are all on account of our teenage hormones. That must be the culprit. I tried to imagine him touching me, kissing me and it didn’t gross me out—not in the slightest—like it once would have so it’s a no-brainer. Hormones. I just need to keep that in mind and be rational until everything simmers down. He’s a guy; he will find another girl to chase in no time.
My friends all slide into a seat one by one, chattering away, oblivious to my private thoughts about sparkling honey brown eyes and irritating stunts devised for the soul purpose of embarrassing me to death. Two minutes into lunch I catch sight of a saunter belonging to the one and only Sylas Broussard. He marches right past his friends and people trying to say hello to him. His brown eyes locked onto his target—me. They’re glued to me even from across the large commons area. My gut twists wondering what the hell he’s up to. He comes to a stop at our table.
“Excuse me ladies,” he says snagging an unclaimed plastic chair. “Y’all don’t mind if I join you?” he asks shimmying his chair between Jenny and Mika with a flirty smile on his face and his brows wiggling at them. They glance between each other then smile and scoot over making room for him to squeeze in. I narrow my eyes at him questioningly. “Mmm, that looks great,” he says leaning forward a little to survey the Salisbury steak with gravy and mashed potatoes I got from the lunch line today. “I like that one best from the lunch line. Definitely my favorite,” he says resolutely, ticking his finger in the air.
“It is good…” I murmur with my head cocked, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“But it ain’t near as good as this,” he says patting his backpack. My skin pricks and my eyes narrow further. He simply smirks with a raised brow as he unzips his bag and produces a paper sack from within emblazoned with Old Bayou Diner’s logo on the front.
“You didn’t,” I gasp understanding that if I know Sylas Broussard at all, he absolutely did. I watch with buggy eyes, disbelieving eyes as he fishes a slightly smashed foil wrapped sandwich and a carton of fries from the paper sack. He unfolds it taking his sweet time as he goes, prolonging my misery. His smug smile only growing wider by the second. Everything slips into slow motion as he folds a thick cut French fry into his mouth, smiling like a lunatic all the while.
“I have it on good authority that this sandwich is the best.” He nods and pats the foil wrapper. “Four different cheeeeses,” he feigns excitement, mocking what I said to him outside my work. He’s bluffing. No way is he going to eat that. The weirdo won’t even eat pizza because he hates cheese that much. He grins, peeling back the wrapper of the sandwich then promptly takes a huge bite. I watch him fight a grimace and several gagging moments as he chews. He’s tricking me. It’s a bacon sandwich or something. I lunge across the table snagging the sandwich from him, peeling the bread apart. Gooey, melted cheese. He did it. “Mmm, tastes like… victory,” he hums, swallowing hard and turning a slightly paler shade. He did it. He really did it knowing I’d given him my word and I would of course honor the deal I had made. It’s who I am—who I’ve always been.
“You’re unbelievable,” I guffaw.
“And you’re going on a date with me Saturday night,” he declares with a face-splitting smile and a wink before he promptly gulps down half of my soda in an effort to get rid of the taste of cheese no doubt.
“I see I have underestimated how desperate you can be,” I grumble the similar words we spoke at the picnic table. I slide my tray to him and drag the grilled cheese sandwich over to my side of the table then snatch my soda from his hand.
“Yes, well I have excellent motivation,” he says, volleying words right back while his eyes rake over my face. Without saying another word, we both eat our preferred meals avoiding the puzzled glances from my friends.
Chapter 9
Sylas
Chick was right. Rae is definitely different than I remember—in a whole pile of ways. In a non-creepy way, but more of a pining for the one that got away way, I’ve kept tabs on her using the internet and by