The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine Page A

said.
    â€œJess works at Mugshot, we go there after yoga.” Madison motioned back and forth between us.
    The five of us stood there, kind of nodding to the overpowering beat and just looking at one another, searching for something to talk about. I knew what was coming, could feel the subject swirling there in the center of us, building up energy. Grayson spoke first.
    â€œSo did you ever, um, you know, find anyone?” His eyes darted from me to Tanner.
    Grayson was not my first choice; the other dude, Plasma’s old drummer, was technically better and more experienced. Tanner, on the other hand, thought he’d want to come in and take over, whereas Grayson would be a better fit for us . We were at a stalemate, but standing there, having Grayson ask me point-blank, my gut told me a different story. It craved action. Forward motion. I looked at Tanner.
    â€œUm, yeah, you, well . . . you saved us a phone call,” I said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œCan you practice with us tomorrow?” I asked.
    â€œYeah, definitely.”
    â€œWhat do you think?” I asked Tanner.
    â€œGreat.”
    â€œSo you can vouch for this guy,” I said to Madison.
    â€œMe? Um, I guess he’s all right. His car is awful, though.”
    â€œThanks, Mads,” Grayson said, grinning.
    I looked at Grayson. “Guess you’re in.”
    â€œThe band for this sort of sucks, don’t they?” he said.
    â€œYeah.” I already liked him. This was the right decision.He gave us each an enthusiastic handshake to seal the deal.
    The music changed to a slower groove. The crowd split apart, some people pairing off like magnets, a few leaving the floor or awkwardly standing there. Madison searched the dance floor, looking for her idiot date no doubt. She fumbled with the camera.
    â€œNo more interviews or cookies, right? We can dance?” Grayson asked, holding out his hand to Wren. She grinned, took his hand, and it was like they were already dancing. He brought his forehead down to hers, her hands clasped behind his neck, up into his hair as they curled into each other, eyes open.
    â€œSickening, isn’t it?” Madison said, tilting her chin toward Grayson and Wren. She said it with a smile, like she didn’t really think it was sickening at all but felt like she needed to say something since we were just there gawking at them. They kissed. She walked out to the center of the floor and took some snapshots of them. I looked away.
    Bam .
    Duncan and Hannah swayed into my view. They weren’t pressed together like Grayson and Wren, but their arms were around each other and Duncan was talking, a smile on his face. Hannah leaned into him and whispered something in his ear. He laughed and then brought her in closer. She put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. I could not look away. There was no jolt this time. More like an empty ache,pressure, like someone was slowly pushing the air out of my lungs. They were happy. They didn’t even know or care if I was there. Their relationship had nothing— nothing— to do with me.
    Madison walked back over to me.
    â€œI think we should go,” Tanner said.
    â€œYou’re leaving already?” Madison asked.
    A chestnut husk stuck in my throat; the room was hot again.
    â€œYeah, we’ve seen enough, right, T?”
    â€œYep.”
    â€œWell if you need to sneak into Sacred Heart anytime, I’m your girl,” she said.
    I pushed open the side door, and a cold gust shot in. Madison shivered.
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind, thanks.”
    We walked out into the night, silent as we went back to the car. My ears still thrummed with the sound of the gym, my mind still numb from the reality of what I’d seen. I yanked off the infinity bracelet, stopped short of tossing it to the curb, and shoved it into my pocket. No more pining, for fuck’s sake.
    â€œYou’re okay we went with Grayson?” I asked