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I don’t bother to look at him. I can’t keep my eyes off my new girlfriend.
“Fortunately, and unfortunately, yes. Let’s go say hi, so he’ll go away. And I’ll get you some popcorn before the movie starts.”
I unclip her seatbelt and walk around to open the door for her. My mom taught me to always take care of ladies, and that includes opening every damn door.
We head over to the rest of the group. Remy is leaning his head against the van, wearing his aviator sunglasses, a smoke hanging from his mouth. His ankles are crossed, and he’s wearing tight black jeans. Lucy is talking to him, but he doesn’t even seem to notice her. Everyone’s eyes are on Didi as we walk up. And Didi keeps her gaze to the ground.
I give Bax a high five and squeeze Diana’s hand, letting her know it will be okay. Then I move to place my arm around her so the claim I have on her is clear.
Mine.
Remy gives Didi a once-over and rolls his eyes before he butts his smoke and stomps off toward concessions. Lucy notices and turns her head and frowns.
“What’s his problem?” Bax asks, following him with his gaze.
I shrug. “Don’t know. Don’t care.” Even though I do care, I care a damn lot. But he won’t talk to me about it… He has a crush on my girlfriend.
I move my hand to Didi’s hip. “Hey, stay with Bax. I’ll grab us some popcorn.” I figure it’s safe to leave Diana with Bax while I try to corner Remy.
Bax puts his arm around Didi’s shoulders, and I can tell from how she’s standing that she feels safe. “Relax, man. I’ve got this,” he says, turning to Didi. “You like moonshine?”
Didi frowns. “I’ve never heard of it.”
I chuckle and head over to the concession. It’ll make my night if Didi takes a shot of moonshine. It will help her relax. He won’t give her more than she can handle, but one shot of that stuff will put her on the moon. Literally.
A few people stop me and ask if I’m looking forward to the track meet. I small-talk as a few more people distract me, and I slowly make my way to where Remy is standing and stop beside him as he pulls the cigarette from his lips.
“So you’re dating her?” he asks.
My stomach coils. “Yeah, man. I’m dating her.”
He crosses his arms and places the cigarette back in his mouth. “And here I thought you were pining over Talia all these years.”
I swallow hard. “I was, but you wouldn’t let me near her, so I moved on.”
He quirks his head, meeting me with his intense gaze. “And now you understand the reason for that. I didn’t want to lie to you, man. I had to…for your own damn good.”
“Next,” a high-pitched voice calls out from the concession. I glance up to find a zit-faced freshman watching me.
“Everything’s different now,” I hiss. “You didn’t trust me enough to tell me what the hell was happening, and now Didi is here. Didi changes things.”
“Next…”
“Dammit, I’m coming,” I grumble and walk up to the kid working. Turning my back to Remy, I order two sodas and a large popcorn.
Remy walks up beside me as I step to the side. “You should let her go.”
My eyes flick up to him. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Let Didi graduate and get the hell out of this town. She’s not going to survive us.”
My heart upticks a beat, and his dark eyes flash. “I haven’t accepted it yet. Maybe you and Talia have, but I still have a chance to get out.”
“Come on. Don’t be so stupid, Tommy. There is no getting out of this. First it was Talia, and now it’s our turn. Your old man will make sure you follow through with it. If he finds out you’re dating her, she’s as good as dead.”
“Keep Diana out of it,” I warn and turn my back to him again, ignoring the eyes on us from nearly everyone around us. “This has nothing to do with her.”
“I want her,” he says through the noise of the crowd. The words I’ve been dreading since the other night in the cave.