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Finch and a few of the guys on Bash’s team are flirting with girls I’ve never seen before. Judging by the pins they are wearing on their shirts, I assume they are sorority sisters. I sit across from Jessica and Clay, between Finch and some guy I don’t know.
The people at the end of the table stop talking, and I feel the urge to run and hide. The awkward silence, even though it’s brief, will become the new thing when I walk into a room. That’s how it was for a while after I first dated Bash. This time will be no different.
I wave to the pretty blondes next to Jessica. They both look me over as if deciding whether it’s okay to speak to me. Once Bash sets a tray between us to share, the girl's faces light up. They ignore me, as expected, their eyes trained on Bash and every move he makes. Always the center of attention, Bash doesn’t seem to notice. He must be used to all the attention by now, while I am still trying to get used to being in the spotlight again. I just hope I don’t get burned.
Bash scoots his chair so that our thighs are touching, and everyone stares at us. I wish they would all just fuck off and get a life. Why does Bash have to be so popular? If he were some nerdy, middle-class boy, things would be different. But he’s not.
Bash sets a plate of eggs and toast in front of me and hands me a fork. His smile must be contagious because I can’t stop myself once the corners of my mouth curl up.
“Eat,” he says under his breath, “you will need all the strength you can get for later.” And the sexy smirk he wears like a badge of honor returns to his handsome face.
My body betrays me, my nipples hardening from one glance in my direction. Needing a distraction, I dig into the eggs. Our paths cross when I reach for the jam, nudging the other one out of the way. Bash hands me the package, and we laugh between bites.
“Oh, how cute. I see you’re still doing your charity work, Bash. It’s time to kick the trash to the curb.” I look up to see Harper’s mouth twisted in disgust. She pushes her hands onto her hips, swinging her hair away from her face. “You’re in my seat,” she hisses, her eyes cutting through me like daggers.
I drop my fork onto the plate, my lip curled in anger and quivering. “No, I’m where I am supposed to be.”
Bash grabs my wrist, his touch keeping me grounded, as I clamp down on the edge of the table. Girls like Harper are the reason our relationship didn’t work last time. I am not about to let her destroy what Bash and I have now.
“It’s okay, Tori,” Bash says, before looking up at Harper. “You can find a seat somewhere else, Harper. We don’t want you here. Not if you’re going to act like a bitch.”
Harper rolls her eyes. “Don’t make me do something stupid, Bash. You know I will.”
Bash bites on his lip. What could have him so worried? “Harper, knock it off. Just sit the fuck down and eat.”
Bash has never spoken to me with so much hate behind his words.
Harper’s stony expression eases up when Clay touches her forearm, issuing a silent decree for her to back down.
But she shakes him off.
“Not now,” Clay tells Harper. He’s the type of man who is used to getting what he wants and will not put up with her shit.
What are they all hiding? It’s as if Harper is a ticking bomb, about to detonate any minute. Everyone at the table waits for her next move. They must be in on the secret. As usual, I am left out, stuck wondering what Harper is dying to say that has them all on edge.
Harper shoots an evil stare in Bash’s direction and lets out a puff of air, blowing hair in her eyes. “Bash, can I talk to you?”
“No,” he grunts. “I’m busy, and you're rude.”
Bash looks at me and then to Harper, and for a second, I wonder what has transpired between them in the past. If the rumors are true, Harper sneaks into Bash’s room when he’s not home. I assume he has sex with her, but I haven’t had the nerve or desire to ask.
“I have something to say to you,” Harper says, burning a hole through Bash. “Either come with me, or I will just go ahead and say it right here in front of everyone.”
That provokes a response from Bash. Whatever is going on between them makes my stomach turn.
“I’ll be back,” he whispers, his breath warming my earlobe. “Meet me out front of the library in one hour.”
I nod in response, too overcome by emotion to speak.
Bash gets up and walks away with Harper.
This situation is so fucked up.
When the two of them are out of sight, I look at Jessica. “Can you believe her?”
She flicks her hair over her shoulder, feigning a smile. “Bash and Harper have this weird thing going on.”
“As in they still do?” I ask, confused.
