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Both of them are watching me approach with shocked expressions, their eyes wide. They share a look, Cadence’s lips curved into a sly smile, and I do my best to sit as far away from them as possible, disappointed in Mya.
I guess her earlier support was just a fluke.
Arch chooses to sit far away from them as well, settling in a chair across the table and diagonal from where JJ is sitting, and I choose the chair on the other side of Arch. Still too close to them, though. I can feel their gazes on me as I grab my fork and stir my salad around in the bowl, my eyes fixed on the vegetables inside and nothing else.
This is so awkward.
JJ asks Arch a question and they keep up a steady stream of conversation while I try to eat, not bothering to utter a word. I knew this would happen. The boys would get caught up in their conversation, the girls would watch me, just waiting for me to fumble or do something stupid and I would be miserable.
But then Arch rests his big, warm hand on my thigh, his fingers slipping just beneath my skirt. His touch is bold. A claiming.
As in he’s claiming me.
“You’re being quiet, Daze,” he says, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Yeah. What’s up, jail bait,” JJ says with a grin, earning a hard scowl from Arch in return.
“Hey, JJ,” I tell him, shaking my head.
He just keeps grinning.
“Are you two officially together or what?” Cadence asks, not holding back.
Arch sends me a quick look before he turns his attention to his ex, his hand still firmly resting on my thigh. I wonder if he’s afraid I might run away and he feels the need to keep me in place.
“Don’t know how many times we need to say this but yes. We’re together,” he answers, his deep voice loud. Firm.
All I can do is sit there and smile, shivering when his thumb brushes slowly across my inner thigh.
“Isn’t that sweet,” Cadence says, her tone not very sweet at all.
More like it’s extra bitter.
“We should all hang out this weekend,” JJ suggests, glancing down at Mya who shrugs, remaining silent.
“It’s only Monday,” Arch reminds him. “Do we need to make plans for the weekend already?”
“Hell yeah. Aren’t you bored yet?”
“For once in my life, no.” The smile Arch sends my way makes my heart want to melt. “I’m pretty damn content.”
Someone makes a gagging noise and I don’t have to look up to know it was Cadence. She pushes away from the table, the chair legs screeching across the floor and she leaps to her feet, glaring at her best friend.
“Ready to go?” she asks Mya, her voice full of hostility.
Mya blinks at her, slowly shaking her head as JJ slips his arm around her shoulders. “I’m going to finish my lunch.”
Cadence rests her hands on her hips, contemplating all of us, her expression incredulous. “Seriously, guys? You’re just going to let Arch replace me with this shadow of a girl and forget I even existed?”
The table remains quiet and I can feel Arch stiffen at her insult directed at me.
“Watch what you say about Daisy,” he bites out.
An aggravated noise leaves Cadence and her fingers curl into fists, still resting on her hips. “This is unbelievable! I’m the most popular girl on this campus, Archie, and you’re really going to toss everything we’ve shared over the last year for this girl?”
She waves a hand at me, her nose wrinkled like she just smelled something bad.
“What we shared wasn’t much, Cadence. Don’t make me go there and let you know what I really think of our past relationship,” he says darkly. “You don’t want to hear what I have to say.”
