I Hate You Too

Ch. 21: Amara

"Ready for this one?"

I hold Zuri's stare for a moment, swallowing hard. My nerves give way to frustration again as I glance over at Dallas, finding her typing away at her phone eagerly.

She's been on her phone ever since we retired from the hot tub. Could she seriously be texting Shelby, in my living room, even after apologizing earlier? Especially after our moment in the hot tub?

Why do I care?

"Yep," I tell Zuri, tossing my hair over my shoulder. I pull on a rueful smile. "Hit me."

"Describe your most embarrassing date," Zuri says, reading from the card in her hands.

My cheeks flush at the memory. Jayden had taken me roller skating on our first date. I'd ended up tripping over my own skates, gliding face-first across the rink.

That's a story I'll take to the grave. To avoid having to answer, I reach for the shot glass set before me and down the bitter liquid.

Zuri rolls her eyes. "That wasn't even a hard question to answer."

"Whatever. My turn." My stare focuses on Dallas, too absorbed in her phone to notice.

"Dallas," I say. She gazes up, blinking.

"What's up?" she asks. She runs a hand through her hair before finally setting her phone down, meeting my stare.

I glance down at the question written on the card in my hands. My eyes widen in disbelief as I skim the words, wishing I had drawn another.

"Would you rather marry your ex or go to prison?" I somehow manage to ask over the lump in my throat.

I hold Dallas's stare, watching as her cheeks and neck flush red. She shifts uncomfortably.

"Um . . . go to prison. Obviously."

"Good answer," I mumble to ease the tension clouding the air.

"I think I've taken too many shots to keep going," Zuri says, clutching her head.

"We could start a movie?" I suggest.

Moments later, the four of us have settled on the couch. Zuri and Willow take one end, while Dallas and I are on the other. Knowing we must keep up the act, I lean into Dallas's body, allowing her to wrap an arm around me.

Her warmth seeps into my skin. Resting my head into the crook of her neck, my heart pounds. Not because this position is as awkward as I thought it'd be, but because it isn't awkward at all.

Dallas's phone buzzes in her pocket. I try not to look at the screen as she checks the notification, not wanting to invade her privacy. However, this proves difficult, considering how close we're sitting.

As Dallas checks her texts, my gaze focuses on the contact name. Shelby.

My chest squeezes. Dallas can't seriously be texting her while sitting next to me, can she?

Why does this bother me so much?

I shift, clearing my throat. I can feel Dallas's stare on me as she slips her phone back into her pocket.

I note that she read the text but didn't respond. What could that mean?

Does it mean anything at all?

Her phone buzzes again, but Dallas makes no effort to reach for it. Instead, she leans back, my weight sinking into her.

I glance over at Zuri and Willow as the movie comes to an end, surprised to find both slumped over. Zuri snores faintly. Willow's arms dangle off the couch, her eyes closed.