Page 15 of To Love or to Lose
“I don’t?” Jameson asks.
Winnie gives me a sympathetic look. She must have known Jameson was within earshot when I said that.
I turn to face him. He may have thought his question was rhetorical, but I will not allow anyboyto scare me into any type of shell. “No, you don’t.”
“I wanted to introduce myself to your friend, Genevieve.” His tone is almost condescending, but I don’t think it is intended to be demeaning.
He turns toward Winnie. “I noticed you from the group at the beach, and I presumed you to be Winnifred. Am I correct?”
I cannot believe he has the audacity to act this polite to mybest friendafter the things he said to me mere hours ago.
“Yes, I’m Winnifred. You can call me Winnie, though.”
“Winnifred,” he muses. “I’m Jameson.”
“Yeah, I think the accent gave that away,” Winnie replies.
God, she’s too nice.Meanwhile, I feel like the evil step-sister eavesdropping from afar.
“I expect to be seeing you around more, with you and Logan being so close and all.”
Winnie is taken aback by that. “I’m not sure if you’re suggesting what I think you are, but just so you know, Logan’s strictly my neighbor.”
“Really?” Jameson asks. “So, you two aren’t dating?”
I find his notion preposterous. Even though Eloise and I know there are further feelings between Winnie and Logan, that’s because they’re our best friends, Jameson is only making assumptions, which irks me.
Winnie doesn’t bat an eye, responding with a simple, “Nope.”
“Well, I’m sorry for assuming,” he apologizes, “I better get back to the lads, the bell’s about to ring.”
“Yup, of course.” Winnie nods.
“See you around, neighbor.” And when I think he’s about to head back to his seat, he adds. “You too, Genevieve.”
“Well, he’s—”
“If you say ‘nice,’ I will leave to go drown myself in the bathroom toilet.”
“What is your deal with him?” She questions, having zero context as to what had happened between Jameson and me.
I give her a pleading look. “Please don’t bring him up.”
She says nothing, but nods in reply.
The bell rings, signaling the beginning of the period. The room falls silent as the teacher walks in the room and students take their seats.
All but one, of course, because Logan walks in late.
He nods in courtesy to the teacher, a sympathetic look on his face as he scans the room for a seat.The only one left is behind Winnie, making it so he’s diagonally across from me.
“Nice to see you again, ladies.” He nods at me, his hand brushing Winnie’s shoulder as he sets his bag down and takes a seat.Logan leans toward me and whispers, “Gen, did something happen between you and Jameson?”
I want to throw my head against the brick wall behind me, but I withhold the urge.I don’t answer, instead I turn away from him and try to focus on anything but Jameson
The only thing on my mind is the hope that rumors about me and Jameson are not spreading like wildfire.
Chapter Five
