Page 17 of Cloudless
The roar of the engine vibrates through my seat as I start my car. I force hunger back to the forefront of my mind as I carefully pull through Lila’s parking spot. “So, did Wyatt say when your car will be done?”
Flashes of the passing overhead lights illuminate Ellie’s face as she fully turns in her seat to face me. “Are we really not going to talk about what just happened?”
"Nope." I pop the "p" so she knows just how serious I am.
She lets out a deep sigh as she rights herself in her seat. “Alrighty, then.” I feel her gaze on the side of my face. “Just know, I like her.”
Me too, Ellie. Me too.
The dark buildings and empty sidewalks blur by as we drive the few blocks to The Penalty Box.She pulls her phone out of her back pocket and scrolls for the rest of the drive.
That’s something I’ve always loved about our relationship. If one of us isn’t ready to talk, there’s no pressure from the other. Just support. Always support.
Our usual table is already overflowing with everyone's drinks and appetizers when we arrive.
Dax balances on the back two legs of his chair as he smiles at us. “We thought you two ditched us!”
Ellie claims the empty seat next to my usual place with a smile. “Nah. You guys know how long it takes for this guy to shower.” Deep laughs rumble around the table as conversations resume.
I’ll have to bring Ellie a tub of Ben & Jerry’s later as athank youfor not outing me to my teammates.
I glance up to catch Wyatt’s piercing gaze. His eyes narrow, obviously not buying Ellie’s cover story.
I’ll get grilled by the guys when I get home, but for now, I’m left to my own devices to put my plan in place.
Operation Become Lila’s Friend is a go.
CHAPTER 9
SENT FROM MY IPHONE
LILA
The roar of voices spills into the hall outside the classroom. I let out a sigh of relief when I see Professor Mills is absent from his desk.
Posey had a wardrobe malfunction this morning that caused us to get a late start. I didn’t even know seven-year-olds could have wardrobe malfunctions, but here we are.
Butterflies take flight in my stomach when I spot Kam sitting next to my seat in the back row, scrolling on his phone.
The murmur of surrounding conversations swallows the thunk of my bag hitting the floor as I take my seat next to the aisle.
Kam’s eyes light up and his phone lands face down on his desk when he sees me. “Good morning, Sunshine.”
His genuine excitement at seeing me warms me from the inside out. “Good morning, Kam.”
A piece of printer paper, too far away to read clearly, but titled and well-filled out, sits neatly on his normally solo notebook. A rush of panic flows through my body as I mentally go through my planner.
Did I forget about an assignment?
I try to conceal my rising panic as I casually incline my head toward the lone piece of paper. “What have you got there?”
An embarrassed smile pulls at Kam’s lips as he looks down at the paper. “This is for you, actually.”
My brows rise as my panic fades away to be replaced by curiosity. “For me?”
A hesitant laugh escapes his lips as he nods. He absentmindedly plays with the corner of the paper as his brows draw down in contemplation. “I know what you said last night about not wanting a relationship.”
I wish so badly I could have taken him up on his offer for dinner. But if I’ve learned anything over these torturously long weeks, it's that we don’t always get what we want.
