Page 51 of The Kissing Part
“Who do you think? The couple you can’t stop glaring at, Nathan and Shayla.”
I grimace. “They’re not a couple, and she’s not that nice.”
“Yes, she is. Really sincere.”
I exhale sharply. “She’s trying to manipulate my life to fit hers.”
“To get a second chance with you.”
“There’s a reason it didn’t work out the first time.”
“The only way to move forward is to let go of the past.”
“Where did you get that, a fortune cookie?”
“Fine. Stay miserable.”
I rub the back of my neck. I am miserable without Shayla, but I can’t see a way forward that works for both of us. I wish I could let go of the past because every time I think about the fact that she said she’d always love me and then kept in touch with my family and not me, I get angry all over again. I let out a breath. I’m tired of being angry about that.
Harper huffs. “Nathan is the most insincere man. Look at him just pouring on the flattery. You can’t trust him. I should warn Shayla.”
“What’re you talking about? He’s the most loyal guy I know. Why do you think I went into business with him?”
“Because he’s rich.”
“And he’s loyal. He’s my oldest friend. And he was yours too. What happened between you two?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“Maybe you’re the one who needs to let go of the past.”
She sends me a dark look and chomps ferociously on a celery stalk.
The song ends, and another slow song starts. Mackenzie walks over to get some food and joins us.
“Raj asked me out,” she says. “I know he’s a client, but he seems really nice. And smart. He was telling me about a light saber he’s creating that sounds like the real thing.”
“What happened to that guy from the graduation-anniversary party?” Harper asks. “The waiter with the tribal tattoo.”
“We hooked up,” Mackenzie says matter-of-factly. “He’s not with the sous chef, obviously, or I wouldn’t have gotten involved. Anyway, I told him I didn’t see it going anywhere, and he was relieved. What a jerk, right? At least he could’ve acted like he was hoping for more.”
“You’re a very complicated woman,” Harper says.
Nathan comes up behind Harper. “Takes one to know one.”
Harper whirls. “Done kissing up to Shayla? You know she has millions of fans to do that for her.”
He holds out his hand to her. “Want to dance? I can kiss up to you too. Maybe then you’d stop giving me the glare of death every time our paths cross.”
“No, thanks. I don’t dance.”
I spot Shayla surrounded by admirers again. Didn’t we talk about this? She should never be surrounded.
I march over, leaving Harper and Nathan to their usual back-and-forth. He approaches; she advances in snarling defense. I wouldn’t be surprised if she growled at him one day.
I take Shayla’s hand. “Here you are, surrounded again. Dance with me.”
She looks around. “Am I?” She steps out of the circle and on to the dance floor with me.
