Page 73 of How to Get Revenge on a Cheating Ex
A tension in my chest eases. She’ll be okay.
And besides, she’s Bailey. She might be a pain in the ass, but she’s likeable. She’s nice to everyone, with a smile for all. She’s basically our town’s very own Type-A Cinderella. Noteveryone’sgoing to turn on her.
At the very least, I’m almost positive Toni’s got her back.
She reaches up and touches the spot between my eyebrows. “What’s with this?” she asks. “You look worried.”
“Worried, huh?” I reach up to touch the spot as well, shaking my head in mock disappointment. “I was going for brooding.”
She laughs again, and I’m feeling like the king of the world. She’s in a good mood this morning, which is a relief.
Things were...weirdwhen she left my house last night.
Okay, fine. She freaked.
My mom inadvertently interrupted the makeout session of the century when she passed by the living room on her way to the kitchen. She didn’t even walk into the living room or anything, but Bailey jumped away from me like she’d been electrocuted, and then she’d started babbling a million miles an hour about her work schedule, and her parents, and how she had to get home.
All the while, her eyes were wide and panicked like a spooked animal.
So yeah, she’d freaked, and I couldn’t exactly blame her. It was crazy enough that we were pretending to be a couple. It was even more mind-blowing to discover that we actually have chemistry. Like, insane, off-the-charts, hot-as-hell chemistry.
But then, on top of that, things gotreallast night.
The kissing was hotter than hot, and I’m pretty sure Bailey was freaked by that. But it was the conversation before it that messed with my head.
Which was why I didn’t try to stop her when she walked out the front door, even though everything in me wanted to haul her back into my arms. Instead, I just waved her off and told her to have a good night.
We both needed some time to figure shit out. And Bailey...? Well, she clearly needed space in a big way.
If there’s one thing I’ve always known about Bailey, it’s this—she needs alone time to process stuff. I still remember this one time when we were kids…
I was all pissed because I’d thought Bailey was giving me the cold shoulder after some stupid little spat we’d had over who was better at Mario Kart.
My mom knew better.Give her time,she’d said.That girl’s a thinker.
What am I?I’d asked.
She'd laughed and tousled my hair.I guess that makes you a doer.
“You’re doing it again,” Bailey said, a little smile tugging at her lips. “You’re brooding.”
I laugh because...this? The teasing, the laughing. This is rare. I haven’t seen this Bailey in way too long.
I missed you.I still hear her heart-wrenching voice from last night.Imissyou.
I swallow hard because…yeah. I get it. I know what she meant.
“I might be brooding,” I start. Then I spot another group of Graysonites heading our way so I lean down again, my mouth next to her ear as I tug her closer until she’s resting against my chest. “And you are in a suspiciously good mood.”
I feel her lips curve up against my cheek as her smile widens. “Am I?”
“You are.” I run my hands down her back, and I’ll be honest—I no longer have any clue how much of this is for our audience and how much is for me.
Because I like touching Bailey Tucker. In fact, I might be addicted to the feel of her, which is...
I don’t know what it is. But it’s probably not good. And there’s a sinking sensation in my gut that says it’s only going to lead to trouble. And—oh shit.
I reallyambrooding.
