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MILA
Jace didn’t return any of my texts or answer his phone all of Sunday. His car wasn’t there either. I know he’s mad about the kiss with Grady. I’m a little upset that Grady didn’t give me a head up. I told him as much this morning when he gave me a lift to school.
I’m supposed to be having dinner at their house tonight, but I can’t with Jace not talking to me. I told Ella that something came up; I can’t make it. She was sad, and I felt guilty. But I need to fix what’s happened with Jace and me. He won’t even let me explain that the kiss didn’t mean anything. I don’t feel that way about Grady.
“Hey, what’s up with Jace this morning?” Hunter greets me, putting his arm around my shoulder and grinning down at me. At least he’s not upset with me. Well, maybe he will be.
“I kissed Grady last week. Jace found out Saturday, and now he won’t talk to me.”
Hunter blinks a few times, as if he’s trying to register what I just said. He’s so cute right now. “You kissed Grady?” His puzzled expression has me laughing.
“Why’s it so hard to believe that he kissed me?”
He shrugs. “Nah, I just thought…huh? So, Grady? Was he a good kisser?”
Hunter’s playful banter has me smiling. I love this. I’m upset that Jace doesn’t want to be part of it. Hell, Friday was amazing, and I’m upset that nothing happened. But now to stop talking to me without even letting me explain?
“Did he give you butterflies?” he whispers into my ear. His hot breath tickles my neck just before he pulls back to study my face.
“No. Not like you do.”
I smile to myself as his warm body presses close to mine. I love his warmth, his strength, against me like that. I look up at him under my lashes, and he bites his lip, groaning as he rolls his eyes back dramatically. I smack his chest, and he bursts out laughing.
“I’m glad. I was thinking, fuck, another contender. I can’t be responsible for all the heartbreak here when I make you mine.”
I laugh. Hunter can always pick me up and make me feel better. But the butterflies in my tummy tell me I want him to make me his. But it’s not right, not while Jace is upset with me. I need to fix that before I can move forward with anyone right now.
Hunter walks me to chemistry. Great. I will have to see Jace, and I don’t want him to say something hurtful. I just can’t take it right now. I got my period this morning, so I’m a little crampy and hormonal. And I might burst into tears if he is mean. I’m allowed to have a sad, sulky day now and then, and today is looking like that day.
I walk in, ignoring where Jace is, and sit beside Roman.
“Hey, how was your weekend?”
He just nods and doesn’t speak. Shit, is he upset with me because of Grady too? God, I wish that kiss hadn’t happened. But at least I know I don’t feel the same way about Grady as I used to. Sometimes, a crush should be left in the past. The spark isn’t there. But it is with Hunter, Jace, and my quiet Roman.
I notice his hands are bandaged.
“Shit, are you okay? Did you get into a fight with your dad?”
He shakes his head as he pulls his hands away from the table so I can’t see them anymore. Fuck. That’s not good. How is he gonna play football with his hands like that? At least there a bye this week. But will he be ready next week?
“You ready for our study session tomorrow?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
He looks at me now, but it’s as if he isn’t seeing me. Rather, he’s looking through me. His breathing quickens, and I notice his body trembling. What did I say wrong? Oh, god, Roman.
“No, I can’t study with you anymore.”
And, in the blink of an eye, he’s back to staring ahead. His body is still and breathing normal. What the hell just happened?
“Is it the conversation from Friday? I know you don’t see me that way. It’s fine. I just wanted you to—”
“No,” he cuts me off. His voice is low and deep, but I hear the warning in it not to push him.
And I won’t. I swallow the lump in my throat. I knew he didn’t want to kiss me again, that he didn’t want anything else with me, but I thought we were becoming friends. It’s been a slow start, but we’d made progress. At least, I thought we had.
Lunch comes, and I make my way outside, but Roman isn’t there. I let out a breath and look to the sky. “Fuck,” I mutter to myself. This is worse than I thought.
“Yeah, fuck.”
