Adrianna smirks wickedly, calling for someone to cut the music and telling the girls to take five. Her eyes are set on me, and I can tell from her stride that she’s determined on us crossing paths.
I try to quicken my pace to dodge her without tipping off Olivia, but Adrianna is persistent and manages to step right into our path.
“Bronx,” she says in a sickeningly sweet tone, her smile razor sharp as she stops us. “What have you been up to?” she asks, her eyes scanning me from head to toe while she places her hand on my bicep, squeezing possessively.
I chuckle uncomfortably. “Nothing much.”
“Hey, why don’t we have dinner tonight,” she suggests, her hand running down my arm and grabbing my hand. “I mean, I have to shower first.” She laughs flirtatiously, gesturing to her body, which is covered by a black sports bra and tiny gym shorts.
I clear my throat, awkwardly pulling my hand out of hers. “Sorry, Ads. I’m busy.”
Adrianna’s eyes darken and flick over to a very uncomfortable Olivia. “And who is this?” she asks me, folding her arms over her chest, clearly displeased.
“This is my tutor, Olivia,” I say, not even willing to introduce them.
“Tutor?” Adrianna practically laughs. “What do you need a tutor for?”
“She’s just helping me with anatomy,” I say, dying to end this conversation.
Adrianna’s eyes narrow and turn a wicked shade of green. “But you know all about anatomy, don’t you, Bronx?” she says, her voice packed with meaning.
“Adrianna,” I practically hiss in warning.
“Olivia?” someone calls from behind us.
I turn to see Rat Boy heading our way, Delilah behind him with slight panic in her eyes.
As if this situation couldn’t get any worse if it tried.
“I thought Delilah said you were skipping MCAT prep because you weren’t feeling well and your mom was going to take you home instead,” Rat Boy says, standing next to Olivia.
Delilah stands behind him, her eyes wide behind her thick glasses as she slightly shakes her head, desperately trying to silently communicate with Olivia without him knowing.
Olivia stares helplessly at her friend, trying to read her mind.
“Yeah, I’m actually going to go meet up with her now. My head has been killing me, so I think it’s best if I just go home with her and get some rest,” she says, following up her statement with an awkward, uneasy laugh.
She’s such a bad liar.
Why can’t she just tell him the truth, that she’s spending time with me? The obsessive little twerp is just going to have to accept the fact that he doesn’t own her and she can hang out with whomever she pleases.
I look at Delilah, and she looks like she mentally wants to hit her face with her palm.
“Really?” Rat Boy says, raising a dark brow in challenge. “Because we just ran into her, and she said she was in a rush because she has to attend a mandatory staff meeting.”
Busted.
Olivia’s eyes widen. “Uh, I—” she stutters, stalling, trying to think of another lie.
“Yeah,” she says eventually, clearing her throat and evening her voice. “She forgot, and I’m on my way to pick up the keys from her now to drive myself home.”
“Then how is she going to get home?” he counters, clearly unconvinced.
“A colleague said they can drop her off,” she says, voice still a bit shaky.
“Oh, yeah, doesn’t Ms. Tillman live in your neighborhood?” Delilah cuts in, trying her best to save her friend.
“Yeah, yeah, Ms. Tillman is going to drive her home,” Olivia says.
