Page 51 of Matched Up

I stood up to get a closer look.I hooked my arm through his and looked at us in the mirror.‘We look good together.’I smiled.‘Well, maybe not how I’m dressed right now, but I don’t think V-Ball’s going to know what hit it.’

‘You look amazing right now.’He turned away from the mirror and looked down at me.And then we were kissing, right there in the shop.

The shop assistant cleared her throat and we jumped apart.‘I brought another one,’ she said, hanging up another tux behind us.

‘Thanks,’ I said and dissolved into giggles.

Shane chose the second tux.Traditional.Gorgeous.

Shane watched me try on four dresses.

I settled on a floor-length black-sequin dress with cream contrast down the sides that made my hourglass curves lookeven more dramatic.It was the look on Shane’s face that made my final decision.

‘You like it?’I asked, looking in the mirror and smoothing the fabric over my hips.I was standing on my toes, mimicking the heels I’d be wearing.

‘Too much.’He smiled and pushed his hand through his hair.‘How am I supposed to get through a whole night of you looking like that?But, Lexie, are you sure it’s a good idea?Me coming?I mean, what if your brother is there?Half the Westing team go to Blackport.I mean, I don’t care about all that, but I don’t want to make drama for you.’

But I was sick of sneaking about like he was some dirty secret.‘I don’t care any more.Let them know,’ I said with as much conviction as I could, ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach that haunted me every time I thought about Niall realizing that I was going out with his nemesis.I reminded myself how cruel he’d been to Shane, to me, and how selfish him and Megan were being.Now it was my turn.Why should I have to hide the person who made me happier than anything?Even football.

‘You really don’t care?’I checked.

He shrugged.‘Nope.I reckon there are way more serious things to get stressed about than some other kid’s jealousy.I just don’t give stuff like that any space in my head.’

He’d done it again: made me see something from a different angle.He was right.And I wished I could do it too.

When I paid, I saw him look at the time again.

‘I hate that I can’t stay.And thank you, really.So much.I’ll pay you back for it.’

‘You will not!’I said, meaning it.

He hesitated and looked away, then back to me.‘Sorry, Lexie, I really have to go.’He kissed me briefly, then turned and walked away.And I just stood there watching him disappear with an uneasiness in my chest, wondering why he wouldn’t just tell me what was going on.

19

By the end of the week, the assembly hall looked incredible for V-Ball.I’d laughed when I’d found out they’d been decorating for weeks, but when I saw it at lunchtime, I understood why.Fake trees, flowers and lampposts everywhere.There was even a fountain in the corner, ready to be moved to wherever Zoe wanted it.

‘Looks pretty cool, doesn’t it?’

I spun round to see Hunter watching me.Happy he couldn’t see into my head, at how, when I gazed around the room, I was imagining tomorrow night, when me and Shane would be dancing,kissing, out in the open.

‘Yeah, it’s amazing.’

Hunter fidgeted with a fake flower he’d pulled from one of the vases.‘I hate it, you know.’

‘Hate what?’I asked, confused and irritated by his presence.

‘The way we don’t hang out any more.Like since Niall and Megan got together.’He sounded so sad.

I let myself think back to before Niall and Megan.Did we really hang out?Or was it just that he was there all the time with Niall?He did used to stick up for me if Niall was takingthe piss, and two years ago, he bought me a single rose for Valentine’s Day.I thought it was because he didn’t want me to feel left out, because loads of people had sent Megan roses, but now I wasn’t so sure.

But the way he’d joined in when Niall was being awful to Shane.I’d never forget that.

I rolled my eyes.‘You can thank Niall for that.’

‘It sucks when things change,’ he said, and I smiled at him in empathy.

‘Yeah, it really does,’ I agreed.

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