Wrapping our arms around her, we hold her tight and watch as the muscle spasms continue until she falls deep asleep.
With a slight groan, Brendan adjusts himself, then stares at the ceiling. “So fucking close.”
“Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” It’s his line, but I say it anyway. She’s not ready for both of us. Besides, she’s in no shape for anything to happen tonight.
Still, she’s here, in our arms. Right where she belongs. Holding her tighter, I bury my nose in her hair and close my eyes, giving in to dreams of when she will be ready for more.
Chapter 17
Asra
“Hey!” I smile and waveeven though my head and stomach still hurt from this weekend’s migraine as Makaya strolls down the hallway Monday morning with the rest of our group.
She nearly passes by my locker, but whips around to a stop at the last moment. Jutting her hip out, she makes a flashy show of putting her hand on it. “Oh, so now you’re not too good to talk to us?”
“What?” I scrunch my eyebrows together. Last time we talked was Friday right after school ended for the weekend. Everything was fine. Well, fine until we decided to hang out on the bleachers and watch the football team practice. As soon as a few guys strolled our way during a water break, my head began to throb. The rest of the weekend was a painful, puking ER trip that lasted until last night.
“Look, if you don’t want to hang with us, just say it.” My mouth falls open as she continues. “Don’t pretend.”
“What are you talking about?” My still foggy and throbbing head spins. My stomach turns. Maybe I should have stayed home from school today like my mom practically begged.
I bite my bottom lip so I don’t throw up. I did so many times this weekend, I’m not sure there’s anything left inside me. Still, throwing chunks all over the senior hallway would kill the rest of my high school career. No one would ever forget that. Least of all Makaya.
“The party Friday night, that you were too cool to go to? That was the fifth one this year.”
I blink. “There was a party?” It’s only the end of September. There couldn’t have been that many parties yet or that many I’ve missed. It’s our senior year, so I know there’ve been a lot, but surely not five.
Before I can answer, Craig strolls up.
Butterflies swirl in my stomach. The good kind. They always do when he’s around. We’ve been officially dating for an entire month now, and I still get jittery any time he’s near. It’s love. I know it is.
Yet, instead of kissing me, he wraps his arm around Makaya’s shoulder.
She smiles at him, grabbing his hand and tugging it tighter around her.
I blink again, my mouth falling open. “What the –”
She flips her hair out and stares straight at me. “Guess who wasn’t too good to come to the party?”
“I . . . I couldn’t . . . I . . .” I start to tell her I had a migraine and was in the hospital, but I stop myself. She hasn’t believed me any of the other dozen times I’ve told her.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, you were ‘sick.’” She uses air quotes on the last word. “Whatever, I’m so sick of you flaking out. I really don’t know what happened between us. We used to be besties.”
“I . . . Nothing happened, I was sick. I still –”