Be My Rebound by Arya Matthews

Author:Arya Matthews [Matthews, Arya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inked Keyboard Publishing
Published: 2022-11-21T16:00:00+00:00

Jace

When Laurel draws her next stick, she takes several seconds to look at it, and I fear it’s the kiss one. She wouldn’t let me kiss her, not that I want to, but I don’t even want to think who she’d make me kiss instead.

“Truth,” she says at last.

I exhale. “Bring it.”

Her eyes meet mine, steady and cold. “Do you still love her?”

“Well, this is getting interesting,” someone mutters. Everyone else keeps quiet.

“How many times am I going to tell you?” I fish out the next stick. “I don’t love her anymore. Truth.”

“That’s a lie,” Laurel says through her teeth. “That’s all you do. You lie about everything.”

I thought she’d settled down somewhat after our fight, but it seems I was wrong. I try to use my calmest tone as I reply, “Just because you can’t accept my answer doesn’t make it a lie. It’s truth, by the way. The stick.” I show her my pick.

“Again? You’re cheating for sure.”

“Are you two dating?” Juliette asks even though I haven’t indicated whether I want to ask the question or let others do it. I shoot her a what-are-you-doing look. She pretends to adjust her hair.

“I won’t answer that,” Laurel says. “A non-player asked the question. Pass the bucket.”

“Okay.” Briar jumps in, all too eager to fuel the drama. “Are you and Jace dating?”

I wish I’d drawn anything but that truth stick. This will definitely end in tears now.

Laurel flashes me a smile that promises grief and misery. “No. Jace is unavailable.”

My skin crawls from the general feeling of “huh?” wafting off everyone present. “All right, next.” I pass the bucket.

Skylar, my neighbor, draws a stick and announces his fate. “Kiss.”

His girlfriend kisses him upon his request. They get into it with a little too much enthusiasm, evoking catty encouragements.

“What do you mean, I’m unavailable?” I continue stirring the anthill that is me and Laurel, which is already on fire. I do try to whisper though. “If we’re not dating, what are we doing?”

Laurel huffs. “I’m just a dumb old rebound. No, no, actually. Never mind. I’m not even that—”

I don’t think I could stare at her any harder. “Are you kidding me? You’re jealous? Is this what it’s all about?”

“Jealous?” Her voice rises enough for all to hear, not that anyone’s upset about it. All ears rotate toward us. “To be jealous, I would first need to like you.”

“Of course you like me. Why would you be so ticked off if you didn’t?”

Rolling her eyes, Laurel crosses her arms on her chest and turns away.

Across the patio, Link mouths to me, “She totally does,” and even Shane offers me a knowing smile. Why did I even look at him?

During her next turn, Laurel pretty much shoves the stick into my eyes. “Fire.”

Everyone else hoots and claps. We are everything they could’ve hoped and dreamed of in terms of this game. I raise my second shot glass high and toast Laurel before I down the hot sauce. It’s not even the tasty kind with invigorating undertones.

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