Maybe Someday(34)

his arms across his chest and pouts.

“Is sweet little Warren pouting?” I lean for-

ward and wrap my arms around him, and he tries

to shove me off. I climb on top of him and kiss

his cheek, and he starts hitting me in the arm, try-

ing to pull away from my grasp. I laugh and let

go of his face, then look up at Sydney, who just

walked into the room. She’s staring at us. Warren

slides his hand up my thigh and lays his head on

my shoulder. I reach up and pat his cheek while

we both stare up at her, straight-faced. She

shakes her head slowly and walks back into her

bedroom.

As soon as her bedroom door closes, we

separate.

“I wish I hated Bridgette a little more than I do

at night, because Sydney definitely needs me,”

Warren signs.

I laugh, knowing Sydney is more than likely

swearing off guys based on the week she’s had.

195/692

“That girl doesn’t need anything other than the

opportunity to be alone for a while.”

Warren shakes his head. “No, that girl defin-

itely needs me. I wonder how I can pull off an

elaborate prank that involves her agreeing to

have sex with me.”

“Bridgette,” I remind him. I don’t know why I

remind him. I never remind him about Bridgette

when he talks about other girls.

“You’re a dream crusher,” he signs, falling

back against the couch at the same moment I re-

ceive a text.

Sydney: Can I ask you a question?

Me: As long as you promise never again

to start a question off with whether or not

you can propose a question.

Sydney: Okay, *. I know I shouldn’t

be thinking about him at all, but I’m curi-

ous. What did he write on that paper

196/692

when we went to get my purse? And what

did you write back that made him hit you?

Me: I agree that you shouldn’t be thinking

about him at all, but I’m honestly shocked

it’s taken you this long to ask me about it.

Sydney: Well?

Ugh. I hate writing it verbatim, but she wants

to know, so . . .

Me: He wrote, “Are you f*cking her?”

Sydney: OMG! What a prick!

Me: Yep.

Sydney: So what did you say back to him

that made him punch you?

Me: I wrote, “Why do you think I’m here

for her purse? I gave her a hundred for

tonight, and now she owes me change.”

197/692

I reread the text, and I’m not so sure it sounds

as funny as I thought it did.

My eyes dart up to her bedroom door, which is

now swinging open. She runs into the living

room, directly toward the couch. I don’t know if

it’s the look on her face or the hands that are

coming at me, but I immediately cover my head

and duck behind Warren. He doesn’t really like

being used as a human shield, though, so he

jumps off the couch. She continues slapping at

my arms until I’m curled up in a fetal position on

the couch. I’m trying not to laugh, but she hits

like a girl. This is nothing compared to what I

saw her do to Tori.

She backs away, and I reluctantly uncover my

head. She marches back to her room, and I watch

as she slams her door.

Warren is now standing next to the couch with

his hands on his hips. He looks at me, then looks

back at Sydney’s door. He puts his palms up and

shakes his head, then retreats into his bedroom.

198/692

I should probably apologize to her. It was just

a joke, but I guess I can see how it would piss her

off. I knock on her door a couple of times. She

doesn’t open it, so I text her.

Me: Can I come in?

Sydney: That depends. Do you have any

bills smaller than a hundred this time?

Me: It seemed funny at the time. I’m

sorry.

A few seconds pass, and then her door opens

and she steps aside. I raise my eyebrows and

smile, attempting to look innocent. She shoots

me a dirty look and walks back to her bed.

Sydney: It wasn’t what I would have

wanted you to say, but I can see why you

said it. He’s a jerk, and I probably would

have wanted to piss him off in that mo-

ment, too.

199/692

Me: He is a jerk, but I probably should

have responded differently. I’m sorry.

Sydney: Yes, you should have. Maybe in-

stead of insinuating that I was a whore,

you could have gone with “If I could only

be so lucky.”

I laugh at her comment, then offer up another

alternative answer.

Me: I could have gone with “Only when

you’re being faithful to her. Which is

never.”

Sydney: Or you could have said, “No, I’m

not. I’m madly in love with Warren.”