’t dating, it’s a free world. If I want coffee I should be able to get coffee, who the hell cares who he spends his free time with?
Trying not to overthink this, I stuff my books into my bag and get up, following the scent of coffee like a homing beacon. Even if he’s there again, I’m going in. I might even be brave and smile and wave and pretend nothing ever happened, pretend he’s just another random face. Another guy.
I swallow hard as I nibble on my lip. I still owe him an apology though, no matter what, I’m going to do it this time. If he’s there, I’m going to do it. Not for his sake, because obviously he doesn’t care anymore, but for mine. I’m not that girl that tries to get guys jealous by kissing other guys, never done it before in my life and I’ll never do it again.
I open the door and sigh with relief the moment the icy AC kisses my face. Quickly I scan the milling faces, heart beating a rapid tattoo in my skull, proving yet again what a liar I am. No matter how much I try to shake him, the man is under my skin, making me freaking crazy.
“Lily Bean,” Alex’s call is a welcome sound, turning toward his voice I manage to smile despite my frustration that Ryan isn’t around. But Alex doesn’t sound angry with me and that’s a good thing, because maybe it means Ryan’s not as pissed I’d feared.
“Heya, Alex. How are you?” My voice sounds unnaturally perky and fake, and I have to breathe to settle my nerves.
“Oh you know, life…” he shrugs and winks and yeah, my heart does pitter patter. I might be seriously obsessing about his cousin, but Alex is easy on the eyes.
Why couldn’t I like him instead?
He has such a gorgeous smile. Surfer good looks and seems infinitely more normal. He doesn’t make me want to act stupid, or kiss him until I can’t breathe, he’s safe and Ryan’s the great unknown and that scares me.
Grabbing a cup, he starts my drink.
“Can you add ice this time?”
“What?” His brows shoot up to his hairline. “You don’t mean to tell me that you can’t handle the heat.”
Sticking out my tongue, I lean against the counter and cross my sandaled feet. “Yeah, well, shocker… it’s hot as hell out there and I don’t particularly feel like sweating my ass off today.”
“I could grind the ice for you. Make it real smooth,” his tone is suggestive and I have to laugh.
“Have I told you how much I love you lately?”
He snorts as he grinds my beans. “What you doing Friday night?”
“Considering that it’s the start of summer, not much. Thank God. I need a break.” I slump my shoulders. “Why do you want to know?”
“Oh no reason, just the guys at the frat are throwing some stupid dance. Back to the seventies, or some shit like that.”
I grip the edge of the counter and do a small shimmy. “You mean to tell me you don’t dig those bell bottoms, dude?”
“Hardly. But,” he snaps the lid onto my cup, “I’ve got a fro, the vest, and some snazzy pants. No date though. So whadda say?”
If it was anyone else I’d think he really meant it. But no matter how much we flirt, with Alex, I know it’ll never get beyond that point, not to
She’s always my biggest cheerleader, even when I’m the one who screws up.
Sighing, I look up at the sky-- blue and bright, and not a cloud in it. It’s so sunny, blindingly so, typical Texas day. Swatting a fly away from my face, I huff.
I want a coffee.
Not really.
I want to see Alex.
I’ve been trying the last two days to find excuses to go back, get brave, but no sooner do I take the first step I remember seeing him leaning against the brick wall and bimbo clinging like a baby monkey and I just can’t see that again. So I leave.
Which is ridiculous. He and I aren’t dating, it’s a free world. If I want coffee I should be able to get coffee, who the hell cares who he spends his free time with?
Trying not to overthink this, I stuff my books into my bag and get up, following the scent of coffee like a homing beacon. Even if he’s there again, I’m going in. I might even be brave and smile and wave and pretend nothing ever happened, pretend he’s just another random face. Another guy.
I swallow hard as I nibble on my lip. I still owe him an apology though, no matter what, I’m going to do it this time. If he’s there, I’m going to do it. Not for his sake, because obviously he doesn’t care anymore, but for mine. I’m not that girl that tries to get guys jealous by kissing other guys, never done it before in my life and I’ll never do it again.
I open the door and sigh with relief the moment the icy AC kisses my face. Quickly I scan the milling faces, heart beating a rapid tattoo in my skull, proving yet again what a liar I am. No matter how much I try to shake him, the man is under my skin, making me freaking crazy.
“Lily Bean,” Alex’s call is a welcome sound, turning toward his voice I manage to smile despite my frustration that Ryan isn’t around. But Alex doesn’t sound angry with me and that’s a good thing, because maybe it means Ryan’s not as pissed I’d feared.
“Heya, Alex. How are you?” My voice sounds unnaturally perky and fake, and I have to breathe to settle my nerves.
“Oh you know, life…” he shrugs and winks and yeah, my heart does pitter patter. I might be seriously obsessing about his cousin, but Alex is easy on the eyes.
Why couldn’t I like him instead?
He has such a gorgeous smile. Surfer good looks and seems infinitely more normal. He doesn’t make me want to act stupid, or kiss him until I can’t breathe, he’s safe and Ryan’s the great unknown and that scares me.
Grabbing a cup, he starts my drink.
“Can you add ice this time?”
“What?” His brows shoot up to his hairline. “You don’t mean to tell me that you can’t handle the heat.”
Sticking out my tongue, I lean against the counter and cross my sandaled feet. “Yeah, well, shocker… it’s hot as hell out there and I don’t particularly feel like sweating my ass off today.”
“I could grind the ice for you. Make it real smooth,” his tone is suggestive and I have to laugh.
“Have I told you how much I love you lately?”
He snorts as he grinds my beans. “What you doing Friday night?”
“Considering that it’s the start of summer, not much. Thank God. I need a break.” I slump my shoulders. “Why do you want to know?”
“Oh no reason, just the guys at the frat are throwing some stupid dance. Back to the seventies, or some shit like that.”
I grip the edge of the counter and do a small shimmy. “You mean to tell me you don’t dig those bell bottoms, dude?”
“Hardly. But,” he snaps the lid onto my cup, “I’ve got a fro, the vest, and some snazzy pants. No date though. So whadda say?”
If it was anyone else I’d think he really meant it. But no matter how much we flirt, with Alex, I know it’ll never get beyond that point, not to
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