And I turned, leaving her behind.
Out of the ballroom, through the maze of corridors, carpet under my feet. My rented shoes pinched, but I kept walking. Shirt collar too tight. The greasy scent of two hundred plates of chicken marsala. Four more steps, three — the door swinging under my palms.
Out. Out into the night, balmy May air. I’d left my jacket in the ballroom,thank goodness, because there was a breeze, cooling my skin. Ears ringing away from the speakers, away from the noise — my hearing catching up to the quiet —
“Ezra.”
I didn’t turn around. I kept walking, around the corner, away from the door. “Not here, Cole — not now — just needed air —”
“Ezra, don’t do this —”
“I’m not doing anything, just needed a break — air was too close in there and the music was too loud —”
“Ezra!” He grabbed my wrist, turning me to face him, and I flinched. “You saw what happened,shekissedme—”
“And you didn’t stop her —”
Cole’s eyes flashed with anger. “It’s her prom night! I didn’t want to embarrass her when everyone was looking —”
“Are you going to fuck her, too? People fuck at prom. Can’t let her miss out.” I couldn’t believe what I was saying. Why was it bothering me so much?
“That’s not fair—” Cole hissed. “Besides, I had to spend the whole night watching you batting your eyelashes at Hannah —”
“It’s not like — I mean, I wasn’t —”
We both froze, glaring at each other, the moment stretching between us. But then, Cole began to laugh.
“Why the fuck are we fighting overgirls?” he hiccupped. “I mean, I’m gay as fuck, and I know how much you like sucking cock, and Hannah doesn’t have one as far as I know —”
My lips twitched. “Wouldn’t want it if she did.”
“God, I love you —”
It feltsogood to kiss him after all the tension, all the hours of uncertainty, of watching him with Courtney and wanting what I couldn’t have. We crashed together with a groan of pleasure, me gripping his waist, him crowding me against the wall, one hand cradling the back of my head to keep me from bashing it against the rough brick. It was madness, all teeth and tongue, both of us pouring out all the tension of the last few minutes. He was hard against my thigh, and I wondered deliriously if we should take this to the car, if I could get him off before they missed us, if I could —
“You two aregay?!?”
Cole pulled away like I was on fire. Courtney wasstanding just past the corner of the building, her hands balled up in fists, all five feet two inches of her trembling with rage. Behind her, Hannah was frozen in place, both hands covering her mouth.
“Courtney—” he breathed. “Courtney, it’s not his fault —”
“I don’t want tohear it!” she shrieked, and spun around, stalking back around the corner toward the entrance to the banquet hall, with Cole hot on her heels.
“Courtney,pleasedon’t make a scene —” Cole pleaded, his voice low and urgent. “Please, we can talk about this —”
We were just outside the door to the room now, and people were starting to file out to watch the commotion.
“Don’t make a scene?!?” Courtney wheeled and slapped Cole across the face. “How’sthatfor not making a scene?”
Cole pulled back in shock, his hand pressed to his cheek.
“All night — all fuckingyear— you’ve let me think you wanted me, and you’ve let me make a fool of myself over you! Then I leave you alone for five minutes and I find you sucking face with — withhim!”
She pointed a shaking finger at me, and suddenly Hannah was at my side, wrapping both hands around my elbow and pulling me back into the shadows.
“Leave him out of it!” Cole thundered. He paused,casting his eyes up toward the ceiling as he bit his lip, and then squared his shoulders. “I’mthe asshole here. Ezra is straight. I told him I loved him and I tried to kiss him, but he — he pushed me away —”
“Do you think I’mstupid?” Courtney’s eyes were narrowed, her voice dripping venom. “Iknowwhat I saw!”
