Sweet Liar (Candy #2)(56)

“Were you there with Gregory?”

“No,” she replied hesitantly. “I actually went with Parker and Ashley. They invited me at the last minute because they decided not to worry about their diets on Sundays anymore, although I think they ate a week’s worth of calories in one sitting. I would have asked you to come, but I didn’t think you’d want to.”

“You were right. I wouldn’t.” I was sure Parker wouldn’t want me there either.

“She’s over Jonah, by the way. For good this time. He completely humiliated her at the bowling alley. She said he’s not even welcome at the lunch table anymore.”

“Oh no.” I tried to hide my grin. Lea related his banishment from lunch as if it were a punishment worse than the guillotine. I doubted he would care at all. I also doubted Parker was over him. More likely, she’d lick her wounds for a few days and be back to her old tricks again.

After giving me her news, Lea left for class. I shrugged out of my heavy coat, feeling my stomach quiver because I knew I’d be seeing Jonah soon. He’d stayed away all day yesterday, and so I didn’t know what kind of mood he might be in.

When I walked into English class, I spotted him right off. My mouth went dry at the sight of him sitting at his desk. No matter how I felt about Jonah, his magnetism was undeniable. Stubble shadowed his square jaw, and his hazel eyes followed me as I progressed down the aisle.

“I need to talk to you,” I said once I was sitting beside him.

His eyes scanned me, and he seemed pleased to see me. “Lunchtime?”

“In auto shop class?” I asked.

Jonah nodded and turned to face the front as the school librarian walked in. She was substituting for Mr. Harris until a permanent replacement could be found, and so far she was just following the lesson plan he’d already written.

Even though I was anxious, I somehow made it through the morning, but I hadn’t paid attention in any of my classes because I was too busy worrying Jonah might say no because he’d just gotten me uninvolved.

I was standing at my locker, psyching myself up for lunch with Jonah, when an arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back into a hard, unmoving body. Automatically, I leaned away as I turned to see who it was.

“Hi, stranger.” Drew grinned, close enough for me to feel his breath on my cheek.

I pushed down on his arm. “Is this how you greet all strangers?”

“Just special ones.” He laughed and released me but didn’t step back, crowding me against my locker.

“What are you doing?” This was pretty forward for him.

Drew shrugged. “Saying hi. I thought you were gonna call me so we could hang out?”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been busy.”

His eyes narrowed like he didn’t believe me. “Let’s catch up now. Sit with me and my friends at lunch.”

Annoyed, I sighed. “I can’t sit with you at lunch. I have other plans, and you could back up a little. There’s plenty of room behind you.”

He chuckled but didn’t move. “I’ve heard about your plans. You went to the bowling alley with Jonah and his buddies over the weekend, and I was confused because you told me you two were done.”

Before I could respond, he gave me a shark’s smile and leaned in closer. “You’re forgetting who your real friends are. I thought you were smarter than that. By the way, have you got anywhere to go for Christmas? Because if you warmed up a little, you’d be welcome at my house.”

My lips pressed together. Drew was such an ass.

His fingers brushed over my hair, and when I reached up to push him away, he was abruptly yanked back.

Jonah dragged him to the side and pushed him face-first into the wall of lockers. Leaning his mouth to Drew’s ear, he said, “You don’t touch her. Do you understand me?”

Drew struggled, trying to break free, but Jonah held him easily. “That’s up to her, not you.”

His eyes hot with anger, Drew stared at me. I stared back, my own gaze filled with outrage and hurt.

What happened to him? He was nothing like the boy I remembered. He was petty and spiteful, and I wished more than anything that I could tell him to leave me alone, but I didn’t have that luxury. Not yet, at least. I still needed his mother. I couldn’t risk turning him against me and possibly alienating Alison. Jonah wouldn’t like it, but I had to salvage the situation somehow.

“It’s a misunderstanding. Let him go.”

Drew smiled smugly while Jonah glared in my direction, not releasing him.

I nodded at Jonah, letting him know I meant it.

Students gathered around us, and Jonah gave Drew one last push that sent him crashing into the lockers before he released him. His expression hard, Jonah walked away without looking back.

I watched him go, knowing that he didn’t understand, and I couldn’t explain it to him.

“Asshole,” Drew muttered as he came back over to me. “You sure you two are done? I don’t think he’s on the same page as you.”

Putting my hands on my hips, I gave him a stern look. “You were right. Whether you touch me or not is up to me. We’re friends. That’s all. No more crowding me, and no more touching me like that. Got it?”

His lips twisted with annoyance. “I think you misunderstood. It was a friendly touch.”