Broken Beautiful Hearts(57)
Owen scans my face. “Your cheeks are bright red, and you look like you’re about two seconds from passing out. Are you in pain?”
“I just need some water.” I’m still holding his arm and it makes me self-conscious.
Owen slides his arm behind me and moves next to me, as if he wants me to throw my arm over his shoulders for support. I’ve embarrassed myself enough already.
“I’m okay now,” I say, trying to figure out what to do with my arm, which is hovering above his shoulders.
His arm lingers a moment longer, and his fingers trail over the material of my T-shirt before he releases me. “If you pass out, I’m not responsible.”
I walk toward the cafeteria, the ghost of Owen’s touch lingering. “I’ll take the blame. I don’t want to jeopardize the knight-in-shining-armor routine you’ve probably got going with the girls.”
He studies the black marks on the floor. “No chance of that.”
No chance I could put it in jeopardy, or no chance the girls think of him that way? The way he’s inspecting the floor has me leaning toward option number two. I hate that something I said made his smile disappear.
“Anything I should know before we go in?” I ask when we reach the door.
He relaxes. “Don’t eat the sloppy joes or the tuna melt. Or anything that looks like it’s made with cream of chicken soup.”
The clatter of plastic trays hitting tabletops and conversations overlapping on the other side of the door paralyze me. When was the last time I set foot in an unfamiliar school cafeteria? Freshman year?
Memories of the bitchy girls whispering about their so-called friends make me rethink the whole thing. I wasn’t on the receiving end of any major drama back then, but that doesn’t mean April and Madison and their army of clones won’t target me here.
Eating is overrated.
I step to the side, away from the door. “I’m not all that hungry.”
Owen lets the door swing closed. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those girls who only eats three pieces of lettuce and a carrot for lunch?” He takes a step toward me and lowers his head so we’re eye-to-eye. “Because I know you wouldn’t let anybody intimidate you.”
“Maybe I’m not as brave as you think.” I raise my chin. Owen has no way of knowing how much truth there is in what I’m saying. But it feels like he does, and it’s unnerving.
He leans his shoulder against the wall, watching me. “Says the girl who threw a water bottle at me. And something tells me you were holding back.”
I open my mouth, but I can’t come up with a smart-ass comment.
The door behind Owen swings open, and he lunges toward me to avoid getting hit.
I back into the wall as Owen’s broad chest flies at me. I bring my hands up in front of me and brace myself. His chest hits my palms and I hold my breath, waiting for his body to slam against mine. But it doesn’t happen.
Warm air tickles my ear and I open my eyes.
Owen’s face is inches from mine, his chest pressed against my hands, his ragged breathing echoing in my ear. His arms are extended on either side of my head, his palms splayed on the wall.
He caught himself.
“I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know you were behind the door.” It’s a guy’s voice, somewhere behind Owen. “You good?”
Owen lifts his head and pushes away from the wall to look at me. With every breath, his chest presses against my palms. “Are you?”
I’m not sure what he’s asking, and with his body this close to mine, I don’t care. “Am I what?”
“Good?”
I nod and Owen’s arms relax. He lets out a long breath and leans his forehead against the wall above me. The rough stubble along his jaw brushes my cheek, and I shiver.
“You need anything?” the guy behind Owen asks.
Owen pulls back, his breath evening out.
I look up at him from beneath lowered lashes, and I’m immediately caught in the drag of his dark eyes. His gaze drops to my lips for a split second.
“We’re good.” Owen says the words softly, so I’m the only one who hears them.
CHAPTER 24
Powdered Cheese and Power Trips
THE TEMPERATURE IN the cafeteria drops from cool to subzero when Owen and I walk in together—at least, at the tables where April is holding court with her friends and some football players. She’s wedged between Dylan and Madison, laughing ridiculously loud. The Twins are at an April-free table nearby, with their backs to us, so they haven’t noticed me yet.
I wish I could say the same for Titan. He’s sitting directly across the aisle from me, holding a burger. He’s about to take a bite when he sees us and drops it onto his tray.
The burger-drop sets off Madison’s drama-queen radar, and her eyes dart around the room until she spots Owen and me. She immediately turns to April and whispers in her ear.
I get in line behind the other students waiting to buy lunch. “This is like a bad scene from a movie.”
Owen walks around and stands on the other side of me, blocking Titan’s view. He picks up a red plastic tray for himself and takes another one for me.
“Thanks. But I’m just going to grab a snack.” If the stench of boiled hot dogs and powdered cheese is any indication of what the Black Water High School cafeteria has to offer, I’ll stick with junk food.