Page 49 of Don't Think

When we move deeper into the room, I notice how much quieter it is compared to the main entrance. Everyone was ranting and raving about the penguins and the turtles, but this is the part that excited me. Being able to touch something you probably wouldn’t dare to in the wild? Count me in.

I carefully lower my hand into the warm water, letting a stingray glide under the tip of my finger as it swims by. The smooth, velvet feel surprises me. I was sure they’d feel slimy, but that’s why you never judge a book by its cover.

“Hey, little guy,” I murmur when another stingray glides by.

I turn my head to find where the guys have wandered off to and spot James and Gareth trying to convince Casey to stick his hand in. His face is turning beet red as Gareth steps closer to him.

I quietly walk over and slip behind Casey, grabbing his arm while the guys grab his shoulders.

“Jax, what the hell! No! No, no, no—” Casey shouts as we pull him closer to the tank.

“Oh, come on, man. It’s really not so bad,” I say, releasing his arm and sticking mine into the water again to show him. “Just try it.”

Casey’s face twists like he’s about to hurl just from watching. I can’t imagine what he’d do if heactuallystuck his hand in.

I chuckle and give the guys a nod to let him go. He’s missing out, but forcing him won’t be nearly as satisfying.

This is probably why he never comes with us anywhere.

We huddle together at the edge of the room, checking out the scheduled showtimes posted on the bulletin board.

“Are you kidding me?” James groans. “They don’t haveanyshows planned today.”

I lean in for a closer look, but the second I do, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My hand instinctively goes to scratch at it, but the feeling doesn’t let up.

“Hey, Jax?” Gareth asks from beside me.

“What’s up?” I respond, not taking my eyes off the board.

“Your lady just walked in,” he says quietly.

My eyes dart toward the doors, and in walks Nora, Ana, and then Allie. They all have smiles spread across their faces, but Allie… she just looksbeautiful. Her loose auburn curls fall to her hips, perfectly framing her face. A yellow, floral sundress hugs her chest and flares out just above her knee, making mine feel like jelly.

“What are you waiting for?” James teases. “Go say hi.”

I shoot him a glare, my eyebrows furrowing. “No,” I scoff, already feeling my face heat up. “She’ll be over here in a second.”

“Hey, Allie!” Gareth calls loudly from behind me.

I turn around to see him grinning like an idiot, waving frantically.

I don’t get why these guys live to torment me. Which makes me wonder if they’re doing it on purpose, like they somehowknowI can’t stop thinking about her, or they just think it’s funny.

I’m hoping it’s the second option.

When her eyes meet mine, I notice a blush rising on her cheeks, maybe even a little deeper than mine. A smile pulls at the corners of my lips, watching her walk toward us. Her smile grows wider with every step, but she looks a little… confused. Or maybe shocked.

Did she not know I’d be here?

“Hey,” I greet with a little more enthusiasm than normal.

She laughs lightly. “Hi! Funny seeing you here,” she says, gesturing toward me.

I’ll take that as a no; she in fact, didn’t know I’d be here.

“Hi, Jax!” Ana says as she walks toward me, throwing her arm around my shoulder while looking between Allie and me. “Well, isn’t this a coincidence?”

James furrows his brow, tilting his head. “Not really. You—”