Page 27 of Every Hidden Truth

“I’m sorry.” Ben rubbed my shoulder. “I thought you wanted me to shove my pancakes down your throat.”

Everyone laughed as I glared at him. “Do not encourage them, Ben!”

He plucked a chip from my plate and smugly crunched down on it.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” I huffed, scooting my chair closer to Caroline.

A minute later, Ben’s finger traced the back of my hand. I ignored him. He curled his hand around mine and tugged. I ignored him some more. He sighed, like everything in his life was unfair.

“Don’t be mad,” he whispered against my shoulder, and I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He gave me puppy dog eyes, and air whistled through my nose on an exaggerated exhale. “I don’t like it when you’re mad at me.”

And because I was a total sucker, I thawed. “I’m not mad at you,” I mumbled.

“Promise?” He offered his pinkie, and I smiled.

Hooking our pinkies, I said, “Promise.”

Ben leaned in and pressed a kiss to the spot beneath my ear, and heat crawled up my neck as I ducked my head. I caught Kim’s gaze, and she was smiling sweetly at us. I blushed hotter and looked away.

Sharing the rest of my nachos with Ben, I listened in as Caroline and Kim excitedly discussed the winter dance. It was still two weeks away, the last day of the semester, but with Caroline in student government, she helped plan and set up for the silly thing.

“Oh, did you answer Brayden yet?” Caroline asked.

“Who’s Brayden?” Harris demanded before Kim could answer.

She waved her hand noncommittally. “He’s in my chemistry class. And he, uh, asked me to the dance.”

She sipped at her bottle of water as Harris scowled. Ben and I exchanged a worried look.

“You’re going with him?” The accusation in Harris’s tone ruffled Kim’s feathers, and her spine straightened.

Jutting out her chin, she shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I mean, no one else has asked me, so maybe.”

“Do you even know him?”

Kim’s eyes flashed. “I don’t want to go to the winter dance alone.”

“You wouldn’t have gone alone,” he whispered even quieter. “I was—I thought… never mind.”

Awkwardness settled over the table as Kim and Harris glared in opposite directions. I spun my soda bottle cap on my tray, slumping lower in my seat. Apparently, their make-out at the party a few weeks back had complicated things.

“He seems nice,” Kim added flippantly, and Harris sulked.

“Well, good then. Have fun with Brandon.”

“His name’s Brayden!” she snarled before she stood up and stormed away.

Caroline sent us a withering frown, like we were all to blame for this turn of events. She followed Kim in a huff.

“Oh my God, Harris!” Jordan punched his friend in the shoulder. “You’re a fucking idiot, bro!”

“W-what?” Harris stared around the table in bewilderment, and Jordan and I shared a groan.

“She wants to go to the dance with you,” Ben explained kindly. “But you haven’t asked her yet, and it hurt her feelings. The only reason she hasn’t agreed to go with the other guy yet is probably because she’s hoping you’ll still ask her before it’s too late.”

His pale cheeks flushed. “She wants to go with me?”

“Jesus Christ.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, then took a swig of my soda in preparation. “Yes, she wants to go with you. So go be chivalrous. Sweep her off her feet. Make a grandgesture. Whatever. Just don’t wait too long or else that Brady guy is gonna sneak his stirring rod into her beaker.”

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