31. Langdon
Thirty One
Langdon
I ’m waiting for Niko’s football practice to end. It’s getting chilly in the evenings and I’m not ready for it. My mood is terrible. I fucked everything up at work today with Delia. My jealousy—that need-to-know aspect took over. I just wanted to know if Danny was anything to worry about but I went about it all wrong.
And she’s not wrong.
I do ignore her at school but only so Hailie will stay away from her. The last thing she needs is Hailie on her ass. Niko jogs over to me when practice ends.
“My dude, what’s up?” he asks and slaps me hard on the shoulder.
“I messed up,” I tell him. Niko stares at me waiting for more. “I messed around with Delia Sunday. And I like her. And today I told her. At work. And shit…”
“Woah, slow down. When did you start liking her? This is all news to me,” Niko says.
“Yeah, well, thing is, I’ve been keeping it a secret. Cause—Hailie.”
“Dude, we all know you and Hailie aren’t a thing why are you so paranoid about her?”
“Do you remember my last two girlfriends?”
“No,” he answers.
“Yeah, cause Hailie bullied them so hard they dumped me before I could do anything. She’s the devil.”
Niko rolls his eyes. “That’s a little extreme don’t you think?”
I shake my head. “I’m telling you Nik, if she can’t have me no one can and I didn’t want to put a target on Delia’s back. She wouldn’t be able to handle Hailie.”
Niko laughs. “Yeah right. I’d watch that cat fight. I think they’re equally matched.”
“I’m serious man. What am I going to do? I really stuck my foot in my mouth today.”
Niko puts me in a headlock and says, “Let’s get some protein in us and then figure out your love life.”
“Fine. Diner?”
“Sounds good. See you there.”
***
The Diner is unusually packed for a Wednesday night. A groan slipped out of me when I walked in. Hailie was sitting in the back corner with some other cheerleaders. I grab a table for me and Niko as she saunters over.
“What’s wrong? You look miserable,” she says taking the seat across from me.
I scrub a hand over my face. “Girl problems.”
“What girl?” she asks, her eyes narrowing.
“It was a joke Hailie, relax.”
“Ha. Ha. Why don’t you just let me give you girl problems,” she says and then she fucking winks.
“Not interested. Thanks.” I see Niko on the sidewalk. Hurry up, man. “But I know a guy who is,” I say.
Hailie rolls her eyes and follows my eyes to Niko.
“Come on Lang, we make a great couple. The whole school would be jealous of us. Let’s have some fun.”
“Who’s having fun?” Niko asks. He stares at Hailie, waiting for her to move so he can sit.
“No one apparently. Lang’s in one of his moods,” she says and stands up. Niko slides into her seat and then pats his lap.
“I’ve been told I’m a good time.” Hailie laughs before flipping her hair over one shoulder and walking away. Gross.
“Rude!” he shouts at her back. He looks at me. “Did you order for us yet?”
I laugh, only Niko can be hungry and unfazed by rejection simultaneously. “No. She attacked as soon as she saw me.”
Niko wags a finger in the air to get the waitress’s attention—a move I hate—but somehow when Niko does it, it isn’t as ostentatious as other people. He orders us three large pizzas. Two of which I know he will eat by himself.
“So what do I do about Delia.” I lean toward him and whisper her name paranoid that classmates will hear me talking about her.
“Well for one, you should probably stop whispering about her if you actually want to date her,” Niko says.
I groan. “You are useless. ”
“Listen, it seems like you have two options. One; like her—out loud, in public, or two, pine away for her privately and run the risk of Danny getting her attention instead of you because he’s not afraid to like her out loud.”
I stare at him in a way that makes sure he understands I think he’s ridiculous. “Again. Useless. I know all this.”
Niko takes a giant gulp of his water. “Then what’s the hangup?”
“You’re the worst,” I grumble.
Niko shrugs. “Seems like a no-brainer to me. What’s so special about her anyway? Just cause she’s new?”
I wrinkle my brow at him. “No, you idiot.”
“Dude, you’re being such a chick about this. Keep doing what you’re doing. Mess around, hook up. Keep it secret. What more do you want?”
What more did I want? I want to hug her. I want to pull her in close and taste her lips over and over. I want to hold her hand in the hallway. I want to make her smile and hear her laugh. I wanted nothing—everything. Jesus, I am a chick.
“Nothing. I want nothing more,” I say instead.
“She’s pretty and all but come on man, you can have your pick of the school.”
“Who’s pretty?” Hailie asks from behind me. I shiver at the sound of her voice.
The waitress plops three tiers of pizza on our table. Niko grabs a slice and shoves it in his face while mumbling new girl . I glare at him in a way I hope physically wounds him.
“Eh, she’s okay. Kinda boring if you ask me,” Hailie says. She plants her hands on my shoulders and starts massaging. “ You can do better though.”
Niko almost chokes on his pizza. I shove my chair back and excuse myself to the bathroom.