Kiara scoffs. “Please. Who goes to the back hallway together in the middle of a dance just totalk?”
Ryan drops down beside Noah, looking way too casual for someone who almost kissed me one minute ago.
I take the empty spot next to Kiara, and she immediately turns to me with a grin. “Well, well. Prom queen and king have arrived.”
I nudge her with my elbow and try to laugh, but it comes out weird. Like uncle-with-the-funny-laugh weird.
Okay, I need a moment.
“I’m gonna hit the bathroom,” I say quickly, standing up and smoothing down my dress. “It’s boiling in here.”
Mel perks up. “Want company?”
I shake my head a little too fast. “Nope. All good. I just—need air. I mean, obviously every human needs air, but I just—yeah—”
JESUS. STOP TALKING.
Mel laughs as I turn and walk off.
The hallway is quieter and cooler. The music thumps through the walls, while my heels click softly against the floor as I head toward the bathrooms.
Okay. Breathe. Everything is fine.
Cool. Cool, cool, cool.
I push into the bathroom and glance around and it’s completely empty.
Bless the heavens and all the gods above.
I stare at my reflection under the warm yellow lights and notice that my cheeks are flushed, and my eyes are a little too bright.
I run cool water over my wrists, then press some against the back of my neck. A couple girls pass by outside, whispering and giggling, their heels clicking down the hallway. I take one last breath and one look in the mirror before walking back into the hallway. But the moment I push the door open, I freeze.
Leaning against the wall across the hall, arms crossed and jaw tight, is Jacob. He lifts his head when he sees me, his eyes locking onto mine.
Oh no. He definitely doesnotlook like he wants to have a nice little catch-up.
28
MADDY
This has gone too far
“If it isn’t Baylin’s little sweetheart.”
Jacob looks different tonight. Sharper somehow. His suit sits tightly on his shoulders. His eyes lock onto mine in a way that makes my skin prickle. It’s the same look he had at the shop. Only worse.
“You were really trying to get my attention back there, huh?” he says.
I almost laugh. Not because it’s funny—but because, for the first time, it actually isn’t true.
“Not really,” I say easily. “I was just dancing with my boyfriend.”
The wordboyfriendhangs between us.
Jacob lets out a short laugh. “Right,” he says flatly. “Sure.”
I shift my weight, already done with this conversation. “Speaking of which, I’m gonna go back to—”
