Cookies beat the romance shit she’s reading.
“Tell Mrs. B thanks.” I open the box and take a few of them out. “You got work tomorrow?” I ask.
“Yeah, why?” She looks out at Mason and Miles about to start a fist fight which makes me laugh.
“No reason thought we could hang out.” She turns to face me, but I continue to watch my brothers fighting. I know things are changing when it comes to Olivia, I want to spend every second I can with her. But she’s never made the move or given me any sign she wants more from me than just friendship.
I can’t risk making a move in case she doesn't want it, then we will be in this weird phase, and sooner or later we’ll stop talking. That’s the last thing I want.
“I can come after if my dad can drop me off?—”
“I’ll pick you up, we can go for dinner.” I finally turn to face her with a smile. “Where do you want to eat?” I ask.
“You pick, surprise me. You know what I like, I don’t think you’d pick something I hate.” She leans her head on my shoulder. “Who would win out of them two?” She points at Mason and Miles fighting, and I have to laugh at her question.
“Mason, easily. He’s already in the gym building his body, while Miles spends all his time in front of the computer. He'll learn to fight, but Mason will be the one who will win.” I take a deep breath taking in her flowery scent. She's wearing the perfume I got her.
Maybe this can be something.
Present Time
“Hayden.”
I blink. Mason’s voice cuts through my spiral. I glance over and he’s leaning across the table; his expression pinched with irritation.
“You good?” he asks me, and I look around to see everyone has left the room. “You’ve been stabbing holes through your notebook for the last fifteen minutes. Class is over.”
“Fine,” I grunt, sliding the notebook into my backpack.
“Your version offineusually ends with a bloody nose and a meeting with the head.” Mason raises an eyebrow. “You sure you’re not about to deck someone?”
I snort, rising from the desk. “No promises.”
“Hayden—”
“I’m good,” I bite out, shouldering my bag.
I’m not. I know Mason and Miles know I’m not. I can feel the scrutiny in his eyes as I push through the door and step into the hallway, the world is louder and too bright now. People brush past me, laughing and chatting, and girls throwing glances my way. Normally I’d flash a grin, give them something to think about. We're never short on attention from the girls, but not today.
Not when she’s probably in one of these rooms, or walking down the same damn hallway, or breathing the same fucking air and pretending like she didn’t betray me.
“Hayden!”
I flinch before the voice registers.
Jen.
I stop walking, my jaw tightening as her heels click fast against the tile. She’s wearing something tight, black, and a top which is showing more than it needs to. She always does.
But Jen isn’t forgettable. She’s calculated. She’s a distraction.
And the worst part is— she works.
“Where are you going?” she asks, looping her arm through mine like we’ve done this a thousand times. We haven’t. But I let her, because it’s easier than pulling away.
“Lunch.”
“With who?”
