“Thank you.” She shoots Lewis a dirty look. “You know, one night I’m going to slip into your room under the cover of darkness—”
“See! Sheisinterested!” he crows.
“—and suffocate you in your sleep!”
She’s still clasping my wrist. I pull her toward me to sit her down. Adam rests a hand on the back of the bench behind her and pats her gently on the head.
“You heading home for Thanksgiving?”
She glances over at him, and I study her profile. Her cheeks are flushed from the cold and Lewis’s antics. Snatches of my dream are resurfacing, and I sigh, forcing them out of mind.
For the briefest of seconds, Lois glances my way, before turning back to Adam.
“I hadn’t thought about it, to be honest.”
“Us guys are spending the evening together. If you’re sticking around Sycamore, you’re welcome to join.”
Her cheeks have turned red. I like it when she gets all shy like this. We’ve never invited a girl along before—Juliet doesn’t count—because the ones who hang around us are either in it for the attention or a chance of getting laid. And while that’s cool with us the rest of the year, this meal here is sacred.
“You’ve got three weeks to make up your mind.” Adam winks at her.
“Okay. Thanks, I guess.”
She clears her throat as she stares into the distance. I notice theexact moment she spots her ex—her eyes clouding over, her breath catching in her chest. Kirk is frozen in place, his eyes locked on her, and as I watch him watching her, I try to imagine what they would have been like together. I won’t pretend I know everything about Lois, but every time I see this guy, I wonder what it is that makes her try so hard to get him back.
“I should go and talk to him,” she whispers.
I stretch my arm out behind her. “I didn’t hear him whistle for you, though.”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
“He’s never stared at me like this before. I feel like he’s waiting for me to go over there.”
She makes to stand, and I drape my arm over her shoulders, pinning her down.
“What are you doing?” she hisses.
“Helping you out.”
“Stop it! Kirk will think—”
“That you’re not a dog he can make sit whenever he feels like throwing you a bone.” I bring my lips to her ear. “I’m a guy, Lois. Trust me on this one.”
“And I’ve known him for years.” She jumps to her feet. “So thanks but no thanks.”
She spins around to face Kirk and stops in her tracks.
“Great! He’s gone.” She glares at me. “Great job, Lane. Just great!”
Don and Lewis have wandered back over to join us.
“¿Qué pasa?” Lewis asks.
“I need to get to class before I kill you all, one by one.”
As she snatches her bag up and turns to leave, my friends stare at me. I shrug.
