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Ugh. Was she? “It’s hot in here.”
“Oh my god.” Kara snorted. “You’ve got a crush on him.”
Layne bent over her notebook again. “Please.”
Kara began to sing. “Layne and Gabriel sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I ”
“Layne?”
God, this could not be happening. Her face bright red, Kara singing that stupid song, and Gabriel Merrick appearing around the corner.
Kara dissolved into giggles. Yeah, this was so hilarious.
Layne couldn’t look at him. She felt like her entire body might burst into flame. She stacked the yearbooks on the table, then shoved her notebook into her backpack.
Gabriel cleared his throat. It sounded like he’d moved closer.
“Can I talk to you?”
This made Kara giggle harder. “Oh. Maybe I should give you two a moment alone.”
“That’d be awesome,” he said absently. “Thanks.”
The giggles stopped like someone had flipped a switch. “Seriously?” said Kara.
Now Layne looked up. Kara was staring at Gabriel, dismayed, like she couldn’t believe he’d want to talk to Layne, when Kara was fully available, boobs perked out and everything.
“Don’t bother,” Layne said.
Gabriel put a hand on her bag, preventing her from slinging it over a shoulder. He was just suddenly there, in her space, close enough to touch.
“You won’t even give me a chance to apologize?”
“Like you’d mean it.” She jerked the bag out from under his hand and started walking. She didn’t even bother to zip it all the way.
“Apologize for what?” called Kara.
Gabriel was right behind her. “Of course I’d mean it. What the hell are you trying to say?”
“Shhh.” Mrs. Beard, the librarian, poked her head out from where she was shelving.
“Sorry,” Layne whispered, hustling for the exit.
Gabriel followed her straight out the doors. “You won’t even hear me out?”
“No.” If she stopped to turn around, he’d see how red her cheeks were. Had he heard Kara’s little chant?
“Why not?” He sounded honestly perplexed.
“Because you’re the kind of guy who apologizes because you’re supposed to, not because you truly give a crap.”
“All right, look.” He caught her arm and spun her around.
She gasped and stared up at him and the dim school hallway seemed to collapse around her. She had to take a step back, and her shoulders ran into a row of lockers.
The hallway was empty. Kara hadn’t followed them.
Just her and Gabriel. She had to stop staring into his eyes or she was going to forgive him for everything, always.
