Zoey 101: You Must Of Had A Broken Heart ☑

Chapter 49

Before we parted ways in the hall, he quickly brushed his lips against my cheek and whispered, “I’ll see you at lunch.” I smiled at his touch.

“Maybe that’s what happened,” Lola concluded as we walked to our lockers. “Your concussion must have left you confused and delusional.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The fact that you continue to ogle at James like he is the guy.”

“What’s wrong with you?” I couldn’t understand the motive for her bitterness.

“I just don’t like you with James,” she stated blatantly.

“What? You think I’m different? What have I done wrong?” I questioned in alarm.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, really. You’re just not the same, like something’s missing.” She shook her head slightly in deliberation. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Lola, why are you making this so hard? If there’s something I’m doing that I don’t know that I’m doing, please tell me so I can fix it. But if I’m not doing anything wrong, then I don’t understand why it’s so difficult to see us together? I’m trying to be happy, and James makes me happy. I’d be a lot happier if you weren’t so critical of me. I want to have a good time this weekend. We’re finally getting to spend weekends together without fear or having to lie. Aren’t you excited at all?”

“I am,” she replied quietly, then forced a smile on her face. It was a start. “I’m sorry. A lot has changed lately. I think I’m having a harder time adjusting than you are. I’ll try to be happy for you.”

She hesitated, like she wanted to add something, but thought better of it. I waited, letting her gather her words.

“I won’t second guess you anymore. I trust that you know what you’re doing, and I’ll support you. So, yes, I promise by the time we leave today, I will be excited. Okay?”

“Thank you.” I flashed her an appreciative smile before she headed to class.

By the time we met for lunch, Lola didn’t show any visible signs of having reservations about James and me, and she was her exuberant self once again. She talked about Gabi’s party and who was supposed to be there, noting who was sleeping over. Since the house was just twenty minutes from Lafayette, there were only a few invited to stay the night, and they were exclusively girls.

Lola’s good mood held up for the remainder of the day. She even had an actual conversation with James. He talked to her like there wasn’t ever anything wrong, but her efforts didn’t go unnoticed by me. I was grateful that she was finally giving in to the idea that he was who I was with.

I knew that being with James was going to be different, and I wasn’t going to feel the same. I shouldn’t, right? So when he pulled me into the vacant trainer’s office before I left for my game, I wasn’t expecting his send off or how he’d make me feel.

“I’ll meet you at Gabi’s around eight?” he confirmed.

“That’s about right,” I recalled.

I knew he was going to kiss me when he leaned over, but I was surprised when he slid his hand behind my neck and wrapped his arm around my waist to pull me to him. His warm breath released into my mouth as he parted my lips with his tongue. The connection ignited a heat in my stomach. I released a shocked breath of excitement. Our bodies pressed firmly together, and our wet lips slid over the other’s urgently. When he released me, I exhaled a quivering breath.

“Wow,” he breathed.

“Yeah,” I responded softly.

My entire body was pulsing, a sensation I’d never experienced before. I needed to steady my breath and the swirling in my head before I could move.