"No reason, kiddo. A joke between friends," I say.
I know it was the wrong thing to say, when Addie stabs at the cherry tomato in her salad so hard, seeds and juice spray across the table onto Liam's face.
But maybe it was the right thing to say, because laughter erupts around the table and the air seems a little lighter.
Chapter thirty-one
Mateo
"She knows," Jade says, storming into my bedroom unannounced, as if she belongs here.
"She doesn't," I say, dropping the shirt I was folding back onto my bed. "She would've gone apeshit at dinner yesterday if she knew."
"I'm telling you, she fucking knows." She crosses her arms and stares at me, jaw clenched.
"Would it be so bad if she did?" I ask, taking a step toward her.
"Oh, hell no," she says, spinning on her heel and exiting the room.
My gait is much slower than hers, but I follow her as fast as I can. By the time I get to the kitchen, she's bent over in the fridge.
Don't slap her ass.
Don't slap her ass.
Now isn't the time. If I slap her ass, she might throw a punch.
"I knew this was a bad idea," she says as she stands and closes the fridge.
She places the Red Bull can on the counter and turns to me.
"It was your bad idea," she says, pointing a finger at me.
"You didn't think so the other day." I smile and reach for the can.
"Don't," she says. "You don't need to do that for me."
"I know, but I want to."
Her chest rises and falls with a deep breath as she watches me open the can for her.
"I hate you," she says.
"You don't."
"I do. I really fucking do."
"Then why are you looking at me like that?" I ask, rounding the corner so we're standing face to face.
"Like what?" She slides her tongue over the silver ring in her lip.
"Like you aren't sure if you want to murder me or fuck me?"
"Can't it be both? Can't you have me so fired up that I want to punch that smug smile off your face and also want you to push me against that wall and fuck some calm into me?"
Hesitation can be the difference between winning and losing. Hesitation can cost you the game. The girl. Everything.
My lips crash into hers.
