Page 8 of Eleanor & Grey

I’d respond with, “Just replying so you don’t look as ridiculous as you’re actually being right now.”

He’d smile again, I’d notice that smile, and I’d go back to my book.

Finally, Shay walked up with my Coke and held out a plastic cup with a frozen Popsicle in it. “I couldn’t find ice, but I figured a Popsicle could keep your drink cold for a bit. Plus it’s a cherry Popsicle so, voila! It’s a cherry Coke.” She shifted her stare to Greyson and raised an eyebrow. “Oh, Grey…hey, what’s up?”

“Oh, nothing. Just getting to know Eleanor.” He did that grin thing and Shay totally fell for it like a freaking gazelle in a lion’s den.

“Oh, how neat! She’s my favorite person in the whole wide world, so you’re in for a treat. I’ll let you guys keep chatting.” Shay waved to me as if she didn’t see the panic in my eyes that pleaded “Abort, abort! Save me.” She wandered off to be the social butterfly she was, and I was left stuck in my cocoon with Greyson.

“How long does this have to go on?” I asked him.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. As long as it takes for Landon to stop throwing the Stacey White situation in my face.”

“What did you do to Stacey White?”

He narrowed his eyes and cocked a brow. “What do you mean, what did I do to her?”

“It just sounds like something happened.”

He shifted around in his seat and broke eye contact. “It’s actually the opposite. Nothing happened, though, it’s not really anyone’s business.”

“It kind of feels like my business since it’s making you stare at me.”

“Yeah, I get that.” He went quiet for a moment then parted his lips. “Why doesn’t Shay give Landon another shot?”

“He cheated on her. After a week.”

“Yeah, I know, but—”

I shut my book. It was clear I wasn’t going to be getting much more reading done any time soon. “There are no buts. It just blows my mind that you guys think you can get a shot with anyone and everyone because of how you look. Shay isn’t an idiot, though. She knows what she deserves.”

Greyson pushed his tongue into his cheek. “Did you just kind of call me handsome in a roundabout way?”

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Trust me, it already did.” He started drumming his fingers against his legs. “So, what’s your deal?”

“I thought we were only pretend talking.”

“Yeah, but I got bored with that. So, you’re into…reading?” He nodded toward the book.

“Great observation, Captain Obvious,” I remarked.

He laughed. “You’re sassy.”

“I get that from my mother.”

“I like it.”

My face heated up, and I hated that it happened. My body was reacting to his annoyingly cute-without-even-trying personality, even though my mind had been taught to dislike him. I’d spent the past year observing guys like Greyson and the way girls melted in their hands without any thought process involved.

My brain never wanted me to be that girl, but clearly my heart didn’t care what the mind wanted.

I looked away, because my heart raced when we locked eyes.

“I’ve never read Harry Potter,” he said, and for the first time in my life, I felt bad for Greyson East. What a sad, sad life he lived.

“That’s probably a good thing,” I told him. “Because if you did read it, I would probably have to form a stupid unrealistic crush on you that goes against everything I stand for.”

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