Page 116 of Before We're More Than Friends
Because I clearly didn’t know when to shut up, I said, “I hope you had a good Sunday.”
She grumbled something that sounded like a curse word, shifting away even more until her back was toward me.
I winced, taking that as my cue to leave her alone.
Sitting next to Raina during class felt like sitting next to a fire-breathing dragon. Each breath she took was loud enough for the entire class to hear, sending my pulse wild.
She hates me.
But even with her back toward me, I couldn’t control my thoughts. Her bronze locks spilled down her back in that elegant way again.
Had I seriously lost my mind to the point that I was attracted to the back of her head?
I debated whether or not skipping this class for the rest of the year and repeating eleventh grade was worth it.
In the middle of writing notes, our elbows bumped. Raina scooted farther away, letting out a small grunt. But even through the heavy silence between us, I wondered if her heart was pounding as hard as mine was.
When the bell rang, she quickly shoved her stuff into her backpack, still turned away from me.
“I meant everything I said Saturday night,” I told her as she put her backpack on.
She finally faced me, her icy eyes nearly piercing my insides. “And I meant it when I said to stop talking to me.” She shoved her chair into the table before leaving the classroom.
My heart, which hadn’t gotten the message, fell to the floor and cracked open. I sighed, staring at the stupid bracelet on my wrist. I needed to burn it. She’d never forgive me.
This love would never be anything but unrequited.
CHAPTER 28
Raina
My short interaction with Dallas still weighed on my chest as I entered the shelter. If Mrs. Landers paired me with him today, I’d quit there on the spot. I wouldn’t do it.
I wouldn’t forgive him that easily.
Maybe one day. But not now.
Thankfully, Dallas and I weren’t paired together on the task list. I sighed in relief before getting cat food for my first task.
In the hallway, Leanne walked past me and turned around. “Oh, good afternoon, Raina.” She gave me her usual smile, but she looked different. Even through her glasses, I could see that her makeup looked sloppy like she’d applied it on in a hurry. “I missed you yesterday.”
“Good afternoon.” I smiled, though the last thing I wanted to do was talk to the mother of the boy who’d made me cry my eyes out all weekend.
“Want to come into my office when you’re done?” she asked.
I was about to say I was too busy, but the glint in her eyes was too hopeful to crush. “Sure.”
“Great.” She smiled again before walking away.
After feeding the cats, I went into Leanne’s office, where she typed away at her computer.
“Hey,” she said with a grin, pushing what looked like a wad of tissues in the trash next to her.
“Hey.” I sat in the chair in front of her desk. “No animals right now?”
She shook her head. “Just been doing computer work for most of the day. The other vets are getting stuff done with the animals.”
“Cool.” I looked around the office, noticing some new pictures on the wall. Dallas’s dimpled smile and his dog greeted me, and my insides twisted. “How have you been?”
