“Mikey was behind me,” he said to Jennifer.
“He better be,” she stated. “I’m up to here with my boyfriend and his antics,” she huffed, raising her hand above her head to an imaginary bar ofhaving had enough.
This comment seemed to pique Hastings’ interest more than I thought it warranted. He perked up immediately. “Trouble in paradise for the pretty people?” he asked, tapping my knee with his under the long table. “That’d be such a shame, Jen,” he added, leaning across the table and acting all surprised by her pronouncement.
“I’m sure it would be, but I’m totally over his behavior this past weekend. I deserve so much better. Right, Cooper?” she asked.
I nodded like I cared, but Hastings wasn’t done applying for the possibly-soon-to-be-open position ofMr.Jennifer James. “What would you do then?” he asked. “I mean if it happened. You know, a breakup.”
Mikey would puke if he could witness this, not that he’d care all that much.
“I’d be the most wanted bachelorette at school is what would happen,” she said, with zero hesitance. “I’d probably get a TV show.”
“That’s a fact, Jennifer. Amen to that,” he added.
Just as I was about to gag, Mikey walked in, surveyed the room, and witnessed Hastings barely staying on his side of the table while his girlfriend held court. For just a flash, I saw a look that said he wanted to turn and exitthe cafeteria, but he didn’t.
Mikey sat down on Jen’s side of the table, but not directly beside her. “Hey, Coop,” he said, barely acknowledging Hastings and Jennifer. “Hastings,” he said in a way that sounded dismissive to me. His eyes were sad when he redirected them toward his girlfriend. “Still pissed?” he asked her.
“What do you think?” she snapped, turning away.
That was apparently the wrong answer. Mikey stood up immediately. “Okay. Whatever,” he said before walking off.
“Uh-oh.” Hastings said, raising his eyebrows and looking like the wolf that just discovered the farmer left the sheep unattended. “He’s pissed, Jennifer.”
“Go after him, Michael,” I urged, trying to get Hastings to stop drooling over my best friend’s girl.
“Screw that,” he answered. “Our friend Jennifer here is the one that needs our support.” If Hastings, my supposed love interest and prom date, was any more transparent he’d have been made of glass.
“Then I’ll go,” I said, pushing away from the table and standing. “He’s just tired,” I added, sharing my assessment with Jennifer, not Hastings.
“Yeah, you do that,” Hastings said, barely acknowledging that I was there.
I rushed after Mikey who had cut through the exit and was already outside and was walking toward the football field.
“Hey, Mikey. Hang on,” I hollered after him. I jogged to catch up when he went under the metal bleachers and disappeared into the tangle of aluminum support bars and oversized bolts. I followed him under the bleachers. “What’s wrong?” I asked, catching my breath and pulling at his shoulder to get him to face me.
We stood quietly, staring at one another. He had his hands deep in his jean pockets, a sign he was angry at something or someone. “I’m fine,” he finally said.
“No, you aren’t,” I corrected. “You haven’t been fine for two days.”
He stared down at his Nikes. “What do you know?” he snarled, digging his hands deeper into the pockets of his tight Levis which caused the low waist to ride even lower.
Not that I was complaining since his abs made an appearanceon his lean stomach.God, you’re so cute.
“I knowyou,” I reminded him. “And I care aboutyou,” I added. “And I’m here, ain’t I?”
He looked up from the staring contest he was having with his feet.
I looked both directions to see if we were hidden.
“You never used words likeain’t,” he stated.
I didn’t know what he was talking about. “Since when?” I asked.
He quickly looked away, sighing heavily before returning his gaze. “You sure?” he asked, distress on his face as his forehead wrinkled like baked mud on a ninety-degree day.
I stepped in front of him. “Just tell me what it is, Mikey,” I said.
