He lopes away, and when I look back, both girls and Mason are still staring at us.Zayden is oblivious, digging into his lunch, nonchalant as ever.
‘I have to get to class,’ I say, getting to my feet and curling my empty wrappers into a ball.
‘Bye babe,’ Zayden says, pulling me down to his level and kissing me again.My cheeks burn as everyone stares at us.
‘Bye,’ I mumble.
He then slaps my ass as I walk away and I bite my lip to stop myself laughing.Several pairs of eyes watch me walk away.I’ve not only got the attention of my friends, but the others around us, too.They’d be just as shocked and curious, since everyone knows who Zayden is.It’ll be a hot topic on campus.
A part of me is worried about the attention, but the other half of me doesn’t give a crap because this is fun, and what they don’t know won’t hurt them.
‘Hewhat?’Cami exclaims, her mouth dropping into a giant ‘O’ as I give her the recap from thedate from hellwith Jake/Jack/John.
Both she and Anya have been blowing up my phone all day demanding answers, which I assured them I would give tonight.Anya’s face stares back at me from Cami’s screen, her phone sitting on my phone mount.She’s in the car with Mason, but has her headphones in, meaning what I’m saying is only being heard by her.
Jake/Jack/John’s profile reappeared on the app the other day – under a new name – but I recognised his photos.The first, of course, was him holding a fish, the second was him with his back to the camera looking at the sunset and the third was from years ago when he was obviously a lot fitter than he is now.Red flags all over.Another red flag, the ‘recently single’ opening line on his bio, which I think is a new addition.Another new addition?‘I like a feminine woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to make the first move.’Ergh.
‘Yup,’ I reply, finally able to laugh about the disaster now that some time has passed.‘I truly couldn’t believe it.’
‘That is wild.What an ass!’Cami shakes her head.
‘Agreed,’ Anya says.
‘Did you go home and drink an entire bottle of wine to yourself?That’s what I would have done,’ Cami states.
‘Well …’ I trail off, checking my mirrors before switching lanes, my fingers lightly tapping on the steering wheel as a pop playlist softly plays in the background.‘Funnily enough, I ran into Zayden.He sort of saved me from the date.’
Stealing a glance at Cami, I see she’s already staring at me, a smirk on her face.‘Oh?This is how it all started?’
‘Mmhmm.’
‘I see,’ she says, looking down at her nails, not hiding her smile in the slightest.‘What happened then?’
I pause for dramatic effect, enjoying dragging it out.‘We hung out.’
‘And …?’she probes.
Anya clears her throat impatiently.‘Details, woman!’
‘We had a drink, talked a bit, then he invited me to a party he and his friends were going to.’
‘Oh my God!’She twists in her seat, basically rocking back and forth with excitement.
‘So you went?’
‘Nah, I had better plans,’ I retort sarcastically, smiling playfully at her.‘Of course I went.You don’t turn down an offer like that from a guy who looks like him.’
‘Touché.’She nods in agreement.‘How was the party?’
‘It was fun.I wasn’t sure if he was planning to be with me all night or whether he’d go off with his friends, but he stayed with me.After that, he asked me out on an ice cream date but his ex showed up and it sort of ruined the vibe for him.’
Cami scrunches her nose up.‘Oh.That’s a bit of a mood killer.’
‘Yeah.I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but also, it has nothing to do with me.’
‘She’s a cow,’ Anya comments, looking displeased.‘So, like, are you dating?’
‘Um, I guess so?’I reply.
