Page 67 of Stick It
“She’s someone’s,” I drawl, unable to help the way my gaze flicks back to Finn. “Maybe you should have a word with your boy over there. Make sure he doesn’t choke on all that desperation.”
“Jesus Christ.” Ethan exhales through his nose. “Pretty sure you did a decent job of making sure she doesn’t come around for a while.”
I flash him a wide grin. “Why, thank you.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
“Huh.” Snatching a chip from his tray, I chew on the end of it. “Sounded like one to me.”
He shakes his head, but there’s something almost amused in his expression. “You’re exhausting.”
“I know. It’s fun, isn’t it?”
“Not the word I would use?—”
Whatever Ethan was going to say is cut off by the chime of notifications. Not just a few—everyone’s.The entire cafeteria erupts into murmurs and the rustle of movement as people start pulling out their phones. Then the snapping silence—just for a second—before the first choked-off laugh breaks it.
Then another.
And another.
Until the entire cafeteria is roaring.
Across from me, Wren nearly spits out her drink, eyes blown wide. The guys at the table are losing their shit, shoulders shaking as they shove their phones at each other, jaws hanging open.
“What the fuck?” someone breathes.
A guy at the next table is crying, gripping his stomach as he wheezes out, “No way—holy shit?—”
Eyes wide and throat dry, I pull my phone from my back pocket. I don’t expect to see anything, no one on this campus other than Ethan has my number. And yet, as soon as I look at the screen, a single alert catches my eye.
Hands shaking, my finger hovers over the notification, unsure if I really want to know what itis.
Before I can make a decision, Kyle’s roar shatters through the chaos.
“WHAT THE FUCK?!”
My head whips up, every eye in the cafeteria zeroing in on him. Guys across the room point and laugh. I frown, taking in Kyle’s wild, panicked expression.
“Oh my God, is that Kyle?” I hear Wren murmur quietly as she squints at her phone. “Is that…Kyle?”
Kyle? Whatever it is, is about…Kyle?
It takes a long moment for that to sink in. For me to realize it’s not about me. Not this time.
A tray slamming against the table startles me. I jump, Kyle’s voice like a fire alarm blasting through the noise in the cafeteria. “Who the fuck is doing this to me?”
My gaze inadvertently falls from Kyle to Griffin, who is leaning back in his chair, arms folded, completely unbothered by the chaos unfolding all around him. His expression gives nothing away—no smirk, no arrogance, no admission of guilt.
But I see it.
Ifeelit.
The smugness radiating from him.
“TELL ME!” Kyle bellows, screaming now. “WHO THE FUCK IS DOING THIS?!’
He lunges, his chair screeching back, but before he can do anything stupid, Ethan’s voice cracks like a whip. “Sit the fuck down!”
