Page 58 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

Maybe home isn’t so bad after all.

EIGHTEEN

Mae

When Seth leaves the restaurant, he doesn’t meet my eyes, which is good, because then I might go running after him.Abi and her date Bryan are sitting closely at our small table, her head tilted slightly toward him.His arm is draped casually around her shoulders, his fingers lightly caressing her arm.

I can’t tell if she wants him too or if she’s just putting up with it.Usually, I’m pretty good at reading her, but tonight she seems off, and I can’t figure out why.

“So D.C., huh?”Jonathan asks.“That sounds like fun.My internship is in Roanoke.”

“But yours is in IT.You’ll make way more than I will.”Unless of course I stay here and work at Whisper Springs.

He chuckles.“This is true, but your job will be more exciting.”

He sits close to me, but he doesn’t make any move to touch me.Which I find slightly annoying.He hasn’t tried to hold my hand or anything.I mean, it’s better than Abi’s date, but still.I can’t tell if he’s all that into me or not.It seemed like he was earlier, but now it doesn’t.Not that I plan on doing anything physical with him, but I was kind of hoping we could string this along for a few dates just to get my dad off my back.

The pizza arrives, and he scowls at Bryan and Abi, who are lost in a long kiss.“Can you not do that at the dinner table?”That’s pretty bold.The two just met about a half hour ago.

Abi pulls away with a fake giggle.

Bryan runs his hand over her neck and onto her shoulder.“Maybe we should skip the movie and go back to my cabin after this.”

Abi leans away from him.“Aw, but it’sThe Wizard of Oz, my favorite movie.”The Wizard of Ozis not her favorite movie.Far from it.In fact, when I told her what was playing tonight, she whined that it was boring.

Time to find out what’s really going on.“We’re going to the little girls’ room.Be right back.”

I grab her hand and drag her to the bathroom.

It’s a single stall, but I pull her in anyway and throw the lock.“What’s going on?Do we need to ditch Bryan?”

She shakes her head, but her face twists.She takes a few deep breaths to compose herself before she speaks.“No.I’m fine.I don’t want to talk about it.But Bryan hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“You clearly aren’t into him at all.”

She stands tall and runs her hand over her hair.“Yes, I am.He’s hot and is a good kisser.”

I cross my arms and glare at her.“Abi.”

Her shoulders slump.“Okay, fine.But you know how you are using Jonathan to get over Seth?”

“I’m using Jonathan to prove to my dad that there’s nothing going on.I’m not ready to get over Seth yet.”I still have no idea where we stand or what we’ll do once the summer is over, but we need to get out under the threat of my father first.

She waves her hands in the air.“Whatever.I’m trying to move on too, and it’s not working very well.”

“Move on from who?You haven’t told me about any special guys.”

“You don’t know him.It all happened while you were working with Seth.It was fast, and then it was over, but I can’t stop thinking about him.”

“So go after him.”

“It’s not that simple.Just let me be with Bryan and see how things go.I’ll let you know if I’m uncomfortable.”

“Okay then.But you promise you’ll tell me?”

“Promise.”

I search her eyes but find no sign of deception.

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