"Kendrick." She watches as he continues down the hall. "Now THAT'S a man. He's so damn hot." She sighs. "But the asshole only dates cheerleaders."
"He's not boyish," I say, looking at the photo of Chad. "I mean, yeah, he's not built like a football player but that's not him. He's not into sports. He's into other stuff, like the debate team and the school paper. He takes all AP classes and will probably be valedictorian."
She turns to me, putting her hands on my shoulders. "But does he turn you on? Does he get you all hot and bothered?"
I think for a moment.
"Okay, seriously?" Eve says. "If you have to think about it, the answer is no."
"That's not what it means. It's not just physical with Chad. We're more than that. We love each other. We'll probably get married someday."
She coughs and pretends to choke.
"What? You don't believe in marriage? I'm not sure I do either anymore but I—"
"This isn't about marriage, although I think you're crazy to even be thinking about that right now. But that's a whole different issue."
"Then why the coughing fit?"
"I was gagging hearing you talk about him." She rolls her eyes. "You are SO not into that guy. And he's probably not into you either."
"Why would you say that? You don't even know me. Or Chad. You have no idea what our relationship is like."
"You have sex with him, right?" She says it just as some girls walk past.
"Yes," I whisper, pulling her aside near a row of lockers.
"And?" Her brows rise. "What's it like?"
"It's fine," I mutter, giving her a look to stop talking about this as a group of guys walks by.
"Fine?" She shakes her head. "No one should describe sex as fine. You need to dump this guy."
"I'm not dumping him. We've been together almost two years."
"Two years too long."
"Okay, I'm going." I go around her but she pulls me back.
"What you felt just now. For Dean." Her brows rise. "You ever feel that way with Chad?"
"Dean?" I say, looking at her like she's lost her mind. "I hate Dean! He's an egotistical asshole who thinks he can do and say whatever he wants just because he's huge and plays football."
"But you felt something, right?" she asks, her lips turning up. "When he was whispering in your ear?"
"Anger," I say with a huff.
"That's it?" She folds her arms over her chest. "Because where I was sitting, it looked like you were all hot and bothered."
"Seriously? Is this another one of those times when you're pretending to be serious but it's really all a joke?"
"No. I'm totally serious." She leans toward me. "When Dean was all up in your space, you started breathing heavy, your face got all flushed, and I'm pretty sure a bead of sweat slid down your forehead."
"Because I was angry!"
"Or turned on," she says with a laugh. "Just seeing you around him...how you reacted? I think you want to have sex with him."
"You're insane!" I say, tossing my hands up. "I don't know what you think you saw but you're completely wrong. Just to be clear. I am NOT interested in Dean Sanders. I don't think he's hot. He doesn't turn me on. And I definitely don't want to have sex with him."
