Chapter Thirty-Two
Tyler
I screwed up. I thought we were getting somewhere. I thought flirting with her wouldn’t be so bad. Turns out I totally misread her signals. It shouldn’t really surprise me, because when have I ever been able to read Layla Valentine correctly? Never.
I pull out my phone during first period and send her a quick text.
Me: Hey beautiful. How’s ur morning going?
I slip my phone back into my bag and look up at the board. Mr. Zino, my Algebra 2 teacher, is scribbling some problems on the board while he says, “This will all be on the test.”
As I’m taking notes a blond girl enters our room. She beams a smile at me and waves. I lift my hand to be nice. She looks familiar but I can’t exactly place her. Mr. Zino pulls away from the board and says, “Can I help you?”
“Yes, I have a few office slips here,” the girl says.
She looks at me again and winks. Where have I seen her before?
“Tyler? You’re wanted in the office. Take your things with you,” Mr. Zino says.
Shit! What could this be about? If it’s about beating Adam’s ass in the parking lot, he deserved it. Coach didn’t seem all that mad when I told him what I had done. I haven’t pulled any pranks lately. In fact, I make sure not to do anything during football season. It’s my go-to rule.
I shove all my things into my backpack and make my way out the door. “Hi!” the blond girl says as she pops out in front of me.
“Hey.”
“I’m Selena.” She twirls a piece of hair around her finger and says, “You played such a great game last week. Are you pumped for the Blackhawk game?”
“Uh … yeah.”
“I can’t wait to perform my new cheer for you this Friday.” She winks at me again, and that’s when everything all clicks.
I shake my head. “Ah, you’re Adam’s little plaything from a couple of weeks ago.”
“I’m not his plaything. I’m totally free,” she says as she follows me to the office.
“Oookay.” I start to turn toward the office doors and she pulls my arm. “What are you doing?”
“I broke you out of class to talk to you, silly.” She flutters her eyelashes and walks her fingers up my arm.
It actually does nothing for me. I’m not even slightly turned on. In fact, I’m annoyed she gave me a fake note. I need to be in Mr. Zino’s class, not skipping it with this girl who is clearly pissing me off.
“I know you probably don’t want to hear this but I love you,” she says.
I blink. “I’m sorry, you what? You don’t even know me.”
She shakes her head. “Sure, I do. You’re Tyler Richardson. You’re sexy. You’re the greatest receiver ever. You have fantastic hair and abs.”
I need her to stop. “You just named all the superficial and vain shit about me. Do you have anything else or are we done here?”
“Why are you being so mean?” she sticks her lower lip out.
I restrain from rolling my eyes. “Selena, is it? I’m sure deep down you’re probably nice. I’m just not interested.”
“Why not?”
“I’m seeing someone.” It’s not technically a lie.
She folds her toned arms. “No, you’re not! I haven’t seen you with anyone. Why are you lying?”
“I’m not.” Sure, Layla and I aren’t officially anything. Hell, I can’t even really say we’re friends, but I’m working on it. It’s a little complicated. What if she likes R more than she likes me? I know we’re the same person, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know that. When I found out Faye was Layla, hell, I almost stopped talking to her immediately. But I truly like Faye, and she is Layla—just a side of her I never see.
Selena keeps staring at me like she’s waiting for some sort of revelation. I keep glancing around the empty halls for an escape. There isn’t one. Damn girl has me cornered by a set of lockers near the office.
“Well, who is she then?”
“Why do you need to know?” I ask. Yeah, I’m the master at avoiding questions with questions. My sister says it’s the most annoying habit I have. I say it’s a great life skill for getting out of situations with my pants still on, so to speak.
“Because I told you I’m in love with you.”
I scrunch up my face and shake my head. “You said it and you gave me some really piss-poor reasons that show how little you know me. Sorry, but I don’t think you’re actually in love with me.”
“I’ll prove it.” As soon as I’m about to protest she plants her lips on me. Someone gasps loudly.
I break from her lips and turn to see Layla with her hand over her mouth.
“Layla,” I call out.
She turns on her heels quick and bolts down the hall. Great. Just fantastic! This is exactly what I don’t need right now.
Selena looks smug. “I think we should hit up Kelly’s party this weekend, after you score a billion touchdowns and kick Blackhawk’s ass!”
I need to shut this shit down right now. “No! I don’t want you cheering for me. I don’t ever want your lips on me ever again. You’re not only bad at it, you’re so bad I felt like my dog could do better.” Her eyes well up with tears, and yes, I know I should probably stop. But she did just ruin my happiness with someone I really care about. Bring on the rain of tears. “While we’re at it, never try busting me out of class again to feed me some bullshit about how you’re so in love with me.”
She sniffles. “But I do. You’re a jerk.”
“Awesome. I need to get back to class.”
I storm down the hall and back into First Period, which is now ending in less than ten minutes. I hope someone in class at least took some notes that I can borrow, since Mr. Zino informed us that everything we discussed today will be on our test tomorrow. Fan-flipping-tastic.
I hope to see Layla at lunch so I can at least talk to her. Tell her that what she saw this morning was nothing. She’ll probably say it doesn’t matter because it’s not like we’re dating or whatever.
But I need her to know it was nothing. Unfortunately, she’s not in the cafeteria. I wait and wait. Maybe she’ll arrive late. She’s not late though. She’s not coming.
“Juliet, I hate to put you in the middle of something, but can you relay a message to your sister for me?”
She raises a brow at me. “Uh. No.”
“Please.” I’m not above getting on my hands and knees and begging. And I will if my pleading doesn’t work. Her gaze drills me.
“I’m not a messenger. Just text her like everyone else.”
“I, uh … can’t.” Because I want to play off this cover as R a little longer. It would kind of blow my plans if I text her right this minute. “Hey Layla, sorry about what you saw in the hall. It really was nothing. P.S. I really think we should grab some food sometime.” That would look real strange coming from my pseudonym.
“Lemme guess, your phone died didn’t it, genius?” Mark says.
I shrug. “You got me. Can you relay the message for me Juliet? Please.”
Her shoulders lower. “Fine. What is it?”
Maybe saying it aloud in front of my boys isn’t a good idea. “Uh, right. I’ll give it to you in a second.” All the guys at the table observe me and I shake my head. “What?”
Austin pipes in, “Nothing. It’s just, since when the hell do you want to relay a message to Layla Valentine?”
“Mind your own business,” I growl.
Mark, being Mark, laughs. “Oh, he’s been hanging out with her a lot lately.”
“Really?” Austin asks. I certainly don’t answer. Mark smirks. Juliet kind of nods and then Jared approaches our table.
“What did I … miss?” he asks, his eyes landing on Juliet.
“Nothing much, man. Just Richardson here might be macking on Layla Valentine,” Austin answers.
“Shut the hell up!” I yell. I don’t know why his crap is ticking me off, but right now I’m not in the mood. Yes, I like Layla. But it’s not so simple. It’s kind of complicated. I don’t need it getting any more complicated with stupid rumors either.
I snatch up my notebook and write: I will see you later. We need to talk. Then I pass the note to Juliet.