I had forgotten that we were even at a party. Sure, I could still hear the muffled sound of the music playing and both Javier and I were wearing costumes, but I really had forgotten about the party itself.
Normally I would already have had a couple of shots by now and I’d be on my way to having a night that I may or may notremember. That was what I did at any party because that was what was fun. I didn’t have the desire to go drown myself in liquor at that very moment, and that might have been because I was with Javi.
I was still cheesing way too hard. "What happened to you being mad?"
My smile faded when the words left my mouth. Bringing up how upset he was before this probably wasn't the best idea. I didn’t want him to be irritated all over again. However, his answer made my stomach do a weird fluttering thing.
"It’s hard to stay mad around you."
Well, shit. Am I fucking blushing?
Cortez was my rival. My enemy. I wasn’t even supposed to like him in a friendly way, so now could I start liking him as something…more.
Javier took my silence as an opportunity to continue. "Diane broke up with me."
My eyes widened and I had to refrain from smiling. I wasn’t happy that he and his ex had gone through something as heartbreaking as a breakup. Even though I had never been through one, I could imagine how shitty it felt afterward. However, I couldn’t help but be glad that she wasn’t constantly going to be around him anymore.
"I'm sorry."
Javier shrugged loosely. "It was a heat of the moment thing. She was super pissed, and I was being a dick. We were trying to move past it, but I think it was too hard this time.”
Move past what?
“It wasn’t the first time we’ve broken up, but it will definitely be the last,” he mumbled. "Besides, I think I have feelings for someone else."
Oh.
"What was she upset over?" I asked, ignoring his last statement. I did not want to hear about his feelings for anyone else.
He pursed his lips. "The kiss."
"What kiss?" I asked slowly.
Before he could answer, Ricky appeared in the doorway. His face was red and he was sweating heavily.
"Eli, I've been looking for you," my best friend said hastily. "Can we leave?"
I took a step toward him as I took in his flustered state. "Leave? We just got here."
"I know and I'm sorry. You want to be here and I get that, but I seriously need to go." Ricky breathed heavily through his mouth as he waited for my response. I took too long, because he suddenly threw his arms up in distress and sighed. He turned around and made his way out of the door. "Don’t worry about it, I’ll go alone."
I gripped his wrist before he could run off. "Wait, what's going on?"
"Nothing, it’s fine."
“It doesn’t seem fine,” I pressed, I was more worried than confused at this point, Ricky rarely acted like this. “We can leave if that's what you really want.”
I did not want to leave at all so it pained me to say that, but I would suck it up for him. Ricky had been there for me more times than I could count. I had to do the same for him regardless of the circumstances.
Ricky ripped his wrist out of my grasp like he was disgusted that I had touched him. He didn’t raise his voice, but he spoke in a stern tone. “No, I changed my mind.Iam leaving and was just letting you know. I don’t want you to come.”
Now I felt like I had done something wrong. “Wait, are you–”
“I’ll see you later,” is all he muttered before walking off.
My hand flew to my mouth to bite my fingernails out of worry. I needed to go after him, he would go after me if it were the other way around. His anger and sudden desire to want to be alone was out of character. Maybe he just needed space, or maybe he was tired of me. I didn’t know the answer.
“You okay?” Javi’s voice broke me out of my thoughts.
