Page 101 of Breakout
“That was the douchebag who awkwardly asked her out, and she turned down the other night, right?” Kellan asks.
“Yeah, that’s him,” I mutter.
“I could be wrong, but she made it sound like it wasn’t the first time he asked,” Kellan points out.
I nod. “Yeah, I caught that too.”
“Wait, is that asshole stalking Peyton?” Wyatt asks.
“Grace hasn’t said anything about it to me,” Clay says, frowning.
“Cora hasn’t said anything either,” Kellan says.
“Beck, you two are close. Peyton say anything to you about it?” Brett asks.
I shift my weight and adjust my bag. “Not much, only that she’s not interested in him.”
“Is that why you pretended to be her boyfriend?” Clay asks.
“Something like that,” I lie.
I want to tell them I did it because it’s true that she and I are together.
Brett raises a brow. “You’re a good friend.”
“I try. I don’t know if him thinking she and I are together will help or make matters worse, though.”
“Tell her. Make sure she knows that we are here if she needs us,” Wyatt says.
Kellan slaps him on the shoulder. “I think this is a record for the number of sentences I’ve heard from you while standing still. I’m proud of you.”
We all break out laughing.
Wyatt glares at Kellan. “You’re a dick.”
“I know, but Cora likes it, and that’s all that matters.” Kellan smirks.
Clay groans. “That’s my sister you’re talking about. Can you not?”
The guys begin to walk again, but I stay still, staring down the path where that asshole ran off to.
Wyatt slaps me on the shoulder. “You’re in deep, aren’t you?”
“So deep I don’t even know which way is up,” I confess.
“Well then, I’ll get the life raft ready just in case you need it.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“For the record, though, I don’t think you’ll need it. That girl cares about you just as much as you care about her.” He pauses. “I mean, I don’t know she would go throwing around the word love or anything quite yet, but she would at least save you from a mob.”
“Better than nothing, I guess,” I say as I fight back a smile.
I know it should bother me that my wife isn’t willing to announce to the world that she loves me, but she will someday if it’s the last thing I do. I just have to keep playing the long game. That’s all. For Peyton, it’s worth it.
twenty-two
“Tonight was insane,” Charlotte groans.
