Page 89 of The Golden Boys
Despite myself, I can’t help but wonder if she simply got entangled in something she didn’t see a way out of with him.
God knows I could relate to that.
On so many fucked up levels.
Chapter 29
BLUE
Just a few days ago, it was too cold for Lexi and me to eat underneath what we’ve dubbed‘our tree’,but today I wish we were inside, enjoying the AC.Late-October heatwave, I guess. We’re stuck out here, though. All because he-who-shall-remain-nameless is sitting in the lunchroom with his crew.
The second I lose the battle to keep my eyes away from the window and sneak in a glance, he laughs, and I’m disturbed by how much I like his face.
Stupid face.
Stupid hot body.
A flashback from Homecoming rushes to mind and I zone out for a sec. Doesn’t matter much that it was a few weeks ago, I haven’t forgotten. When his hands graze me by accident during our forced swim lessons, we’re both quick to back off and regroup. He hasn’t been as forward—asopen—as he was that evening, and I thank God for that every night.
Because I’m, admittedly, kind of weak for him.
Just as I start to turn, he finds my eyes and it’s over for me. Right away, my lips feel warmer than the rest of my face, like he’s touching them, and I’m completely immersed in the memory now. His voice lingers in my ears, like he’s whispering something to me at this very moment.
‘Come on, Southside.’
Every second since he asked and I refused to follow him into that classroom, I’ve regretted it.
“Ok, I give. What the heck is it with you and him? I’ve played along, pretending not to notice the whole … love-hate thing going on between you and Golden, but seriously. What gives?” Lexi pops a grape into her mouth after asking, and I don’t miss the suspicious grin on her face, either.
I swallow the last of my leftovers from Uncle Dusty before speaking. “The short version? He hates me for reasons undisclosed, and I hate him because he’s a dick. Mystery solved.”
She’s already shaking her head, disagreeing. “You two need to just bone and get it over with.”
Water sprays from my mouth and Lexi screams, trying to dodge it.
“What the hell, dude?” she asks, laughing as she reaches for a napkin to clean off her arm.
“I’m sorry, but that was all your fault.”
“It’s true!” she insists.
“Nope. No way. West is a definite no-go for me. For starters, dude’s mean as hell, which is generally a turn off.”
“Maybe it’s like the mean boy in kindergarten,” she muses. “You know, the one who’s got it bad for a girl, but the only way he knows how to express himself is to pull Little Susie’s hair and make her cry.”
I lean back to rest on the heels of my palms. “Well, unfortunately for West, that tactic stops being cute once we all learn how to add two plus two.”
Lexi shrugs. “Whatever it is, it’s weird as hell from the outside looking in.”
I imagine that’s true. Seeing as how it’s also weird as hell from the inside looking out. If that’s a thing …
“Let’s not talk about him, then,” I suggest.
She’s thoughtful, then her eyes light up. “We could always talk about costume shopping.”
Confused, I pop a brow at her, unsure why she’s grinning so profusely. “Come again?”
“Halloween’s a week away,” she reminds me. Not that Ineeda reminder. Between my neighborhood and school, the over-the-top decorations make it impossible to forget.