Page 26 of Dirty Liars
I don’t seeBlair again until lunch the following day. I hadn’t even realized I was looking for him until the sound of his voice makes a part of me perk up that I wish didn’t exist.
He materializes between me and Dana sinks down onto the bench so close to me that I can feel the heat coming off his body. He slides his elbow over the table and rests his head in his hand, eyeing me with a seductive smile.
“Hey Bunny.” His voice is black velvet.
I’ve never seen Dana move so fast in my life. One minute she’s eating a burger with two hands beside me, the next she’s just a swish of dark hair on her way out the hall. She’s going to pay for abandoning me like this.
Before he can even start with me, I give him a dark look. I can’t just run away like Dana.
Besides, of all the boys, I might actually be able to get a … somewhat … straight answer from Blair about just what the heck is going on.
First thing’s first.
“Are you always in on Astor’s pranks?”
He looks confused. “Pranks? I don’t know what—”
I cut him off. I can’t let his silver tongue make me forget what I’m trying to say here.
“That day that my paper went missing, you were behind that weren’t you?” I say, completely blunt.
He doesn’t react at all; his expression remains casual and cool. He only smiles a little.
“Oh, did Astor take it while I was talking to you?” he asks, sounding less than lukewarm in his interest.
I can feel irritation bubbling up inside me. I know better.
“You got me detention because you were distracting me. A detention, I might remind you, that you didn’t even attend.”
He leans forward and runs a fingertip over my forearm. “Do I distract you? Because I’d certainly like to.”
I yank my arm away and knit my brow at him. “If you’re going to be that way, then I have nothing to say to you.”
He looks at me with a half-cocked smile. “Fine. I was there because you were there.”
“No kidding,” I reply coldly. “But were youalsothere to help Astor get me into trouble?”
Blair shrugs one shoulder and smiles a little. “What if I was? Was it so bad? Astor’s just teasing you. You’re a strong girl. You can take it. In fact, if you play along, you might even like it.”
He tries to lean in for another kiss on the cheek, but once again Mr. Davis just happens to be walking by and catches him before it actually happens. Not that it would have.
“Blair! Sadie!” He glares at both of us, but he glares at me longer. “My office again. Tonight.” He points a finger at Blair. “And you better actually show up this time.”
I slap my palms down on the table in frustration as soon as his back is turned.
“Are youkiddingme?”
Blair just chuckles. “Sorry Bunny … I can’t help it.”
Some of the anger ebbs in me as I realize Blair is right. He can’t help it. He can’t change.
I know he’s not going to quit playing games with me. It’s a fascination for him. He just loves to be bad.
I stand up and shake my head. “I’m done,” I say, and he vaults to his feet as his hand shoots out, slipping around my waist and pulling me tight against him.
“Come on, detention isn’t so bad. Let me make it up to you,” he murmurs in a low voice, so close to my face. His mischievous green eyes are burning into mine.
“You’ve got a lot of making up to do, and none of it is going to be like this,” I smart off to him, wishing he didn’t make every part of me suddenly heat up at his touch. “I’ll see you in detention.”
