But that’s the thing. Heislooking at another girl when he’s with the famous Brianne. And not just any girl. Me…
No. I can’t let this go to my head. Because it doesn’t mean anything.
The speeches are done, then the auctions start. Boring, boring, boring. If not for my phone and Jenna, I would seriously lose my mind.
I don’t know if Ryan is still looking at me and I don’t care. But I feel the weight of his eyes on me every so often. Still, I don’t let my gaze meet his. It’ll just hurt too much.
Once the auctions are done and lots of money has been raised, waiters bring in the food. Finally. My stomach was about to die from hunger.
I keep myself busy with food, just so I won’t give into the temptation of looking at Ryan. But of course I’m weak and succumb. Brianne’s sending him flirty smiles, bending close as if she can’t get enough of him. He doesn’t pull away like he did the other day at school. Nope. He seems to really want to be there.
Jenna’s chatting with Jason. Mom and Dad are doing publicity stuff. And I’m all by myself. My best friend tries to include me in their conversation, but I’m not really into it. Soit’s just me and my thoughts.
A part of me wants to march over to Ryan and demand he tell me why he lied to me. He should have told me he didn’t want to go with me instead of using his grandmother as an excuse.
He’s a jerk, like Jenna claimed, yet why do I have this distinct feeling that he’s far from being a jerk? It’s like my heart wishes he was the guy I want him to be.
But he’s not and I need to stop fantasizing about it. I’ll meet someone special one day. It’ll probably be years from now, when I’m on my own and don’t have my dad breathing down my neck.
Music plays as we dine, and a few couples, including my mom and dad, step onto the dance floor and twirl around. Jason and Jenna grin at each other before Jason holds out his hand, inviting his girlfriend to dance with him. She quickly agrees and they join the others, swaying their bodies and having the time of their lives.
I stuff my face with more food, not because I’m hungry but because I need to do something.
“Ryan, let’s dance!” Brianne yells from across the room. He’s sittingrightnext to her, so she doesn’t have to yell. But nope. She wants the whole world to know she’s sunk her claws into him. And something tells me she won’t let him go without a fight. Not that I would ever try to take him or anything. Nope. I’m done with him. Done.
Ryan’s face goes white like he might pass out. But then he nods to Brianne. I notice her parents, specifically her mom, smiling like she can see the future. A future where her precious daughter and this hot guy walk down the aisle together.
I quickly eat more food before that image is engraved in my head.
Because I want to torture myself some more, I watch Ryan and Brianne walk onto the dance floor. My stomach does a few summersaults—not in a good way—and it feels like someone is kicking me in the ribs. Stabbing me in the heart.
She latches her arms around his neck and he hesitantly places his hands on her waist. Soon, their bodies are practically fused and they look like they’re enjoying every second of it.
Ugh.
Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
They move to the beat of the soft music. I remember how I felt like Cinderella whenRyan and I danced together. Does she feel the same way? Nah. Brianne would never let herself feel like a Disney Princess. I bet it’s too childish for her.
It’s not long before they’re so comfy with each other that Brianne lays her head on his chest. He shuts his eyes for a second and when they open, they find me. My face heating up faster than metal, I quickly turn away. Crap. He caught me staring. That’s so embarrassing. And pathetic.
When I risk another glance at him, I find his eyes still on mine. He’s not looking through me, but at me, like he’s reading into my soul, my heart.
Brianne lifts her head and his focus shifts to her. They continue dancing and try to talk, but it’s a little hard to do that because of the music. It might be soft, but it’s still pretty loud.
I survey the room. All the young people are on the dance floor. I’m the only person younger than sixty sitting alone at a table.
My gaze back on Ryan and Brianne, I find her once again resting her head on his chest. I don’t blame her—his chest is really comfortable. And he smells so, so good.
My breath hitches when his eyes bore into mine. They’re so deep and mysterious, more than usual.
He says something to Brianne, dropping his hands from her waist. She watches as he leaves her, heading…
Toward me?
I glance behind me, where the staff has brought out some more desserts and laid them out on a table.
I poke at my food. He’ll be so close to me, and I can’t face him. So I busy myself with some food art until he’ll go away.
