I check every inch and surface area of the damn cup, because I don’t know where Priya got this from or if she poured it herself, and there’s no fucking way I’m letting Serena take a sip of a drink that I didn’t get for her myself.
Serena tugs on my shirt which redirects my gaze towards her. “I watched Priya pour the drink.”
Priya nods in agreement. “Serena asked what I was drinking and she wanted to try it.”
I cast another look at Serena, cup still in hand. She looks back and I can tell she knows what I’m thinking.You were worried about me drinking, so I thought you hated alcohol.
“It’s okay, Ty. I wanted to try it.”
“You sure?”You don’t have to drink just because everyone else is.
“I’m sure.”It’s okay.
“I’ll be over there, if you need me.” I nudge my head back to my previous spot and walk backwards to meet with Elijah again, who’s giving me the biggest grin he can sport. I know what he’s trying to say. His smile says oh-I-totally-know-why-now.
I take another sip of water. “Shut the fuck up.”
Elijah doesn’t listen, he never does. “You’re here for her.”
“What’s your point?”
“You like her,” Elijah says, stating it like it’s a well-known fact.
“I do,” I answer gingerly.
“You going to ask her out?”
“I want to.”
“But?”
“I want to take my time with her. She’s different.”
“Different how?”
“I don’t know man,” I scratch my chin. “She’s not like any other girl.”
“I get it. Time.”
I nod in agreement, checking over Serena again, who’s happily talking to Priya about God knows what. “She’s special. She’s insanely smart, like I’m talking she can solve math problems in five minutes. She’s different from everyone else. She’s on a whole other level or maybe even out of my league. She–”
“Leaves you breathless,” Elijah finishes my sentence.
I nod.
Elijah takes a swig of his drink. “Sounds like you got it bad for her.”
“I think so.”
“You were never like this with Cassie, you know?”
I shrug, realizing I hadn’t thought about her since last night’s conversation. “Cassie never wanted anything real with me. I want something real for once.” I cast another look at Serena and I see one of my classmates, Travis, approaching her.
We’ve had a few classes together over the years, but we’re more acquaintances than friends. Jealousy simmers inside me as I watch them chat, oblivious to my presence. They’re engrossed in their conversation, as if they’re in their own little snow globe and I’m just an outsider looking in.
Elijah’s voice breaks the tension with a quiet curse. “Oh, damn,” he says, catching my intense gaze. Under his breath, he adds, “May God protect Travis.”
I ignore Elijah and make my way to Serena but the headcount at this party must have increased, because I’m having to bob and weave through the crowd just to make it to the open living space.
