Page 48 of Lines

I pick up my shit quickly and shove it all into duffle bag before turning around to look at others. Both Andrew and Jeanette look hangover and kind of sick. I don’t know when they returned, but it had to be quite late. They seem to keep a safe distance between each other, so I guess nothing really changed. When the night changes to light and the effect of alcohol wears off, you’re in the same place you were before.

Andrew catches me looking at him. He’s all ready to go, so I move my gaze to the girls. “You two ready to go?”

Brook lifts her head, throwing her bag over her shoulder. “I’m taking a bus.”

“Why are you taking the bus?” Max turns around frowning at her.

“I’m going home.”

“I can take you home.” He looks at Amelia. “Both of you.”

“I’m not going to Lia’s, so I’ll take the bus.” She turns to her friend who’s still putting her stuff away. “I’ll see you later, Lia?”

Amelia tilts her head back, her hair falling loosely down her back. She smiles at Brook and gives a small wave in goodbye, before continuing with her packing.

Max looks after Brook. “You are really going to let her go?”

“What should I do, Max? She’s going home.” She shrugs. “She has her own stuff to do.”

“We could have taken her,” he insists, still looking at the now empty doorway.

“She doesn’t like anyone going to her place.”

“Why not?”

“Just because.” She gets up, her bag packed in her hand. Brown eyes meet mine, but only for a second before she averts her gaze to Max. “Can you give me a lift?”

That wakes me up from the slumber. “I’ll take you home like we agreed yesterday,” I object, coming closer to her and Sanders. “Project, remember?”

“I’m not feeling well,” she murmurs, looking at her feet. “Besides, you have to take Andrew home, and he lives on the other side of the town.”

“We can take him first and then go back to your place or my place to work on the project,” I insist. There is no way she can get out of this. “It’s not a problem.”

She lifts her head, looking at me shyly through her eyelashes. Her lips are pursed and color starts rising in her cheeks. “Like I said, I’m not feeling well. Can we do it another time?” Not giving me time to answer, she completely ignores me and switches her attention to Sanders. “Can you take me home?”

His eyes meet mine, but there is nothing in them as he agrees with her, taking the bag out of her hand.

Without giving me a backward glance, they collect Jeanette’s bag and leave the room.

For the second time in less than 24 hours, I watch her walk away.

With Sanders.

My stomach sinks and it’s doing some funny flips inside. My hands curl into fists by my side. What does a guy have to do for a girl to give him the time of the day?

Andrew appears by my side. His hair is mussed and all over the place. There are bags under his eyes, and it looks like he’s ready to drop. Alcohol or tiredness?

“We going or what?”

Derek

“Where are you going?” Dad’s voice stops me at the bottom of the stairs. I finish putting my leather jacket on and go to the living room where the two of them are watching television.

Getting to the doorway, I lean against it and look at my parents cuddling on the love seat and watching a movie. Even after all these years, they still spend every single day off together. Being in the medical field—my dad as a doctor, an anesthesiologist, and my mom as a nurse—isn’t easy. But, as my mom likes to point out, the best things in life are usually hard to get.

“I’m going out for a bit,” I tell them. “I won’t stay long.”

“You going to Andrew’s?” Mom tilts her head and smiles at me.

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