Fall

“O-okay.” My body went up in flames. But not because Smith was looking at me like he wanted to devour me.

It was because he said kiss and the only thing my brain could conjure up, was the memory of Jaymeson’s lips on mine.

Would another kiss ever compare to that? Why did he have to ruin me for all future boyfriends? It wasn’t fair. Nothing about my situation with Jaymeson was fair.

I tried to snap out of it. I gave a bright smile to Smith and turned my attention to the movie, and tried desperately not to imagine it was Jaymeson’s hand reaching for mine — instead of Smith’s.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jaymeson

So I was a creepy stalker. Sue me.

I pulled the baseball hat lower over my eyes and ducked into my sweatshirt. It was an old Seaside one that Demetri and Alec had made famous. It was a high school football sweatshirt so hopefully nobody would be the wiser to my presence.

The bastard was making her laugh.

I chomped hard on the licorice and glared as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

And seriously, who took a chick to an action movie? I mean, at least watch something romantic to get her in the mood. I frowned and shifted in my seat. Not that I wanted Pris in any mood around that guy, other than a pissy one.

I leaned over my chair and peered at them hardcore. Score. Her phone was in the cup container.

With a smirk I pulled my phone out and messaged her.

She jumped a foot then grabbed her cell from the cup holder and put it in her lap.

Me: Haven’t heard from you in a while…

Priscilla S: Kind of on a date…

Me: Whoa! You’ve been doing a lot of that lately!

Priscilla S: I know. When it rains it pours I guess.

Me: What’s the S stand for?

She hid her phone, while Smith adjusted his arm and squeezed her tighter. Dude, at least let her breathe!

Priscilla S: The S? It’s my middle name.

Me: And?

Priscilla S: It’s silly.

Me: Try me.

Priscilla S: Serendipity.

Me: That’s not silly. I like it J It seems to fit you. You really are a pleasant surprise.

Priscilla S: Thanks. I should go though. It’s probably frowned upon to message one guy while I’m on a date with another.

Me: Fair enough. Remember, you’re worth a hell of a lot more than a few dates and stolen kisses.

Priscilla S: Is that your way of saying guard my virtue?

Me: That’s my way of saying don’t let a guy steal your damn virginity just because he appears nice. Night, love.

I put my phone away and watched her reaction. She turned around and looked at the empty seats in the row above her before looking down at her phone. Her eyes widened for a brief second before she set her phone down and turned in my direction.

Holy hell. I ducked my head and chomped down on my licorice so she wouldn’t notice me.

When I looked up she’d already turned back around. As much as I wanted to stay, I decided it was best not to hang out on her date, and walked out of the theatre back to my car.

I started the engine and sat.

Cursing, I dialed Demetri’s number.

“What?” he answered. “You die?”

“No.” I rolled my eyes. “If I was dead, how would I be talking to you?”

“Solid point.”

“I, um, I just had a question.”

“Okay?”

“Hypothetically…” I cleared my throat. “How does one… get out of the friend zone without ruining the friendship?”

“Hypothetically?” he said in a low voice. “So you’re asking on behalf of a friend, yeah?”

“Sure.”

“Alright, so my advice to your… friend… you don’t get out of the friend zone.”

“Damn it!” I slammed the steering wheel with my hand.

“Whoa there, don’t get so fired up for your friend, Jay.”

“Right, sorry. I’ve had too much sugar.”

I could practically hear his brain working. “You on drugs, man?”

“No!” I all but shouted. “So I can’t get out of the zone…”

“Oh, you’re the friend,” he said, sounding bored.

“Shut the hell up and tell me!”

“Who is it?” he asked quietly. I could tell he was trying not to gain anyone’s attention. Most likely he was on the tour bus and even though they had a nice one, it was still hard to have privacy.

“Uhh…”

Demetri groaned. “Tell me it’s not Priscilla. Tell me you’ve kept it in your pants and Alyssa isn’t going to hunt me down with a machete for even introducing you guys.”

“He’s crushing on Pris?” Alec’s angry shout awakened an involuntary wince.

I heard a door shut. And then Demetri said. “Sorry dude, you’re on speaker phone, Alec’s here.”

“Oh good, so my shame’s public, that’s just bloody fantastic.”

“Priscilla?” Alec said. “She put you in the friend zone.”

“It was a mutual friending!” I defended.

Both of them burst out laughing.

“You know what? Forget it.”

“No!” Demetri said still laughing. “It’s just that, I mean, you’ve never even had a friend that was a girl, let alone been put into that zone. How is it, man? You going crazy? Take up smoking? Tell me the truth, do you think you may die in your sleep?”

“Remind me again why I called you for help.”