I stop stirring my drink and freeze.
Shit.
Do I look uglier when I laugh, too?
Goddamnit,now I need to check.
After making sure they’re all still deeply enthralled in their jabbing contest, I flip my compact open under the table and stare at my reflection as I discretely mimic my laughing faces.
Okay, the nose is still nosing…
The teeth are still teething…
The eyes are still eyeing…
“Dahlia… what are you doing?”
The sound of Josh’s voice startles the hell out of me. I snap my compact shut and look up to find him and his friends staring.
“Huh?” I reply automatically, despite the fact that I definitely heard him the first time.
Josh furrows his brow. “I asked what you were doing.”
I swallow and my eyes ping-pong between him and his three friends.
Fuck, I knew coming out with them was a bad idea.
“I uhh… thought I had something stuck in my teeth.” I say, pointing vaguely to my mouth.
Josh cocks his head at me, as do his friends, and warmth rushes up neck. I try to break the awkwardness with a laugh, but Josh doesn’t even crack a smile. He just stares at me.
“Beautiful and funny.” Nate says, squeezing Josh’s shoulder. “No wonder this poor fuck thinks you’re the love of his life.”
The forced smile on my face dies immediately.
What?
Why the hell would he think that?
I look around the table, and Josh’s eyes cut to me so fast it makes my stomach flip. I take in Josh’s expression. He doesn’t look embarrassed or angry. He looksguilty.
The truth punches me in the face.
Josh thinks I’m the love of his life.We’ve only been on five dates and he’s already there. We haven’t even had sex yet, and he’s already there.
This can’t be happening.
I plaster a smile on my face and take another sip of my drink, hoping the act of normalcy will be enough to stop them from scrutinizing my reaction. It works, and theirconversations continue, but it doesn’t stop the panic from churning in my stomach.
I grip the edge of my seat to try to ground myself, but it’s no use. And the longer I sit here, the more claustrophobic I feel. I can’t breathe. I need to get out of here.Now.
My legs feel like they’re filled with concrete as I slide out of the booth, but I force them to move, anyway.
“Doll?” Josh calls out, noticing my departure. “Where are you going?”
“Bathroom.” I chirp back. He’s trying to search my face, but I can’t bring myself to look him in the eye.
“Let me show you where it is.” He offers, already sliding his body across the pleather seat.
