Chapter 27 Misunderstanding
Ryder hung up the phone.
Chloe leaned against the table. She looked nothing like she did at school. Mini skirt, fitted tee, hair falling over her slim back, a rhinestone necklace winking at her throat.
She bounced a pool ball in her hand. "Is Leo coming?"
"Almost at the door," Ryder said.
She tossed her hair, showing off the pearl stud at her ear. Her lips, glossy with tinted balm, pressed into a soft smile.
Four people at the table. Two guys, two girls.
As Chloe's best friend at school, when Chloe wanted to come, naturally Mia tagged along.
It was Mia's first time at a pool hall. She'd dug out her prettiest dress, tried half a dozen hairstyles at home, hated all of them, and ended up in her usual ponytail.
Mia's gaze swept past Ryder's overgrown bangs with a flicker of distaste and landed on the other boy.
This one had a head of conspicuous green hair. Taller than Ryder, fairer too.
She pressed her lips together and stepped closer. "Hi."
Reed was chugging a Sprite. He quickly lowered the bottle. "What's up?"
Mia kept her voice low. "I don't know how to play. Could you teach me?"
"Oh." Reed didn't think much of it. "Yeah, sure, totally."
He grabbed a cue, looking a little sheepish. "I'm not that great either. You mind?"
"Not at all, not at all." Mia's face was red. She couldn't nod fast enough.
Ryder raised an eyebrow and dropped onto the bench to give them space.
Chloe chewed on her boba straw. She saw right through Mia's little act.
But she didn't say anything.
After all, a guy like this was about the best Mia could do.
She opened her phone camera, checked her makeup, confirmed everything was perfect, and flashed a flawless smile.
She'd been eyeing the new iPhone 17 Pro Max. Pricey, sure, but she could afford it. Still, with Leo around to foot the bill, why pay out of her own pocket?
She'd planned to wear him down today, but Leo had taken the day off. After school, she overheard Ryder talking about shooting pool and just invited herself along.
From the corner of her eye, she caught Ryder standing up. Leo must be here.
Chloe pocketed her phone and lifted her lips into a smile toward the door. The smile froze the second she saw who walked in.
Luna spotted Chloe right away. She raised an eyebrow, teasing. "Oh. Made plans with the ladies?"
"What?" Leo clicked his tongue. "I didn't know she was here."
Ryder practically bounced out of his chair. "Luna! What are you doing here?"
Luna smiled. "Bored. Came out to have some fun."
Leo clicked his tongue again. He crossed his arms and stared Ryder down.
Ryder went numb under the stare. While Luna was grabbing a cue, he whispered, "Leo, what's up? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Leo slung an arm around his neck and pulled him down. "You got a thing for my sister?"
"I wouldn't dare." Ryder's face went scarlet. "I just think Luna's really nice, that's all."
"Really?" Leo sounded skeptical.
"Really." Ryder straightened up, nodding for dear life.
"Leo."
A familiar voice cut in.
Both turned. Chloe tucked her hair behind her ear, face full of concern. "Are you feeling better?"
Leo's expression softened. "I'm fine now."
"That's good." Chloe bit her lip. "When I saw you weren't at school today, I was really worried about you."
Leo paused, about to tell her not to worry.
Luna popped up out of nowhere. "Then how come you didn't text him?"
"..."
A brief, heavy silence.
Chloe almost cracked. "I... I don't really text people. I think it's better to say things face-to-face."
Luna turned to Leo. "It's 2025. You actually believe that?"
Leo's mouth twitched.
Before he could speak, Chloe looked at Luna, all wounded. "Luna, is there some kind of misunderstanding between us? Why do you keep coming after me?"
"Misunderstanding?" Luna handed the cue to Ryder and crossed her arms.
She thought for a beat. "Are you saying the misunderstanding is that you took Leo's expensive gift and then didn't let him come to your birthday party? Or maybe the misunderstanding is that the dress Leo bought you, you went around telling everyone your mom got it for you?"
"..."
Ryder almost laughed out loud.
He was sharp about these things. He'd caught every one of Chloe's glances. The open disdain. The quiet contempt.
He couldn't stand her either. Always felt like she was stringing Leo along. Saying she cared about him while doing everything to hurt him.
Seeing Chloe finally get taken down a peg? Yeah, he was enjoying this.
"That was my fault, I know." Chloe sniffled. "The other kids in class don't have the best impression of you. I was worried if you came, they'd talk behind your back and make you uncomfortable..."
"I get it." Leo's expression shifted. "I just wanted to wish you happy birthday. That's all I was thinking."
Luna: ?
Verdict's in.
Her idiot brother was a hopeless romantic through and through.
She couldn't even watch. Let out a heavy sigh.
She took the cue back from Ryder and was about to break when Ryder's phone buzzed.
He glanced at the caller ID. His face shifted. He picked up immediately.
Whatever was said on the other end, Ryder roared back: "Hold on, I'm coming home right now!"
Leo frowned. "What happened?"
Ryder scrambled for the keys on the table. "That mistress showed up at the house again. My mom and dad are fighting. I gotta go."
He bolted.
Chloe smiled. "Well, we can keep playing..."
"I'm done too. I'm going with him." Leo said.
Chloe's smile snapped off. "What did you just say?"
"Sorry."
That was all he said. Leo took off after Ryder.
Luna clicked her tongue. "Wow."
After Leo left, Chloe's face cooled. She looked at Luna. "What's with the wow?"
"Mind your business." Luna scoffed and walked out too.
She stepped out of the pool hall. Ryder was already gone.
Leo was sitting on a rental scooter, fumbling with his phone.
Luna jogged over. "I'm coming too."
Leo blinked, then lifted his chin at a clean-looking rental scooter next to him. "Ride this. Two blocks down, you're there."
He was clearly in a rush. Twisted the throttle and took off.
Left Luna standing there. Alone.
She stared after Leo's retreating back in disbelief, then looked down at the scooter. Locked eyes with it.
A few minutes of a staredown.
Someone pulled up beside her. The faint scent of fresh laundry drifted over on the breeze and caught Luna's nose.
She whipped her head around. Jax stood two steps away, in a black tee.