Page 30 of Best I Never Had

11

Natalia

senior year

“What is this?”

I turned my head to see Hayden picking up a book that had fallen out of my backpack and onto the small space between my binder and his half-empty Glacier Freeze Gatorade.

When I don’t answer, he turns it over in his hand.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” he reads out loud. “Is this for a class?”

“No,” I answer, slightly distracted by the vocabulary terms in front of me that are on today’s quiz. “My sister told me about it. Said I would probably like it.”

He nods before placing the book on my binder. He then reaches for his drink, twisting off the cap before taking a loud gulp.

“Youwant to read it?” I offer, peeling my attention away from memorizing the word “abiogenesis” and its definition.

He grimaces as he recaps his drink. “I’m not much of a reader.”

“Everyone’s a reader,” I argue. “You just haven’t found the right book.”

He shakes his head. “Well, I am not a reader.”

“Give it a try,” I encourage, nudging the book an inch closer to him. When I don’t look away, silently urging him to accept my offering, he smirks.

“This isn’t one of those mannequin romance novels, is it?”

I stifle a laugh. “Harlequin,” I correct him, shoving my hand into his arm as a loose set of giggles causes me to wobble off the edge of my stool. “Ah!” I gasp just as Hayden reaches to grip my arm to fix my balance and help me upright.

“Making fun of me, Marquez?” He pokes my side, making me laugh even harder. “I guess I won’t be reading your filthy romance novel.”

“Nooo,” I protest, not even caring that I sound a little whiny. “It’s not a romance novel.” I pick up the book and place it in his hands, poking a finger onto the cover. “See, no half-naked men with their hair blowing with the wind.”

He raises a suspicious brow at me, and I grin, refusing to take no as an answer. “Fine. I guess I’ll give it a shot.”

“You never know,” I say, turning back to face the table. “This might be ‘the one.’”

“‘The one?’”

I nod. “Yeah,” I answer. “The right book that finally came your way to show you how much you love reading.”

“Love is a strong word.”

“Fine then,” I say, a small eye roll hiding my smile. “No longer dislike.”

He smirks. “We’ll just have to wait andsee.”

present

“Hey, Nat,” David’s warm voice greets me as soon as I walk through the door.

“Hey, David,” I answer, tired but glad to return to a home filled with noise instead of frigid quiet. “Is Carmen home?”

He points his thumb toward Carmen’s room. “She’s getting dressed.”

I nod, placing my belongings on a chair facing the kitchen counter before walking to Carmen’s room and knocking lightly on her door.

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