If my eyes don’t deceive me, he looks … apologetic? Embarrassed? He seemed plenty sure of himself earlier.
There’s something about the nature of attraction that compels boys to be on their best behavior but tempts girls to be ever so slightly naughty.
I’m not ashamed to admit it.
Taking the rare opportunity to mess with him, I lean close so only he can hear. “Careful now. It’s your birthday, not mine.”
His face is already reddened, setting the stage for his smirky-smirk to make another appearance. Aaaaandthere it is—another point for yours truly.
That felt like a lot of points.
I wonder if they’re like arcade tickets, and I can cash them in for …nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
This has been the weirdest day.
Sam banters with the crowd about the next song, so I don’t notice Liz until she waves both arms high. She’s still serving even through all our noise but leaves the register to give me a few water bottles and some clean bar towels.
“I’ll wash these and bring them back tomorrow,” I offer, but she shakes her head.
“No, y’all are fine. Look at the kids piling in here! I’m making bank tonight, and y’all are just having fun.” She doesn’t seem to mind the extra work, and I wonder if she might need help this week. It wouldn’t break my heart to see less of Dave.
“Lu Lu, I’m going to start plating pie and grab the cake pops for when it clears out. About an hour, you think?”
“Probably. We all have work or school, so they’re only rock stars until around eleven. I’ll try to keep it moving.”
“Don’t rush. I love the old songs y’all play. Go have fun!” She refers to us collectively, but I’m just tagging along. Annie sees me and comes to help me carry the bottles back.
“Girl, y’all are hot tonight! The tension here is like a volcano about to erupt. Danny’s lookin’ at you like breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a midnight snack, and Mr. Stormy Pants over there looks like he could spit nails one minute, but then he’s smilin’ the next. What the heck happened before I got here?”
“DC pulled a very convincing fake dating act, and Jace was not amused. Or he was until he wasn’t. I don’t know.”
“Ooooh, I hate I missed it. Fake datin’ is my favorite.”
“I don’t know why he still pulls that after a year. Anyone who knows us knows we aren’t together. If anything, it makes me look like a cheating skank.”
“Your idiot boyfriend’s never around, no matter how many times you invite him. He’s never wanted to hear you sing, even before he worked nights, and that phone call this mornin’ didn’t sound like a warm hug either. If he showed up now, the whole place would think you’re cheatin’ on Danny—a guy you’ve never even kissed.” She elbows me and smiles. “Or maybe youhave.”
My face pales at the volume of her accusation.
“NO! Geez, Annie,shut up!”
“You don’t even see him enough to break up with his loser aa—behind. Skank it up, sister.” She bounces beside me like she didn’t justify my skankiness. Myskankhood?
What is my life?
I’ve got to change the subject. “What do you want Jace to sing? I’ll write one in for you.”
“Uh, whatever, it doesn’t matter.” She shrugs like Jace’s voice doesn’t make her eyes roll back. We both know the truth.
“Right … it’swhatever.That’s why he keeps looking at you.” I can dish it just as good.
And as soon as my life isn’t a perpetual dumpster fire, I intend to find out what theChandler and Monicais going on between them.
Annie sets the water bottles on the stool next to the drums. “I’m going back to my friends from class. Kick as-pirin up there! Bye-eee!”
She prances back to a table with a few other people as Jace leans into the mic. “Hey, Violent Cupcake, can we continue?”
