Page 39 of Before We're More Than Friends
“Is that my rhinestone bra I lost?”
“You didn’t lose it.” I took my leggings off and jumped into my new ones. “I stole it back.”
“Are you sure?”
I groaned. “I have the receipt.”
“Dang it.” She frowned. “I really loved that one.”
Yeah, I take back what I said about fitting into your twin’s clothes. “How much longer do we have to stay here?” I asked, annoyance growing in my voice.
“Sienna and Gracelynn haven’t arrived yet.”
“Gracelynn isn’t coming.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Because Caleb is hanging out with us?”
Gracelynn and Caleb had dated from eighth grade to sophomore year, and long story short, they hated each other’s guts now. Even though Caleb was also our friend, I knew how much it upset Gracelynn whenever he tried to get under her skin. The two of them couldn’t be within a certain radius without bickering.
Sucked for your biggest enemy to be your next-door neighbor.
I put my dirty clothes into Arielle’s bag. “That and because she had a fancy event with her mom and other stuck-up rich women.” I sucked in a breath as I thought about how our mom used to bring us, even though we hated it as much as Gracelynn did. Now she didn’t even attend them by herself.
Arielle’s frown deepened. “Gosh, poor girl. Hermom is the worst.”
“She really is.”But at least she’s always sober and stays true to her word. I shook away the thought as I opened the stall door.
By the time we made it back to our table, most of our friends were finished eating. Oliver and Kami were giggling at something that probably wasn’t even that funny while Hayden and Caleb exchanged eye rolls.
Dallas was the first to look up at me, the same worry in his eyes that had been there before. “Are you feeling better now?”
“Yeah.”No. I sat in the chair that had my purse on it, between him and Arielle. “Now there isn’t hot cheese sitting on my stomach.”
“That’s a good feeling.” His lips barely formed a smile as his eyes traveled everywhere except at me.
The group talked for a few minutes before Oliver got up from his chair. “Anyone want to dance?”
“I do,” Kami piped up, springing from her chair.
“I wonder how long it takes until you two make out near the cheese fountain or some crap,” Hayden muttered as he got up.
Caleb stood up as well. “I’ll spray hot cheese all over you if I see that.”
Oliver shot a glare at his friends. “Stop being embarrassing before I push you both into the cheese fountain.”
“I’m so terrified.” Caleb held up his hands.
Arielle got up from her chair. “Are you guys coming?”
“I don’t dance,” Dallas said, shifting in his seat. “Maybe I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
I nodded. “I don’t really feel like doing anything right now.”
Arielle frowned but quickly covered it up with another one of her big smiles that could give Oliver a run for his money. “If you say so.” She skipped away to join the others.
After a few beats of silence, Dallas broke the ice between us. “I didn’t expect so many people to be here.”
“Yeah, the Saturn Frenzy ispretty much the most popular non-dance event of each semester. It gets pretty wild.” I fiddled with my soda. “There’s even a kissing game held in some random classrooms with lines out the door.”
