I Hate You Too

Ch. 20: Dallas

"You're early," Amara says flatly.

I study her carefully. Her eyes are dull, lips pursed tightly. I wouldn't say she's ever been excited to see me, but she hasn't been this put off by my presence in a while.

"I know," I say, shoving my hands into my pockets. "I thought maybe I could help you set things up."

Amara rolls her eyes. "Set up what, Cooper? It's just a sleepover. If you were planning to show up before our agreed time, I'd have appreciated a warning."

"Sorry," I mumble as Amara steps aside, allowing me to enter her house. I bristle as she slams the door closed a little harder than necessary. "I didn't realize I needed to warn my girlfriend before seeing her."

"Fake girlfriend," Amara hisses. Her tone drips venom. Her expression is murderous.

Taken off guard by her demeanor, I pause. Amara and I aren't exactly the best of friends, but we haven't been true enemies since we started this plan.

I thought we were past this.

"Sorry, my bad. I didn't think to warn my fake girlfriend, as you so love to remind me."

Amara rests her hands on her hips. "Actually, I don't think you need to be reminded this is all fake."

Stunned, I stiffen. The fire in her eyes is so wild, I'm afraid of getting burnt.

"Damn, Singh. Need some help unlodging the stick up your ass? I never thought we'd be getting that close, but—"

"Don't fucking play dumb with me, Dallas!" Amara speaks with a force that nearly blows me away. "You saw Tuesday's post. Am I just supposed to ignore the fact that people think you're cheating on me? Do you know how that makes me look? Do you even care that I'm risking everything by—"

"Are you forgetting why we started this?" I interrupt. "I want Shelby back! I have been so clear about that! So, yeah, I'm taking advantage of the fact that this plan is getting her to—"

"At least have the decency to fake break up with me before you move on," Amara cuts me off. "Don't you get what you're putting me through? You keep making messes and leaving me to clean them up! Jayden literally cornered me at my car, threatening to—"

"What?" I cut in, dumbfounded. "You talked to Jayden?"

Amara's eyes narrow to slits. "On Tuesday, yeah. She was waiting for me at my car while you were flirting with Shelly on the track field for everyone to see."

"She threatened you?" I ask, blood boiling. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? If I had known, I would have—"

"You would have what?" Amara cuts in. "Stopped acting like an idiot? You're walking on thin ice, Cooper. You seem to be forgetting that Shelly's still in a relationship. If you want her back, whatever. But we need to stick to the plan. We need to get them to break up before you jump the gun!"

I hesitate, realizing Amara has a point. Creating a scandal wasn't the intention behind my last interactions with Shelby, but I've managed to do so all the same. I overlooked the Sunset Scandals posts, rushing to take Shelby's sudden interest in me as a positive sign that our plan is working.

But, as I face Amara, I realize I've forgotten a massive factor.

She agreed to this plan with her own motives, knowing she has something to gain from this agreement as well. In order for her end of the deal to be upheld, Jayden and Shelby need to break up.

Shit. How could I be so oblivious? Of course she's mad at me; I'd be mad at myself if I were in her position. I tease Amara for being selfish, but lately I've been the selfish one.