Page 117 of The Cheerleader

“See you tomorrow at dinner,” she says.

He grunts. And apparently, she construes that as encouragement because she goes up on her tiptoes and leans in to give him a kiss. On his lips.

Heat bursts through my veins, and I look away, turning to Carol and Judy, who just showed up.

He pulls away instantly, but so smoothly that it doesn’t cause a ripple in her goodbye as she lets him go. He’s out the door before anyone can blink twice, especially me. I don’t think my eyes will ever blink again, and I wish I could unsee what I saw.

Did he just let her kiss him? On the lips? It was hard to tell if he kissed her back. It was fast, but he could have. Shit.

It’s Liz’s smile that convinces me. She’s the picture of a Cheshire cat.

“Look at you two,” Carol says. “You seeing him again?”

“Almost,” she says, and then I see it—the bravado, the wishful thinking, the neediness and desperation. Shit.

I don’t know which is worse—that she might be with Bryan again or that she’s still helplessly hoping to be with him again.

Without thinking, I give her a hug. “I’ll see you later. Have fun and don’t forget you have that financial accounting quiz tomorrow at eight o’clock.” She’s been complaining about the class for days, claiming no one in the class is getting an A and there are few B’s.

She hugs me back. “I’ll be home by eleven. I have to get up early to study.”

After dinner, I work with Bryan on English comp in the dining room. Penderly, a communications and film major who works for the student TV studio, is still there.

“Is Liz around?” he asks me, taking a seat next to Bryan.

Bryan gives him a silent stare that makes Penderly back away.

“I took some photographs at the basketball game, and I promised to bring them.” He holds his hands up as if he’s surrendering.

Bryan nods.

Liz walks into the dining room, and Penderly jumps from his chair to meet her.

“What do you think of this Penderly guy?” Bryan asks me in a quiet voice, leaning in.

I whisper, “He seems like a good guy, ambitious and funny.” I look at Bryan. Our heads are together, creating an intimate space. “Are you worried?”

He smirks and shakes his head. “Liz could eat him for lunch.”

Smiling in relief because he doesn’t seem jealous at all, I touch his arm automatically, needing the connection to him.

“I thought you were studying,” Liz says, approaching us. I look up and separate from Bryan, guilt instantly filling me.

If anyone else said those words, they would have been accusing, but she makes them light.

“We are,” Bryan says, frowning and staring at her like he’s accusing her of something. Maybe interrupting our moment of intimacy? My heart beats too fast, and I stand up.

“You need me for something, Liz?” It’s a stupid question, but she smiles warmly like she appreciates it. “No. We were on our way out to Irma’s for fries.” She looks at Bryan. “I can’t help myself, I love their fries. We’re getting extras for a couple of the girls, and I thought I’d ask if you want anything.”

“A large order of fries and a steak sub,” Bryan says without hesitation as he stands to pull out his wallet.

Liz laughs, and I shake my head. “We just ate dinner an hour ago.” I should be used to his ridiculous appetite.

He gives me a look that says so what.

Liz waves off his money. “My treat. Happy Birthday.”

Bryan pauses and nods, and they have one of those moments that I’ve seen before where they’re communicating without saying anything. I have no idea what passes between them except that it makes me sad that I’m an outsider, that I don’t have something like that, one of those relationships where you know you can always count on the other person.