Page 82 of Fragments
I balk at him like he’s insane, and he cackles. Not that I even have a response to that, but it’s cut short when Ren wanders up to my left side, showing me a small grin. I peek at Toby, and he winks, smirking as he slows down to walk with Parker.
Leaving me alone with myJulia Roberts, apparently.
Fuckin’ jerk.
Ren nudges my arm, and I glance up at his shimmering blue irises.
“Will you tell me the rest of the story?” He asks, right back to the curiously seductive tone from when we walked the halls earlier. “Of what you did to end up here?”
“You pretty much guessed it,” I tell him stiffly. “In a nutshell.”
“I don’t want bare bones, Luthor.” He grins. “I want the meat.”
I chuckle, unable to help it. It just comes out, and I shake my head. “Themeatmight take a while.”
He laughs out loud, and something happens to my insides… Something I don’t understand because I’m not sure I’ve felt it before. And I don’t knowwhyI’d be feeling it now…
It’s like the warmth I used to get when I’d make Leah laugh, only more confusing. Because this time, it’s deeper than just the joy of making someone else happy. It’s like an appreciation for the way his laugh sounds, and how good he looks doing it.
Not in a lusting way or anything… It’s just that he still looks and seems so much like the popular kids I used to go out of my way to do things for in high school, so they’d like me. Those girls who were way out of my league.
Except this time, I think the feeling might be mutual.
“Fine,” Ren sighs, pursing his lips at me. “Story for another time, I guess. The tale of how you wound up here without ever killing anyone.”
Another chuckle rumbles from my chest. “You don’t gotta kill someone to get in here, man. You just need the right sales pitch.”
Ren’s smile goes wide, and he hums, “You’re funny, Lexington.”
“Right,” I mutter.
“Smart and funny… and gorgeous,” he murmurs, and my breathing shallows as I glance at him. “The whole package.”
We’re shuffling through the doorway to our row of cells while my stomach twists like a pretzel.
Alright, so… This might be bad.
The new guy has a crush on me.
I swallow.It’s no big deal. I’m flattered.
And objectively, he is very good-looking. I mean, almost too good-looking, which I didn’t know was possible.
But I’m not interested in guys, so it doesn’t matter.
He’ll have to stick withjust friends.
Ren stops at his cell, and I pause too, hovering in front of him. I probably have thirty-seconds max before Joy yells at me to keep it moving. Ren is gazing at me expectantly while I fidget, wonderingwhyI’m even standing here, like we just got back from a blind date and I’m walking him to his door.
God, what the hell is going on today??
“Well, I guess I’ll see you… around,” I mumble like an idiot, and he grins.
“Mm… maybe. I might be going out of town tomorrow.” He smirks, and I chuckle.
He’s funny… Why is he funny?? It makes no sense.
Guys like him don’t have a sense of humor.
