No Matter What You Do

11. Peek-a-boo

She pulls me into the women’s bathroom and not gently.

“What was that? Did I actually witness that?”

It was pretty terrible. I guess I shouldn’t have skipped out on those Kissing 101 lessons. It sucks being so unqualified.

“What did I see? Were you playing peek-a-boo?” she adds.

“Please stop talking about it. The more I think about the kiss the more I wanna die.”

“You need to redo that because that did not count.”

I shake my head. No way in hell is that happening. It’s not even the thought of kissing him again that makes me cringe. He smelled great and was great at whatever that was. I just can’t explain what the hell I pulled out there.

A toilet flushes, and our conversation is interrupted by Brazely. Someone needs to put a cowbell on this girl. She was just in the other room.

In silence, Brandy and I watch her wash her hands and reapply her lip gloss. She looks me in the eye through the mirror. “Problem?” she asks.

“Yes.”

Brandy pulls on my arm. “Let’s go.”

“I wish you would,” Brazely says.

Brandy pulls on me again, but I stay put. I make a face that says go, I’ll be out in a second. She shakes her head and walks out.

“I’m not after Tamara, so you can stop.”

Brazely tucks her lip gloss in her bra and turns fully to face me. “Excuse me?”

“That’s why you bumped into me. You don’t like me talking to your ex.” Oh I’ve struck a nerve.

She approaches until we are about a foot apart, her cheap Hollister perfume tickling my nose. How funny would it be if I sneezed on her at this distance?

“For the record,” she says behind clenched teeth. “I don’t give a shit what you do or who you talk to. You don’t threaten me. You’re short and dress like a ten-year-old.”

“I thought I resembled your homeless aunt.” Ballsy.

“You’re exhausting,” she hisses. On her way out, she bangs my shoulder again.

The only way I can imagine Tamara dating a girl like Brazely is if somehow she used to be a sweet angel, then she sold her soul to the devil and became a soulless bitch.

This is the first time someone has actively disliked me, and it makes me sick. I’m the most likable person I know.

I walk out behind Brazely and find Brandy at the bar. “We should go.”

“You can’t go.” Tamara pops up beside me. “Did you kiss Cameron?”

Oh God.

“I just can’t face him after the embarrassment I feel right now.”

“What did he do?”

“What did who do?” Cameron asks. What is up with people just appearing out of thin air? When did we start teleporting?

“You did something to make Lainey wanna leave,” Tamara teases.

“Right, okay.” He stares at me. “I have a question for you.”

Brandy picks up her phone. “This is my aunt.” She puts the phone to her ear. “Hey, girl, hey!” She grabs Tamara’s arm and yanks her away.

Cameron leans over the counter. “So. Long time no see.”

“Sorry about that. That was really weird.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t mind it so much. If I knew you wanted to kiss me, I could have given you better.”

My cheeks grow warm, and I try to laugh it off. “Noted.”

He looks at me in a way I’ve never been looked at. For a moment, his eyes are glued to my chest. I cross my arms over myself and stand up straight. He looks back at my face. “Next time just let me know.” He smirks after a moment of my silence. “Do you kiss everyone like that?”

“That was my first.” He didn’t ask, loser.

“That’s surprising.”

“Really?”

He shakes his head with a smirk. “Get better soon. If not for yourself, for your future husband.” The smile that accompanies his comments makes me incapable of taking offense.

Crap, he’s so hot.

Now that I’m not seeing him as a dickface anymore, I think I’m screwed.