Ariella never saw Mike like a brother; she only loved his goofball personality and flair for creativity. Mike never dreamed that bubbly and fierce Ariella would be interested in him. Once she confesses she's crushed on him for years, Mike staunchly...
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I stalk away from Ari and Nick while a group streams from the set of burgundy double doors to our right.
While I pause to let a trio of skinny dudes stroll past, I meet Cynthia's eyes and inwardly cringe. I can't keep this up.
The lobby clears as most of the crowd slips out the front. In the corner, middle-school-aged boys holler while smacking around an air hockey puck. It's driving me insane.
This whole theater is, but Lukey's still in the bathroom, and I feel stuck.
Cynthia wraps her arms around me. "Why don't we go to Ellie's where we can be, like, alone?"
"Umm." I glance back at Ariella. "Luke's staying at my house for the night. My parents are gone."
That plan was made before these confusing feelings stirred again tonight. I know Grayson's just Ari's friend but I can't shake the jealousy churning in my stomach.
Over the summer, she stayed single, and I kept my distance, knowing we were never going to happen. But trying to ignore how much I think about her and forcing myself not to watch her when we're in the same room is becoming impossible.
Cynthia runs her manicured fingernails over my neck. "Sounds perfect."
I stop short as it dawns on me what Ari meant. Cynthia. Big night. Nausea rolls through my stomach because I don't want Ari to think that I'm sleeping with my girlfriend, and...I don't want Cynthia to be my girlfriend.
An ashen-faced Luke joins us, clutching his throat. "I feel horrible."
I breathe a sigh of relief. Oh no, so sad.
"Dude, you okay?"
"No, sorry, I need to go home so I don't puke on my girlfriend. Sorry, honey," he says, touching Ellie's arm.
Ellie's forehead wrinkles. "No, that's okay. My poor sweetheart."
Cynthia pulls me away from them. "Well, she can take him home, and we can—"
"No, I'm spending Thanksgiving with his family."
"But—"
"Sorry. I've gotta get him home."
"I'm gonna say hey to Nick." Luke's reserved voice slices through the tension behind me.
Cynthia purses her lips and runs fingers through her inky black pixie cut, then heaves a sigh. "You annoy the hell out of me," she mutters, crossing her arms.
