“Hey, I’m Cora. I stupidly decided to date this one. You’re Lyla, right?” the beautiful brunette says as she turns in her seat to look at me.
“I am. Somehow I ended up dating this guy.” I tilt my head toward Wyatt, making him smile.
Kellan pulls away from the curb as we continue to talk.
“I’ve heard. It’s been a shock to us all. He hasn’t dated a single girl since freshman year. We all wondered if he was secretly planning to become a monk. Then you show up and put the rumors to rest.” She winks at me.
“Well, monkhood might still be on the horizon for him. I haven’t decided if I like him or not yet,” I tease.
She laughs. “Oh, I like you. Wyatt, you got yourself a keeper here. She will fit in great.”
Wyatt rolls his head across the back seat as he looks my way. “Great. Now you all can take over the world.”
“Oh, I don’t think we want to do that, do we, Lyla?” Cora asks.
“Oh no. Definitely not. That seems like a lot. Maybe just the state?” I toss back at Cora.
“Or their hearts. We all know how fragile they can be.” She leans over, kissing Kellan’s cheek.
“Careful, Cora. Sit back in your seat. I don’t want you getting hurt,” Kellan chastises her.
“Oh, such a protector,” she teases.
“What about you, Lyla? You want to take over my heart?” Wyatt asks, a gleam in his eye.
I consider his words. This is fake. It was meant to end at some point, yet the idea of owning the heart of a man like him is intoxicating. To know that he would protect me and have my back?
I don’t go with the truth. Instead, I tease him a bit more.
“I don’t know. We will see if you’re worth it.”
He slides closer across the seat as he leans in and whispers in my ear, “Oh, I promise I will be worth it.”
Somehow, I believe he is telling the truth, which means I am in trouble.
Cora grabbed Lyla as soon as they got out of the car. She wrapped her arm in Lyla’s and started talking a mile a minute with her. I didn’t even get a chance to grab Lyla’s hand. Part of me is mad at Cora for stealing that from me, but seeing Lyla laughing as they chat, I know I can’t be mad at her for long.
She is giving my girl what she desperately craves. People to belong with. A girl group that she can trust. She hasn’t met Emery, Peyton, or Grace yet, but once they get together,everyone better look out. They will be a force to be reckoned with.
“She looks good on you,” Kellan tells me as we wait for the hostess to lead us to our table.
“She is gorgeous,” I admit.
“Not what I meant,” he mutters.
“What did you mean then?” I keep my tone low as well.
“I meant, I like the effect she is having on you. You’re less quiet and moody. I have seen you smile more tonight than in the last month.”
“You are exaggerating,” I tell him, but as I think back, I am not sure he is.
It’s true that I never smiled much. I wasn’t the talker of the group. I only ever really inserted myself when it was necessary. Now, though, I can’t help but talk with Lyla. I want to hear her voice, and in order to do that, I have to speak back to her.
It feels natural with her. Like I can be myself. I don’t have to worry about holding everything together because she is right there with me.
If only she didn’t think it was fake.
I am playing a dangerous game. One I am afraid I won’t win, but fuck it. She’s worth the risk.
