Page 39 of The Plan

“Thanks, August.” I leave their apartment without another word, and he lets me as August walks me to my car.

“He didn’t even give youa hug?”

“Not even a fucking hug.” I still can’t believe Sire was such a dick last night. He didn’t even text or call to make sure I got home safe. Hazel told me that August texted her asking if I got here okay, but it’s obvious Sire told him to text her.

I told her to tell him I never made it home, but that's apparently “manipulative,” according to both Hazel and her mom, so whatever.

I take a spoonful of my cereal as I watch Hazel cut her fruit. “I’m sorry, V, but honestly, what did you expect?” I expected him to act like an adult when I rejected him. I roll my eyes at her for being on his side.

“Don’t give me that look, and don’t make this about sides because you know I’ll choose you even when you’re wrong.” That’s true, but whatever. She shouldn't defend him.

“I didn’t expect him to treat me like I’m a piece of gum under his shoe.” Okay, maybe that was a stretch. She picks up her bowl and takes a seat next to me at the kitchen counter.

“He wants to make it official, and I don’t see why you don’t. You guys are practically dating.”

“We’re notdating.” I drop my spoon in the bowl, and a bit of milk splashes.

“That sounded defensive, and the hickey on your neck says otherwise,” Hazel mumbles from beside me, and I let out a sigh before getting up to put my bowl in the sink and move my hair to cover my neck. I didn’t think he left a mark, but after I got out of the shower yesterday, I noticed he did.

He knew what he was doing when he left behind this hickey. He wanted to leave me a reminder of what I can have and more. I'm not going to lie... It worked. I was thinking about him all night, and I was hot and bothered, but I refuse to fold first.

I finish washing my dishes and make my way to the living room. “Ugh, I need to get laid.” I get turned on all over again whenever I think about the stunt he pulled because his stupid game was hot, but he isn’t going to win. I fall onto the couch, and my phone lands right next to me. No one is calling, so I look at Hazel to see why she threw it.

She’s looking at me with a smirk and raised eyebrows. “I’m sure someone will be glad to assist you.” If she was there last night, she would know that he wouldn’t. He is stubborn as fuck and it’s annoying.

I roll my eyes and scroll through my phone; he hasn’t texted me all day. We’re not dating, so I don’t care, but as a friend, I was expecting at least a “wyd” text.

“Screw him.”

“Yeah, isn’t that what you want to do?” I look over my phone at her, and she quickly turns around, hiding a laugh. “Get ready, we're going out.”

“Where?” Please say there’s a party. She walks out of the living room, saying exactly what I was hoping for, and I hop off the couch to search for the sluttiest outfit I have.

“You look like a whore.”

I smile in response and kiss Nyssa on the cheek. “Thanks, babe.”

Nyssa is one of those friends we only hang out with in party settings. She’s cool outside this setting, sure—we just don’t have enough in common with her to chill whenever drinking isn’t involved.

I’m our driver tonight, so Hazel and Nyssa take their shots. Hazel takes an extra one for me since I’m not drinking. “Poker Face” starts playing, and Nyssa grabs both of our hands, dragging us to the dance floor.

The three of us dance in a circle, feeling the beat on the floor beneath our feet while singing the lyrics to each other. I feel hands around my waist, and a smile grows on my face as I turn around. I wasn’t expecting a certain someone, but my smile doesn’t falter when I see it’s Jayden, the basketball captain.Perfect.

I snake my hands up his chest and around his neck as I keep my hips swaying to the music. He pulls me in closer, and I feel the side of my face burning. I know who’s shooting lasers at me, but I turn anyway, and my eyes lock with averyangry Sire.

I turn my head back, and since I know he’s still watching, I give a bit of a show. I inch my face so close to Jayden's that I’m sure from where he’s standing, it looks like we’re kissing.

I place my hands over his and guide them up and down my hips. The beat drops again, and I turn around so my back is against his front, and low and behold, Sire is still watching.

I’m still swaying to the music while Jayden bends down so his head is in the crease of my neck with his hands still on my waist. I run my hands through his hair as my eyes lock on Sire’s again.

He watches us carefully, and when I see his leg shaking, I send him a wink. He looks like he chuckles but at his own joke. Slowly,his eyes travel down to where another man's hands are inching toward my thighs.

When Jayden grinds himself against my ass, a fire grows in Sire’s eyes, and he makes a beeline for us. I feel my heart skip a beat and quickly move off of Jayden, practically running away from him.

When I reach Hazel, I grab her hands as we dance, but then I feel another pair of hands around me, and these feel way more familiar. I give Hazel a look for help, but she lets go of my hands anyway.Traitor.

Sire quickly turns me around, and let's just say he’s looked happier than right now. I go on my tippy toes so he can hear me say, “Hello, my dearfriend, how are you?”

---