“Never.”I spot Jonathan entering Clara’s and hiss, “Mouth shut.”
“What’s up?”Jonathan asks, sliding onto his seat next to Collin.
“Ask Sadie.”
I glare at Collin.He motions zipping his lips.I’m seriously going to hurt him later.I mean, I won’t.But I’m thinking it.
Jonathan looks between us.“What did I miss?”
Before I can redirect the conversation that we arenothaving, the chair beside me scrapes across the tiles.
“Graham!”Collin exclaims with his arms in the air, like he’s declaring a touchdown.“How’s it hangin’, my man?”He reaches across the table and slaps Graham’s hand.Graham looks flustered, not expecting the enthusiastic welcome.
I’m seriously thinking very bad thoughts toward Collin right now.If only he could hear them.
Before I can drag Graham away, he’s blathering.“She told you?I guess… I didn’t know if she would.Wasn’t sure if you were going to punch me or… but we’re good.Right?”
No way.Please, no.This is not my boyfriend.This is not my sweet, sensitive, emotionally supportive boyfriend I’ve been dating since January.
“What are you doing?”I ask at the same time as Jonathan asks, “Why would we punch you?”
Graham swallows.He looks from me to Collin.His face is getting red.“Uh, no reason.”
I want to crawl under the table.Jonathan takes in my crossed arms and mortified expression.Collin’s big, fat stupid grin—that I want to squish off his face.And Graham’s discomfort.Why does he keep blinking like that?
“Who invited you to have breakfast with us?”
I press my lips together and raise an eyebrow.The message is clear—not me.
Graham’s never hung out with us before.He knows Sundays are my mornings with the guys.He and I have lunch at school every day and hang out most afternoons before I go to the studio.Collin and Jonathan have always been an unspokenoff-limits.
We look at Collin.“Not it.”
Graham clears his throat.“I thought… that considering… you know.We’ve been dating for, like, nine months, and after… after…”
If he says it, we will not be dating for nine more minutes.But he doesn’t have to say it.Jonathan picks up on all the clues.His brows rise.
I cannot be here.After the most romantic, as well as extremely awkward, night of my life, this cannot be my reality.
“Are you telling me that youearnedthe right to sit with us ‘after… after…’?”he mocks Graham.“Then you’re a fucking idiot.That’s not something you earn.That’s a privilege that you obviously don’t deserve.So, if you’re not out of that seat and away from Sadie in three seconds, you’re not going to be able to sit or eat—let alone ‘after’—for a very long time.”
“What?”Graham says while standing.He looks to me for help.
I’m too stunned for words.But I also didn’t connect the dots the way Jonathan did.This can’t be right.Graham said he loved me.We spent so much time together.
“Why were you with me this entire time?Was it because you liked me or because you were trying to impressthem?”
“That’s ridiculous.But I just thought, now… was time.”
I stare at Graham in horror.I think I’m going to be sick.
Jonathan begins counting down on his fingers.Graham is gone by two.
I collapse my head into my arms.“Nine months of my life.”
“I was wondering how long it was going to take you,” Collin says, dangling a straw over his mouth and dripping his milkshake into it.
“That he was using me to be friends with you?”
