Tell Me Not to Go by Victoria De La O

Author:Victoria De La O [De La O, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250122094
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2016-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17: Sam

Still 64 Days Left

I try not to stare at Andrea as she eats, but I can’t help it. She takes small, dainty bites that leave her face pristine. Her fork never clanks against the plate, she doesn’t spill anything on the tablecloth. She doesn’t laugh too loudly, or make any asinine remarks. She doesn’t even roll her eyes when her dipshit of a boyfriend makes his hundredth braggy remark of the night. Of course not. Sometimes I wonder if there’s a secret school for rich girls that teaches this shit.

My thoughts are so bitter, and so obnoxious, that I actually have to laugh out loud at myself. It’s not Andrea’s fault that she’s perfect for Jeff. He’d swipe right on her profile, for sure. But then again he came looking for me, so maybe he doesn’t agree. After all, we started dating after he met her.

Jeff smiles at me again, like he’s trying to make up with me telepathically. Too bad I’m not one to go quietly. I think we’re going to need a good old-fashioned ball-busting fight to get this one smoothed over. Why did he go out of his way to tell Andrea I’m not his girlfriend? Is he keeping her on the back burner for after I leave? That’s doesn’t seem like Jeff’s MO; he’s nothing if not honest—blunt, even. And he didn’t say anything untrue. I’m not his girlfriend, and I probably don’t have any right to feel possessive or jealous.

Funny how that doesn’t matter one frickin’ bit.

I put my hand on his, and he looks down in surprise and gives it a squeeze. I may be mad at him, but I still want to touch him.

Later, I mouth to him, and he nods.

“So while you were making dinner, I was down in the wine cellar,” Keller announces to the table. “We can head into the game room after this and get shitfaced.”

“I’m watching Die Hard,” Eli says. “Keller’s TV is seventy-five inches.”

Someone’s compensating for something.

I want to lean over and whisper this to Jeff, but I’m not totally sure how he feels about Keller. I think I sensed irritation earlier, but they do work together. So I judge mentally instead. Because, seriously, Keller’s ego is bigger than that TV.

Once we’re settled in the game room, Eli starts the movie, which is old-school action at its best. I shove another handful of popcorn in as I watch Bruce walk barefoot on glass.

“Ahh. No, no, no!” Eli’s girlfriend, Rebecca, says, covering her eyes.

“Nice. You’ve never seen this.” I hand her the popcorn.

“No. It’s kind of terrible.”

“And awesome, right?” Eli says. He tries to be a bro like Keller, but he doesn’t seem to have a jaded bone in his body. He praised Rajiv’s dinner for ten minutes straight, he almost hugged this TV, and he looked at me like Mother Teresa when I made the popcorn. Eli appreciates the simple things, and that usually says good things about someone.

Eli turns and smiles at Rebecca as he dips his hand in the popcorn bowl.

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