Page 102 of No Way Home
“We’re gonna go make out before the previews start,” Charlie said, no shame.
Cash gave us a dopey, lovesick grin before leading Charlie away.
Bowen chuckled as we stepped up to the counter. “We’d like the collector’s popcorn bucket with butter, a box of Goobers, and two waters, please.” He glanced at me. “Did I miss anything? Or do you want soda?”
“No, water is fine. But I don’t need Goobers. I’m still full of See’s.”
“Goobers or not?” the man clipped.
“We want the Goobers.” Bowen’s brows waggled at me. “Chocolate-covered peanuts are my favorite too.”
I actually knew that, but I wouldn’t let him know. It’s not inappropriate to pick up on little things your boyfriend’s brother likes.
The man stalked off to complete the order.
I noticed a guy videoing us over by the arcade and nudged Bowen.
“I know,” he said, not looking at the guy. “I see him. It’s nothing new.”
Wasn’t he worried we would end up on social media and Griffin would see?Crap! My dad!I hadn’t planned to say anything unless I was positive this was heading somewhere. I moved closer to Bowen, letting his shoulder shield my face.
He leaned over and whispered, “Admit it, you’ve been waiting years to?—”
I never got to find out how he was going to finish that sentencebecause right then, a woman gasped behind us and spoke over him. “Bowen? Is that you?”
Great. A Dupree groupie was going to fawn all over my ‘friend’ date, right in front of me. Just awesome.
I glanced over when I realized he wasn’t turning. Had he not heard her?
No, he had. He was super stiff, eyes wide like he’d just seen—or in this case, heard—a ghost. But he didn’t acknowledge the woman. Instead, he slid his arm around my waist, his fingers pressing into my side with a warning. His side-eye begged me to play along.
I nodded ever so slightly and reciprocated, snaking my arm around his back. Apparently, this is what Bowen and I did—fake date each other out of uncomfortable situations.
The woman huffed, annoyed, and tapped him again, too hard for him to ignore. “Bowen Dupree,” she said, tone sweet but demanding.
He quickly blew out his breath and turned, bringing me with him.
My eyes widened when I saw her. She was pretty…and she knew it. That was obvious. But it was the way she was looking at him that made my skin crawl. She sized him up like a prize, slow and deliberate. Like she was imagining him beneath her, and she didn’t care that I was tucked against his side. The nerve of some women.
She tossed her hair back. “Aren’t you going to say hi?”
“I’m sorry.” He scowled. “Have we met?”
She giggled, but it was all for show. The clamp of her lips and the heat in her eyes told the truth. She was going to pry an acknowledgment out of him. “Fine, I’ll play your little game,” she trilled. “I dated Griffin in college.” Her head cocked to the right. “Selene, remember?”
A yelp of shocked surprise stuck, muffled, somewhere between my ribs and my throat.
I’d heard that name before, right after the Spartan racekiss, when Griffin yelled it at Bowen. It had made Bowen cry. I’d racked my brain for weeks, trying to figure out who she was and what she’d done to cause so much pain between them. I never had, and I could worry about it later.
Right now, all I knew for certain was that Bowen did not want to be here, talking to her.
I peeked over his shoulder, checking on our order. How long did it take to put butter on a bucket of popcorn?
“Oh, yeah. I remember,” Bowen said, but it was quiet, no fire, like he was wrestling his fight, flight, or freeze instincts. “Vaguely.” His eyes darted to the hallway leading to the theater where Charlie and Cash were macking, oblivious to our situation.
Selene smiled but rolled her eyes, nostrils flaring. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to yourfriend?”
“N-no.” Bowen’s voice cracked. “I’m…good.”
