Page 90 of The Score We Never Settled

“No, thanks.” He pushes his chair back and stands, hinting that he’s giving me some space with my obsession. “You two weirdos have a nice conversation. I’m going to go eat my fries in peace and quiet and without judgment.”

He didn’t need to leave.

It’s not like Layla, and I can make out at the lunch table because she’soff-limitsto me in a setting like this, and that constant reminder is starting to piss me off.

“Hey,” Layla says again, stealing Tucker’s seat and turning her body to line up with mine. “How are you?”

“Great,” I grind back. “I have a perfect view of Weston kissin’ your hand and you two lookin’ all lovey-dovey over there.”

I see Layla’s body deflate out of my peripheral. “Briggs, what do you want me to do? It’s either this or?—”

“I want you to break up with him. Even if you don’t tell your Uncle Ben, I amcompletelyfine with that, but not him. For the love of God, Short Stop, it’s like watchin’ a car wreck.”

“Gosh,” she drones. “It can’t be that bad when he doesn’t kiss me every five seconds.”

“He wants to, trust me. However, he’s within reach of me, and I will?—”

“Focus, Kerrigan.” She snaps her fingers, but it doesn’t snap me out of it. “I get to see you every day at school, my uncle hasn’t threatened homeschool in a while, and I’m?—”

“There is no homeschoolin’ here, Layla Jean. No one’s got any time for that bullshit.”

“Then no parties. No seein’ you at bonfires and?—”

“Your friends go,” I argue.

“Not all the time. Zoe is pressed with a project, and Fallon is datin’ Cody Tyler.”

I make a face, but I don’t say anything about that weirdo. The last time I saw him, he was staring at a wall.

With nothing on it.

“You need to stop obsessin’ over Cruz,” Layla drawls. “And pay attention to the pros here.”

“I’m not going to stop obsessin’ over the fact that another man is touching my girl.”

Layla’s palm falls on my thigh from underneath the table, and my cock twitches in my jeans. “He doesn’t bother me. I only look forward to seein’ you. That’s all.”

I rest my hand on top of hers and squeeze. “Yeah, I know, Short Stop. You can make it up to me later.”

Her eyes narrow suspiciously. “How?”

“I dunno.” I send her a teasing smirk. “You think I’m going to do all the work for you?”

She rolls her eyes at me. “I’m right here, aren’t I?”

“Then promise me forever then. And I’ll take that as a win.”

“It’s definitely going to be forever,” she replies with a smile. “Besides, you already know too much. If we don’t work out, I’d have to kill you.”

24

BRIGGS

Nursing a beer,it’s the only nice thing I can do right now when I’m sitting at a table with a man who wanted nothing to do with me growing up and a boy who’s trying to kiss my ass so I’ll let him fuck my sister.

Adeline and Everly steer the conversation easily, but they keep stealing not-so-subtle glances at me to see if I’ll chime in.

I’m not.