Page 71 of Mistaken Prejudice

“Iced tea with sliced lemons and one of these, please,” I asked as I picked a blueberry muffin out of the tray beside the cashier and gave the cute girl working there my credit card.

I had a great practice with Blanc this morning and had some spare time before my first class started, so I decided to treat myself to something from the coffee cart.

After I paid, I went to sit near one of the tables as I waited for my order to be ready. I pulled out my phone to pass the time, when I saw Andrei had texted me, asking if I wanted to have lunch together. The answer was an obvious yes.

After our amazing morning sex on Saturday, I stayed for a late breakfast cooked for us by Kai, Chief’s boyfriend. The guy was hilarious and apparently had a restaurant downtown. I promised myself I’d take Papa and Dad there the next time we went out for dinner.

I dodged a bullet when Diesel decided to skip breakfast. He was already gone by the time we came down to eat. Frankly, I was still shocked over what went on with him Saturday, and a part of me hoped not to run into him soon. Or ever. As sympathetic as I could be toward him, the guy scared me.

I started to text Andrei and tell him about the drill Blanc and I did this morning, when the barista called my name, telling me my order was ready.

With my eyes still fixed on my phone, I got up and went over to grab my order, when I bumped into someone.

My phone dropped to the ground, and I bent down to grab it as I mumbled my apologies. A muscular arm with visible veins reached for my phone before I did, and I stared at the ring-filled fingers that handed me back my phone before I looked at the person it belonged to.

“Shay-Lee,” I said as I met eyes with my best friend, whom I hadn’t spoken with since the incident in PE.

His blond hair was pulled into a braid, and he wore a pair of baggy jeans and a cropped wool vest showing his abs and well-defined V. Around his neck was the shell necklace I gave him for his sixteenth birthday. I made it during the short month I thought I’d open my own jewelry business. I understood very quickly it wasn’t for me, and that I had no talent for creating jewels. As ugly as the necklace was, and despite me offering to buy him a better one, Shay-Lee insisted he liked the one I made him and refused to give it back.

He looked good, normal, as if he hadn’t snapped and lashed out the last time we were together.

“What’s up, Miley?” He flashed me a toothy grin as he urged me to take my phone back. After I took it, he turned around and grabbed my iced tea from the counter.

“Sorry, you forgot to add the sliced lemon,” he said as he tapped his fingers over the plastic cup.

“Thanks, gorgeous.” He winked at the barista, who handed him the lemon with a blush on her round face.

“I missed you over the weekend,” he said as he handed me my drink and started to walk beside me toward school. “Did you have fun?”

“What the hell, Shay-Lee?” I stopped walking and turned to face him. “First, you acted all weird during PE, then you ignored my calls and texts, and when I came looking for you at the gym, Don told me you skipped practice. Now you’re here, asking for lemons for my tea and acting like everything is cool?”

“You like lemons with your tea.” He cocked his head. “Besides, I just took a few days off. Went with my dad to New York.”

“Stop bullshitting me. I know you didn’t go to New York with Christian,” I snapped, “What the hell’s going on with you?”

He looked to the side, the muscle in his jaw tensed before he relaxed. “You know what? Fine.” He blew out air before I was met with his icy stare. “I know I’ve been acting like an asshole, but it’s because I’m under a lot of pressure with football.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “And on top of that, I have all the shit that went on with Chloe.”

“Chloe?” Why would he suddenly bring his ex’s name up? “I thought you were the one who ended things with her.”

“Yeah.” He shrugged. “After she cheated on me with that beast.”

He leaned closer toward me. “I mean, of all the people here, she just had to pick that crazy son of a bitch? The guy is a mad dog. I swear, Miley. He’s going to kill someone someday.”

I shrugged.

“Don’t call him crazy,” I said even though I wasn’t so sure it was far from the truth.

Shay-Lee gave me an apologetic look. “You’re right, I’m sorry. Anyway,” he continued, “Chloe started telling people I can’t get it up. Do you believe the bitch? Trashing me, saying I’ve got ED and shit.”

I gasped. “She what?”

“Yeah. The skank spread lies about me after I refused to get back with her. Sure, she’s mad, but c’mon. She’s the one who cheated on me, and now she’s turned me into the bad guy. Just ’cause I’m a dude doesn’t mean this shit doesn’t hurt.”

“Of course it doesn’t.” I took his hand in mine. “She has no right to spread those lies.”

“I know, right?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, when I noticed he tangled our fingers together. We were always touchy with each other, but ever since I started dating Andrei, our friendly touches felt awkward.