Liars and Losers Like Us(46)

“Everyone?”

“Except maybe Jane. Like she matters. But how does one fit in to Prom Court per se? Do you need bigger hair? Maybe if your eyes were brown instead of smoldering gray. Or if you drove a Mustang or an Audi? Don’t take this the wrong way, but none of this stuff is that serious.” He slides his hand over my thigh.

“Smoldering gray, huh? Now that you put it that way, I’m fine. Thanks for the pep talk.”

“Don’t get smart with me, Hughes.”

“Don’t boss me, Mills. And hey, if it means anything, I missed you.”

“It does mean something.” He smiles shyly, his eyes dipping from my gaze to our now-clasped hands. Some of the tension in my shoulders releases.

“I better open that door before you get any ideas.” I lean in to kiss him quickly but stop to inhale where his neck and shoulder meet. He turns to meet my mouth. My lips rest on his, and the kiss is gentle and intense. With a pained, slow exhale, I pull away, then grab a pillow and hit him in the side. “I’m hungry. Let’s go get something to eat.” As if food could satiate me.

“Probably a good idea.” He tosses the pillow to the side and kisses the bottom of my ear.

“Do you wear cologne?” I ask.

“No, should I?” His low voice at my ear sends a tiny shiver down my neck and down to like, everywhere.

“I just love how—” I lean back into him. “The way you smell, it’s good. I could just …” I inhale and exhale breathing into his neck, beneath his ear.

“It’s soap. Sandalwood.” He pulls back ever so slightly, holding my gaze, “Yeah we better get something to eat.”

My breath hitches. “Good idea.” Obviously we are on the same page.

****

“A-ha. I knew something was up” I say. “This place should be called 21/7. Look, it’s closed from three until five in the morning.” I point to the diner’s business hours sign as Sean and I hover behind a group of other high school kids waiting to be seated.

“I better talk to the manager about this. This place is a sham. Let’s leave.” Sean turns pretending to leave.

I laugh but then see something that makes me want to follow through. Molly and Jane. Strutting through the parking lot hand in hand. Jane’s perfectly slicked back ponytail is topped off with a sparkly tiara. Seriously.

“Great.” Here comes Beauty and the Barf.

Sean follows my gaze and spots them. “Look, our colleagues. Let’s dodge ’em.” Sean weaves his way to the hostess stand. “Two for a booth, please. If you have one.”

“No problem, right this way,” the hostess says, grabbing two menus and leading us toward the other end of the restaurant. We scoot in and she rests her hand on the table leaning over Sean, her boobs practically falling onto his place setting. “Can I start you off with something to drink before your server arrives?”

“Two Cokes and if you could do me a huge favor—don’t seat that tiara girl next to us. She’s my sister and I told her I was working all day so I couldn’t make it to her pageant. She’s pretty intense. I don’t want her to start flipping tables in here, if you know what I mean.”

The hostess giggles and blushes. “No problem. I’ll make sure she doesn’t see you.” She flips her gaze to me. “Did you want something to drink too?”

“I’ll probably have one of the two Cokes he ordered.”

She blinks a few times and giggles. “Oh yeah. Right. Of course. Got it.” She rushes off.

“You sure have a way with the ladies.”

“Guess so. You’re sitting here, right?”

“Ha. I’m only here for the cheeseburgers,” I say.

“Good to know.” Sean glances at his menu, slides it to the edge and drums his fingers on the table. “So, I have to ask you something. Todd wants us to go to Prom with them, as a group. Did Kallie mention that?”

“No, that’s weird. Anybody else in this group I should know about?”

“I don’t know, it got complicated. Chris and Laura are going with Molly and Brian, and Molly’s supposed to be doubling with Jane and whoever her date is. Todd said anything with Molly won’t go over well with Kallie, which means Todd and Kallie are on their own unless—”

“Unless we go with them. Ugh. I need a Venn diagram to keep track of everyone who can and can’t stand each other.” I pretend to scrutinize the menu rather than the decision. “Well gosh, I don’t know why Todd wouldn’t want to go to Prom with his current girlfriend, ex-girlfriend, and his side piece. What a missed opportunity for him.” I roll my eyes.

“Yeah,” Sean laughs. “He must not be one for drama.”

“Sure, we can go with them, it just … I don’t know. To be honest, it sucks. She’s my best friend and I have to watch her hanging out with such a … such a—”

“Fuckwad. I believe that’s the politically correct term.”

Smiling, I put the menu down. Then back up, over my face. “Shit. Speaking of f*ckwads, guess who just walked in? Don’t turn around.”

Sean turns around, then raises an eyebrow and smirks. “Ahemmmm, Chip Ryan. Your ex-lover.”

“Gross. Hardly my lover.”