As expected, dinner is boring as hell. I don’t say much, and listen to everyone else’s conversations. Savannah’s parents gush over her, Austen’s parents fuss over their new house, the guys talk football. The only person I don’t pay attention to is Alex. He seems off today, and it’s weird. He’s quiet, which isn’t like him. Though, I guess when he’s around his parents, he would be on his best behavior. I’m sure they don’t approve of his extracurricular activities or any of his lifestyle, honestly. I can remember them fighting quite a bit when I was younger, when I’d hang out over Austen’s. I didn’t pay much attention then, but I understand it now. He’s so different from Austen it’s not even funny, and they fuss over him enough, so I can’t imagine what they have to say aboutAlex.
I feel his eyes on me most of the night, though. Whenever I look at him, he looks away, as if he doesn’t want to get caught.
I don’t know what he wants from me, but whatever it is, I can’t give it to him. No matter how badly he wants it. Hell, even if I actually wanted it, it won’t work. It’ll never happen. The sooner he realizes that, the better it’ll be.
What happened in Vegas was a fucking mistake, and it shouldn’t have happened at all. Maybe he needs a reminder of that.
When dinner is done and everyone is making their way out, most of Austen’s family mingling and chatting with the bride and groom, Alex finally makes his exit. I take my opportunity. I grip his arm and gesture for him to follow me down the hall. Of course he does. We end up in an empty ballroom.
“What is going on with you?” I ask.
He shoves his hands in his pockets, giving me a tired look. “Nothing, why?”
“You’re not acting like yourself.”
He smiles, but it isn’t a real one. “Since when do you care about me?”
“I don’t,” I growl.
“Then why are we here?” He makes a show of looking around. “I mean, I’m not opposed to a little public indecency,but…” He smirks.
Okay, so he’s still a cocky asshole. I guess he is fine. Why I cared at all, I don’t know.
“Whatever,” I mutter as I pull my phone from my pocket and head toward the door, leaving his irritating ass in my wake. “Forget it.”
The app is open for me to order a car, and so I do that, waiting for it to go through—but it doesn’t.
“What the fuck,” I hiss, moving a little ways down the sidewalk and trying again.
This time it pops up with an insufficient funds error, but that can’t be right. I’ve planned out all the money I have. I factored in the cost of this ride into my allowance. The money should be there.
I open up my bank app. The balance shows $0.43.
“Fuck off,” I mutter.
I must have fucked something up somewhere, but how? Where? When?
I scroll through the transactions and realize my problem.
The money I transferred over for today hasn’t posted to my account yet. It’s still authorizing.
“Damnit,” I growl, shaking my head.
“Something wrong?” Alex asks as he walks out of the restaurant.
“No,” I snap, then walk away.
“Where are you going?” he asks, following after me.
“Home.”
“Isn’t that in the other direction?” he calls.
I stop and look back. Honestly, I have no fucking idea. All I know is that I don’t wanthimknowing that I don’t have any fucking money.
“Why don’t you mind your own business?”
“I’m just asking,” he says, holding his hands up. "Take it easy.”
