“Jasper, there’s a bunch of fruit juices over here.”
Jasper and I made a run for the juices while James started chugging glasses of sparkling wine like it was water.
I would’ve wanted to tell him to stop it, but my mom’s eyes were glued to me. Luckily, Jordan dashed over to her, removing the opportunity for her to focus all her attention on me.
And when I saw her talking with him and her best friend, I couldn’t resist.
“Hey, Jordan,” I said politely, then turned to the other woman “Hey, Melissa.” I gave my mom a phony smile as she looked at me wide-eyed.
“Sorry, I’m going talk with my daughter for a second, and I’ll be right with you.”
She pulled me aside abruptly, possibly afraid that I would say something else.
“Incredible, Melissa is real,” I teased.
“June, don’t embarrass me, please.”
“Maybe I can make an effort, if you do too.” I smiled and invited her to agree to a pact of silence.
“Okay. But starting tomorrow, the tune changes in this house!” she threatened, before returning to her guests.
“I don’t know how you put up with her.” James ran his fingers through his dark hair with one hand and I, given how boring the exhibit was, decided to listen to him.
“Are you done fusing the two poor neurons that you have left?”
“My neurons are just peachy, think about what you got up to last night with your—”
What did he mean?
“And then I bet that yesterday you were so gone that you don’t remember anything.” He clucked his tongue on his palate and put on a superiority complex. Was that an underhanded way of understanding what I remember about yesterday? Well, well.
“But you’re wrong,” I said out loud.
I waited for James to answer, but he didn’t. He pretended to ignore my answer, chugging down another glass.
“I remember what you said very well,” I clarified. That sentence was enough for him to bring his eyes to me again.
“You don’t remember shit, White.”
“I remember perfectly well, Hunter.”
His lopsided smirk left me no way out. James leaned on the table and crossed his arms.
“So you remember the ‘I only trust you, James.’ Well—”
He imitated my tone of voice, which, combined with his full-of-himself attitude, startled me.
Strangers passed us by, but he said those words like we were all alone.
I looked down, slightly embarrassed.
“I’m glad you memorize everything I say word for word.” James peeled himself from the table and took a step toward me.
“Do you think you’ll sleep tonight, or can you only think about it?”
He provoked me with innate self-assurance, tipping the scales in his favor.
My cheeks started to itch. I tried to keep up with him, but I never could. James was sure as fuck of himself while I just put up a front.
