The Stand-In Boyfriend (Grove Valley High #1)(25)

It definitely takes less than two seconds for the whistles and catcalls around us to start, for me to register that people are definitely noticing this and nothing about it is subtle and discreet. But, at that very second, as Chase tugs me even closer to him, I don’t even care, and it’s not until I hear Sophie’s voice shouting out a proud, “That’s my girl,” louder than anyone else that I return to reality and pull away.

Oh my God.

I bite my lip and immediately turn away, looking around the table of kids who are now either grinning at me or have their mouths hanging open in shock. I can feel my face burning with embarrassment.

“Okay, so, yeah,” I mumble at them. I turn to Chase and quickly say, “Thanks for that,” like the world’s biggest douche before I look away. He starts to laugh, and I do not want to deal with the smug look on his face right now. I stand up and step over the bench while everyone still just stares at me. “Um, bye then,” I say and hightail it away from them as quickly as I can, trying not to die of embarrassment as I walk back to my table, especially as the entire girls’ soccer team gives me a standing ovation as I walk past them and several hands clap me on the back before I’m finally able to sink back into my seat.

The grin on Sophie’s face is the biggest I think I’ve ever seen.

“Don’t,” I warn her, silently begging her not to say anything that will make me even more mortified.

“That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” she tells me. “I’ve never been prouder of you.”

My eyes stray to her left and I see that I definitely have Jessie’s attention now. Courtney has actually scooted back from him, her gaze fixed on me and her mouth hanging open. Jessie just glares at me, his brown eyes stormy as his jaw clenches and his lips press together in a thin line.

I shift nervously in my seat but don’t break eye contact with him, and it’s Courtney who finally says something after at least a minute of silence.

“You,” she starts slowly, punctuating every word, “just went up to Chase Mitchell—the hottest guy in this school—and made out with him in front of the whole cafeteria?”

“Uh huh,” I confirm nervously. It sounds crazy. It’s the most unlikely thing I’ve ever done.

Her face breaks out in a massive grin. “That is so awesome.”

“What the fuck, Liv?”

I swear I almost jump in my seat at Jessie’s tone. “What?” I ask, trying to make my own tone confident but failing miserably.

“I thought you said nothing was going on between you and Mitchell?!”

“Uh, well, I never actually said—”

“And seriously, going at it like that in the middle of the cafeteria?” He throws down his fork in disgust. “Don’t you think that’s a little—”

“Hot?” Sophie fills in for him.

“Tacky,” he finishes.

Now it’s my turn to narrow my eyes at him. “Excuse me?”

Courtney lets out a laugh. “Babe, you’re being a hypocrite. We were just doing the same thing.”

“That’s different!”

“Why?” I ask sharply.

“Because…” He pauses, waving his hands between him and Courtney. “We’re, you know, we’re—”

“You’re what?” I ask, my eyes locked on his. Don’t say she’s your girlfriend. Do not say she’s your girlfriend.

He sighs and lets out a growl of irritation. “You know what I mean.”

“Actually,” I tell him, picking up my fork and stabbing a green bean with it, “I don’t.”

“We’ve dated before.”

“So? I don’t know why you’re making—hey!”

My head whips around to see Chase with my fork in his hand—the one he just grabbed out of my grasp—before he reaches over and dumps it on my tray.

“What are you doing?” I ask, looking around, confused.

“You’re coming with me,” he declares, reaching for my hand.

My eyes widen as I pull away from him. He’s actually trying to hold my hand? In front of people? I know I sound crazy after what I just did, but that was different. That was on my terms. “Oh, no. I eat lunch over here. This is my table.”

He lets out a chuckle. “Yeah, we’re not staying in here.”

“What are you talking about?”

He looks me dead in the eye. “You do not get to kiss me like that and then come sit back down over here.”

My jaw falls open as I hear Sophie giggle behind me. I stare back at him but he doesn’t even blink. He’s being serious. I swallow back a gulp. “Chase, go away.”

He just grins wickedly at me. “Get your stuff.”

I swivel back around and pick up my fork. “I need to eat.”

“I’ll get you any food you want, but you are getting your ass off that seat right now.”

My face burns red. “Chase,” I hiss, glancing around at the nearby tables. People are starting to look at us again.

He reaches down and grabs my bag, throws it over his shoulder, and grabs my hand again. “Come on.”

“Wait! We have class in like fifteen minutes.”

“We’re ditching.”