I smiled the first and last genuine smile I’d ever offered Marci Mayweather. “You know what, Marci...I think you’re right.”
After she and her entourage left the restroom, I stared at myself in the floor length mirror. I looked good, and I knew it. My royal blue dress was form fitting with an open back. The bodice was covered in sequins, and the skirt was short and lined with layers of tulle. Coupled with my four-inch silver pumps, my legs looked amazing. So, maybe I didn’t have much going on in the boob department, yet...but my ass was to die for, and I owed it all to the rigorous workouts it took to uphold my position on the school’s track team.
I opened my silver clutch and applied a little more lipstick and the smoky-eye I’d spent hours practicing at home. Then I released the pins in my hair and let it fall in a cascade of dark brown curls almost to my waist.
I didn’t know when I’d become that pathetic girl pining away for her best friend. But it ended tonight.
When I walked out of those bathroom doors, instead of hiding from the boy who’d been my very best friend for all of my life, I’d take my rightful place beside him. I wasn’t going to lose him over a stupid crush. Colton was mine first, and as long as I kept those feelings in check, he’d be mine forever.
“Hey, guys,” I called as I walked confidently over to Colton and our usual crowd, who were huddled near the DJ booth.
Colt visibly did a double take. “Hey, Allie, where you been? I was lookin’ for ya.” He eyed me skeptically.
With a coy smile, I leaned in closer to whisper into his ear, allowing my lips to accidentally brush his skin. “Restroom.” The manly scent of his cologne almost made me falter...almost.
He placed his hand on my bare back, and every nerve ending in my body sparked to life. He leaned in close, and I could smell the mint from the gum in his mouth. It took all of my resolve not to melt into a puddle at his feet. “I like your hair down like that.” His warm breath caused a chill to move throughout my body.
I shook it off and ruffled my hand into his curls before placing a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks, bro,” I said, stepping to the side.
“Alex...” Colt’s teammate, Ryan purred. “Lookin’ good.” He roved his eyes up and down my body. Normally, I thwarted all of his advances—all of anyone’s really; God, how pathetic was I?—but I smiled and returned his perusal.
“You don’t look too bad yourself, Ry.”
From the corner of my eye, I could see the confusion on Colton’s face. He’d just have to get used to seeing me with guys the same way I’d had to get used to seeing him with girls. Our friendship was too important to lose over hormones.
“You wanna’ dance, Alex?” Ryan asked, reaching for my hand.
I think I shocked myself along with everyone else in the crowd when I smiled and answered, “I’d love to.”
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice my own pain reflected in Colton’s eyes on the dance floor, but in some twisted way, it felt good. There he was with Marci in his arms, and for once I wasn’t feeling the sick pang in my chest alone. He felt it too. I could tell. And I’d bet he felt it a million times worse than me because I’d had years to adjust to it and he was only just learning what it felt like to watch the other half of your heart in the arms of someone who wasn’t you.
I tried to focus on Ryan, to feel those familiar butterflies when he touched me. But he didn’t even spark an ember. Nothing. I felt nothing when he pulled me tighter to his hard chest. Not even a flutter as he trailed his strong hands up and down the naked skin of my back and when he licked the seam of my mouth and dove in, giving me my first kiss since the one I’d shared with Colt in my bedroom two years before, I had to fight the urge to retch.
It was awkward at first, but when I saw the pissed off look on Colton Fowler’s face, it suddenly became bearable. I got really into it, digging my nails into the back of his shirt. I gave as good as I got and felt a triumphant smile curl my lips as Ryan groaned into my mouth. So maybe it wasn’t fireworks and butterflies. Maybe it paled in comparison to the innocent, inexperienced kiss I’d shared with Colt on my pink floral comforter. I could become addicted to the way it felt to make my best friend jealous. I think I just had...
Ryan and I had worked ourselves into a steady rhythm, and after the third slow dance we’d spent with our tongues down each other’s throats, I felt a tap on my shoulder. In my mind, it was Colt. He’d had enough and was coming to stake his claim on his girl...his girl being me. I’d have to reconsider all of this getting over Colt nonsense that I’d only just committed myself to. I smiled as I pulled my lips from Ryan’s and turned to find a blinding white light shining right in my eyes.
“That’s enough,” Principal Hart said sternly, lifting Ryan’s hands up from where they’d wandered to my bottom. “Let the girl breathe.”
My face warmed as our friends did little to hide their laughter. Mr. Hart also played ball with our fathers, and I knew I’d be hearing more about this later. The joys of growing up in small-town Texas. “I’m really disappointed in you, Alexis,” he said, drawing his brows together. “And, Ryan, have a little more respect for the ladies, huh? Keep your hands above the waist, or I’ll be calling your parents.”
Ryan chuckled. “Yes, sir,” he responded with a salute. “Sorry, sir.”
Mr. Hart nodded then turned his attention to Colton, who looked like he could breathe fire. “Colton, don’t let your friends disrespect her,” he said pointedly, as if he were my keeper. I hated that everyone made him feel responsible for me.
“No, sir,” Colt responded, glaring at Ryan.
For the remainder of that evening, I felt the tension between us like a living thing. However, I didn’t let that little embarrassment put a wrinkle in my plans. I flirted and danced with our friends all while the warden seethed beside me. Oh, he didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. His disapproving looks and the way he didn’t leave my side said more than he could have. Eventually, he’d get used to it. He’d learn to hide it just as I had. Until then, I’d enjoy his misery.
The ride home was quiet. Colt sat a little closer to me this time, but he didn’t speak. I stared out of the window with a giddy smile on my face as I answered all of his mother’s questions about the night. I may have gushed a little about how much I liked Ryan to rub salt in the wound. Hey, he’d been flaunting Marci and all of his other girls in my face for two years. He deserved to suffer a little.
I’d be sleeping over at Colton’s tonight. We’d been spending the night at each other’s houses since we were toddlers. It’d become the routine for our parents to alternate weekends with us. It gave them kid-free time to do their own thing, and Colt and I were always together anyway.