“Sorry, he’s nosy,” I explained, kicking Jae under the table.
She clenched her jaw and gave me a deathly glare, “Did you just fucking kick me?”
“Oh, shit! Sorry!”
My whole body was buzzing with the heat of embarrassment as Jae cackled beside us.
“Whatever,” she muttered, beginning to eat more of her food, pausing mid-bite to look back up at me with her hazel eyes. “What the fuck did you guys want?”
I licked my lips and shrugged, “Nothing. Just saw you sitting alone and thought we’d join you.”
She flicked her attention back to her food and I gingerly took a bite of my sandwich. I looked over to see Jae raise his brows in silent communication to tell me, ‘This was your idea’, or something along those lines. It was nice being able to read each other’s facial expressions without having to speak. I wondered if I would be able to read Shiloh like that if we spent enough time together.
Cheese and rice, maybe Jae’s right. Maybe I am developing a crush.
The sounds of us eating filled the awkward silence among us and I cleared my throat preparing something to say to break the tension.
“So, you don’t listen to music, you’re friends with my brother-in-law, and you’re a math genius. What else should we know about you?”
She looked up at me with a raised brow.
“You know, so we can get to know you,” I smiled.
“Why?”
She seemed genuinely bewildered.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, I’m a little rusty, I haven’t done this in years, but…I’m pretty sure this is how you become friends with someone. Right?”
I glanced at Jae who nodded in agreement, and we waited for Shiloh to speak.
“Okay. And why would I wanna be friends with you?” She asked as she slowly sat back in her chair with a wince.She’s definitely lying about not being injured in that car accident. Broken rib, maybe?I chuckled at her bluntness.
“Fair point. Uh, well, for starters I think we’re good company, like, we’re not mean or anything—”
“Yeah, we’re pretty awesome to be honest. Definitely the best friend options you’re gonna get at this school,” Jae added.
“Except for the time this fucktrumpet pointed out my deformed eyes. Then, as an apology, invited me to a fucking family reunion without telling me. Let me look like a fucking embarrassing piece of shit,” she said motioning to me with her middle finger. “And let’s not forget how hejustkicked me in the shin.”
“What!” Jae almost shouted, spitting food bits across the table. Shiloh and I both cringed in disgust. “Dude, you made fun of her eyes?”
“Woah! I did not—” Jae interrupted me, holding up his finger.
“We’ll get to that in a minute. Fucktrumpet?” Jae repeated. “That’s the coolest curse I’ve ever heard and I’m stealing that word. And, also, that really wasn’t a family reunion. We have a family dinner, like, every week, so that wasn’t a special occasion or anything.”
“Exactly,” I nodded in agreement. About the last part, not about the bizarre insult she made up. “Which is another reason to become friends, because we’re going to be spending time together anyways while you tutor me. And toclarify,” I gave Jae and Shiloh pointed looks, “I didnotmake fun of your eyes. I was just curious and sometimes I lack a filter. And for the record, I think your eyes are beautiful.”
Shiloh sighed and rolled her eyes, clearly not believing me.
“So, you’re saying I should be friends with you because you filter-lacking fuckwits areniceand I’m already forced to hang out with one of you twice a week as it is,” Shiloh summarized.
“Well, Nox also has a car which is really convenient for those of us, aka me, who do not have one. Which basically means free rides wherever, whenever.”
Jae grinned at me, and I gave him a sarcastic smile back.
Shiloh pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked between the both of us. I don’t know why my palms started sweating with nerves. I didn’t think I cared so much that we became friends, but, apparently, I did.
“So, this dumbfuck is gonna pass math,” she said as she eyed Jae and motioned in my direction.Okay, ouch. I’m not that dumb. “What are you getting out of this relationship?”
