They have the attention of more than me now, and the chill that runs down my spine is more reminiscent of December than September.
“What are you doing?” she asks. Her voice is much softer, and I don’t miss the way her teeth dig into her bottom lip because she’s feeling awkward, but she’s still smiling—which isn’t a surprise since she’s too nice to be anything but a good sport.
I’m about two seconds away from stepping in and saving her when Doucheburger picks back up on his spiel.
“Julia Brooks, we’ve been out four times this week.” Drew holds up his fingers as he counts. “Tuesday, dinner. Wednesday, trivia. Thursday, that family party at your parents’ house. And tonight. That’s four dates. And I think if we combine those four really fantastic dates with all the fun and amazing times we had together this summer, it feels like it’s time for us to call this what it is, you know?”
They’ve been on four fucking dates this week?And he went to the Brookses’ house? When did this fucking happen?
“Drew?” Julia’s smile is timid but unmistakably charmed. I know because it’s normally the one she points at me. “I don’t know what you’re asking me.”
Drew takes her hand. “Julia Brooks, will you be my girlfriend?”
I’m sorry…what?
The air shifts, but I force myself to wait. Obviously, she’s going to say no, right? I mean, why the fuck would she want to be that schmuck’s girlfriend?
Julia hesitates for a second. But then, she nods. It’s soft, it’s small, but it’s there. And when she says, “Yes,” I have to look down at my chest to make sure someone didn’t fucking stab me.
The small crowd around them erupts in cheers and awws and claps and whistles, and Drew’s smile looks like a winning fucking lottery ticket. Overjoyed, he wraps his arm around my girl like it’s the most natural thing in the world and kisses her right there for everyone to see.
My girl? Pretty sure she’sDrew’s girl now.
Suddenly, the party’s too loud, too bright, too hot.
Fuck me.I want to rip Drew’s arm right off his fucking shoulder. I want to step in between them. I want to flip tables and cause a fucking scene. I want to do a lot of things, but not a single one of them feels sane or safe.
I see Finn and Scottie and Blake on the other side of the room, taking notice of the group that’s around Julia and her new fucking stupid dickhead asswipe boyfriend.
Before they can see me, I duck back through the crowd. I keep my eyes to the floor and try to avoid talking to anyone. Someone tries to high-five me, and I miss their hand completely. I hear a girl call my name, but I don’t turn around.
Right before I make it outside, someone claps me on the shoulder and says, “Legendary night, Prez.”
I smile without conviction.
When the still-warm night air smacks me in the face, I suck in a breath that doesn’t help at all.
Tonight, I was supposed to tell Julia I’m in love with her. I was supposed to find the perfect moment to finally put my heart on the line and tell her how I feel.
I planned to die in the quad and get resurrected, but I didn’t expect to be murdered at the after party.
Julia and Drew are official, leaving me with nothing but false hope and my dick in my hands.
So much for the plan. I was wrong.
Apparently, one week was absolutely enough to wreck it all.
Ace
I don’t remember leaving the after party.
One second, I was inside, living it up and soaking in praise like it meant something. And the next, I was walking home, every footstep echoing louder than the last while my mind raced with the reality that Julia said yes to Drew’s stupid fucking question.
“Will you be my girlfriend, Julia?”What a douche. What an idiot.
But she said yes…
She said yes. She wants to be Drew’s girl.
