“So, when do you want to get out of here?” I deliberately pitch my voice lower, trying to sound as if I’m looking forward to getting her alone and not counting the seconds until I can ditch her. “We can go back to yourplace.”
“I’m not leaving prom early. Not even foryou.”
My hope fades. There’s no way she has the letter on her. I need to get to her house, herroom.
Which means getting close toher.
She narrows her eyes. “You don’t seem excited to behere.”
Her suspicious expression has me on alert. “It’s a dance,” I drawl. “It’s not myscene.”
“Whatever. I should’ve brought Kellan.” She looks past me.Shit. “Ishould’ve—”
I grab Carly’s waist and pull her againstme.
I kiss her and hate the second her mouth softens undermine.
I hate her and every person smiling and drinking and having a good time. Everyone who wants to see and be seen and use people to doit.
Most of all, I hate myself for staying away from Annie when all I want is to hold herclose.
If we both get through tonight, I’m never letting her out of my sightagain.
When I pull back, Carly’s smiling and breathless, her fingers lingering on the skin above my collar. “That’s more likeit.”
I want to throwup.
* * *
“What is it withAnt Man?”Dad gripes. “He shouldn’t be ahero.”
“He’s the Everyman. It gives us hope any of us could be exceptional under the right circumstances. Like rayguns.”
Dad looks across the sectional in our living room as the credits scroll. “You barely ate three bites ofdinner.”
“I’m nothungry.”
I check my phoneagain.
“We can jump over toEndgame,” Dad offers, searching myface.
“Fine. I’ll makepopcorn.”
I don’t want food, but I want an excuse to bealone.
Once the bag of popcorn’s in the microwave, I lean over the island and stare out the doors at the dark poolhouse.
It’s been hours since Tyler left and no word fromhim.
At first, I hoped Carly would see the ploy coming a mile away, that she’d realize there was no way he was intoher.
Apparently, that didn’t happen, because he would’ve returned bynow.
Now, I’m torturing myself with ideas of them together, looking beautiful and drinking and laughing anddancing.
I didn’t think there was anything worse than the anguished feeling of watching him drive away fromme.
There is, and it’s the utter helplessness of not knowing what’shappening.