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Maybe it’s petty of me, but I hold her stare as I parade back to our table, pounding my heels into the floor with extra oomph to make sure the Louboutins really pop. I shouldn’t be wearing shoes like this, and I especially shouldn’t be stomping in them, but I’m fired up and when I’m pissed like this, nothing on my body hurts.
“Napkin?” I say with the tilt of my head as I offer it to my judgmental friend.
“I’m good. Thank you.” Her response is curt as she continues to stare.
“Suityourself.” I put a little extra juice on theyourselfpart, insinuating that she should mind her own business.
My catwalk seems to have halted all other conversation, and because Lily has been spending her lunch hour putting in extra time for the swim team, she’s not here to diffuse what has become a pretty hot environment. Lily does not like conflict, and while I’m a people pleaser, I’m also a Bennett. My dad might have a thing or two to say about me dating Cameron Hass, but he’d never want me to back down from a fight. And this friction growing between Morgan and me right now? It’s gonna be a fight.
“I hope everything works out for you two,” Morgan says, making the first move. She purses her candy red lips and shakes her head in quick, tiny movements before poking her coffee straw into her mouth.
“Huh?” Theo glances at her with a furrowed brow and a full mouth.
“We’re talking about Cam and me. We’re dating. And Morgan doesn’t think we should.” I lean forward, clasping my hands and resting my elbows on the table as I stare down my friend.Friend. Pfft.
Cameron rocks back in his seat, blowing out air with a groan.
“Right, well . . . I’m not about to be here for this, so . . .” He stands and looks to Theo, who is still chewing his massive bite and wearing a classicWTFexpression. He points to me then circles his finger in frustration.
“She’ll explain, I guess,” Cameron says to his friend, his mouth a relaxed, straight line despite the stiffness in his shoulders and neck. His gaze slides to me, and I swallow down the guilt. I didn’t mean to turn us into a showdown. I’m already in it, though. And Morgan is never going to get on board if I don’t convince her this is a real thing and her disapproval hurts.
“I’ll see you before the game,” I say, grabbing his arm as he walks away. He nods as he steps away, his arm slipping through my fingers.
“Seems like it’s really starting off with a bang,” Morgan interjects.
I huff and turn to face her across the table, flattening my palms on either side of my tray. I doubt I’ll be able to eat a single bite of my lunch. I feel sick.
“That right there?” I point to Cameron walking away. “That was your fault.”
“I’m pretty sure I can’t make Cameron do anything. He wanted to leave, so he did.” Her appetite seemingly unfazed, she bites an apple slice in half and chews it slowly while continuing to stare me down.
My stomach twists on itself. This is where I usually falter with people. I dislike conflict, and even more, I prefer to avoid debate. I much prefer to listen to the room and form my own opinions, then keep them to myself. But keeping Cameron to myself isn’t how relationships work. So to speak.
“What is your problem with him?” I level her with my gaze, and even though every bit of me below the table is quivering, I maintain perfect control over the muscles she can see.
“You and Cam? You’re together, then?” Theo is still catching up, so I turn to him and nod.
“Yes, Theo. Cameron and I like each other the same way you and Lily do.” I dumb it down, and my tone is a little condescending, which I regret, but I’m so angry I could toss this entire table right now.
Theo drops the unfinished half of his sandwich onto his plate and leans back the same way Cameron did, his lips twisted into an irritated slant.
“And I see why Cam left. I’d say congratulations but I’m afraid you’ll punch me for it,” Theo says, snagging one of my fries for himself.
I sink in my seat. This is not going well at all. I don’t have time to run after Theo, though, and honestly, of all of our friends, he’ll likely be the best with the news. I mean, he already offered congratulations . . .sort of.
Morgan’s slurping sound draws my attention back to her. Having drained her drink, she pops her mouth open with anahh. Her smug smile is coming from someplace that has nothing to do with me. I know her well enough to recognize when she is deflecting, and based on the hot-and-cold pattern she seems to have going on with our new quarterback, I’m guessing this is a distraction from that.
Mostly.
There are still some harbored feelings about Cameron that I need her to work through. I need my friend in my corner. And I have to believe that if she only let herself see how good he is to me, she wouldn’t be so negative about him.
“Morgan, Ireallylike him. Hell, I think I’m in love with him.”
She punches out a laugh then sits back, crossing her legs and staring off to the side with an amused tight-lipped smile.
“Don’t do that,” I sigh.
“Do what?” She keeps her head turned to the side. “If you want to dive head-first into a steaming pile of chaos—after the spring we just survived—you go right ahead.”
