“I got into a fight with Amelia and all of them,” I admitted unwillingly.
Before I could get out, William grabbed my arm to give me a kiss on the lips. I saw him close his eyes, but my eyes darted to the rearview mirror quickly. I had a feeling of dizziness in the pit of my stomach when I realized that James was already staring at me.
Jackson was right, I had to cut it out ASAP.
14
June
A blond girl answered the door. Did I ring the wrong doorbell? I stared at her confused while she squealed a warm greeting with a smile.
“Hey, June!”
I stuck my head inside to make sure that I was at William’s house. I even checked the street number.
“Um.”
“I’m Sammy! We’re in class together!”
She burst out laughing and invited me in. Yeah, of course.
“Hey, Sammy.”
I took off my shoes, then put my backpack on the dining room table. I started cautiously examining the environment around me. I felt like prey surveying the land right before setting foot into the dark jungle.
I was about to ask Sammy if she knew where Will was, but when both of us passed in front of a full-length mirror hanging in the living room, I stopped myself. Sammy was wearing a dark, clingy dress that highlighted her slim figure. I was wearing an oversized T-shirt and track shorts. My legs had never looked bigger and bulkier.
“June. Finally! I was starting to worry.”
Will came up to me with a contagious grin and made me instantly forget the image of the impulsive, unreasonable, and angry guy I’d seen earlier that day.
I closed my eyes when his lips collided with mine. He smelled like pine trees. He must’ve just taken a shower. In fact, his hair was still a little damp.
“Want something to eat?” he asked.
Will clearly knew how to win me over. I’d barely gotten into the house and he was already offering me food. What more could I want?
Why did something tell me that we weren’t alone? Why was Sammy here, too, and a few yards away from us? Let’s not go too far . . .
“I already had dinner, but if you’re offering a snack?”
“I’m gonna see what’s left over from James. I had to go grocery shopping for the umpteenth time yesterday because he invites people over and my refrigerator gets emptier and emptier from day to day.”
William disappeared into the kitchen, so I got comfortable on the couch and watched Netflix.
Sammy gave me a small smile before sitting on the couch not too far from me. But I didn’t let my guard down. Because if Little Red Riding Hood was here with me, the wolf couldn’t be too far—
“June, do you prefer ice cream or, what is this, chocolate bars?” I heard Will mutter indistinctly in the kitchen, so I decided to join him. But before I could get up, James appeared in the living room without even saying hi to me.
I shot him a quick furtive but intent glance. He was wearing a red hoodie and gray tracksuit pants, his face was still black and blue, his lip was swollen, and his right hand was bandaged. He went up to Sammy, towering over her, and as he ran his fingers through his hair, he motioned for her to move over so she’d sit by me.
“Get out. That’s my seat.”
He was being rude to her, but clearly he was just doing it so he wouldn’t have to sit next to me.
I decided to solve the issue by leaving.
“Look what I found, it’s vanilla chocolate chip ice cream.” William held up a tub of ice cream he’d pulled out of the freezer, then handed it to me with a spoon.
