Page 54 of Shut Up and Score
SmokeScreen77: So…you’re falling for two people at once? Sounds exhausting. And hot. I’d offer to make it worse. In person.
I let out a breath. If I say no again, will he ghost me? I can’t lose this connection. Stare at the screen. Type. Delete. Type again.
Me: I’ve thought about it. Meeting. But I don’t want to ruin it. What if it’s better not knowing?
SmokeScreen77: Coward.
Jasmine turns toward me angrily. “Seriously?”
“What?”
She gestures at my phone. “You’ve been grinning at your phone like someone’s sending you nudes.”
I pocket it fast, leaning back and acting as if I don’t feel caught. As if guilt isn’t eating me up. “It’s nothing.”
“That’s the problem, Colton. It’salwaysnothing with you. You’re neverhere.Not even when you’re sitting right next to me.”
Her voice spikes. A few heads turn. Including Micah’s. He’s across the quad, balancing a water bottle on his head and making two of the freshmen who joined the group laugh like idiots.
And yet, he stilllooksat me, watching us as if he’s heard every word. And worse, Iwanthim to know everything. I wanthimto be the one who sent that message. I want it to beMicahbehind the screen, teasing and tempting and always two steps ahead of me.
God, what the hell is wrong with me?
“Are you even listening?” Jasmine snaps.
“No,” I admit, standing. “Not really.”
“Are youseriousright now? Did I do something? Is it me?”
I glance once more at Micah. He’s not watching us anymore. His phone is in his hand, and he’s grinning down at it as he texts someone again. Probably that bar hook-up. Hell, maybe that’s his boyfriend. Jealousy at the idea curls my stomach.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. And it takes everything not to pull it out and see if I have another message.
“I’m sorry, it’s not you, I’m just?—”
“Tired?” she snaps. “Yeah, I know. You’re always fucking tired.”
I glance around. Her anger is gathering us eavesdroppers. Perfect. More people can watch me destroy my life. A train wreck happening in real time.
“Guess what, Colton? I’m tired too. Of whatever this is—” she says, gesturing to all of me. I wince.
Yeah, this isn’t going great. I should end it. Be real with her. She doesn’t deserve this. She deserves someone who can make her happy, who can love her, who will be faithful…because my sexting sure isn’t faithful, and the way I feel about even the thought of Micah isn’t faithful. I’m such a bastard.
“Jasmine,” I say, turning toward her. “Can we go somewhere else and talk?”
“We can talk here,” she says, crossing her arms and leaning back on the bench.
“Okay—” I roll my lips between my teeth before releasing them.
I glance around, and some of the people who were staring have moved on. Micah’s back is to us now, and he looks as though he’s telling a story with the way his hands are moving. The group laughs, and I glare at him, getting distracted again.
“So talk.” Jasmine pulls my attention back to her, and I shift on the bench, attempting to give her my full attention.
“Are you happy with me, Jasmine?”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t be with you if I wasn’t.”
“You just said I’ve been a crappy boyfriend for weeks.”
