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I didn’t bother with the lunch line today. Instead, I headed straight for our table. Tanner hadn’t been kidding about the popcorn. I actually laughed when I saw him seated there with a bowl full. I wasn’t sure where he could have gotten it, but the guy was damn resourceful.

Laurie was sitting next to Jake today—no surprises there. Though Jake didn’t seem quite as receptive to her flirtatious advances as he had in the last couple of weeks. In fact, he appeared to be ignoring her completely.

Laurie didn’t seem ruffled by his lack of attention, or by whatever had gone on in the corridor with Madi earlier. Despite Tanner’s hopes, I didn’t actually want to make a scene with her. I just needed to talk to her and clear the air.

She smiled up at me seductively as I approached, her hands quickly moving from where they were on Jake’s arm.

“Hey, Cole,” she said.

“Hey, can we go outside for a talk?”

She lifted one eyebrow at me, and a look of concern spread across her face, as if she could sense danger. “We can talk here. Why don’t you take a seat,” she said, indicating the free chair beside her.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’d rather talk to you in private.”

Her face transformed as I spoke, becoming hard and defiant. It was like she could read my mind, and she knew I was there to confront her about Madi. Tanner was right, she wasn’t afraid of making a scene.

She waved a hand at the people around us. “Whatever you have to say, they’ll all find out eventually. What is it you want to talk about?”

She definitely wanted to make a scene. It was like she knew she was going down, and she wanted to take me with her. People already had their phones out and pointed in our direction. Whatever was said now was probably going out to everyone who watched True Love. I was beyond tempering my words for the camera though. Everyone needed to know the truth.

“I heard what you did to Madi,” I said. “All of it.”

The room went quiet, and I could sense people shuffling in their chairs as they turned to watch Laurie and me. Tension rippled through the air, and it felt like everyone was holding their breaths as they waited to hear her response.

“And?” she asked.

“And I think you need to apologize.”

Laurie laughed. “I’m the victim in all of this. I think Madi needs to be the one apologizing to me. She wrongfully accused me of cheating. I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a cheat.”

“I don't know much about the cheating, Laurie, but I’m sure if we review the True Love voting the last couple of weeks the truth will come to light.”

Her face paled at my comment and her eyes narrowed.

“But the voting is the least of my worries right now,” I continued. “If you don’t make things right with Madi, then I’m afraid I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Fine by me, Cole,” she replied.

She went to turn back to the table, but I wasn’t giving up so easily.

“That means you need to find somewhere else to sit at lunch,” I said. I knew it was a low blow, but Laurie was playing dirty, and it seemed I was going to have to get a little muddy too.

Laurie’s eyes flashed with anger as she looked over her shoulder at me. “This table doesn’t belong to you. You can’t just banish me from it,” she said.

“I think I just did.”

She spun around to face Jake. “Surely you don’t agree with this, Jake?”

Jake shifted uncomfortably in his chair as Laurie turned her attention on him. “Actually, I do agree with Cole,” he said. “I heard what you did, and it isn’t right.”

Laurie scowled. “So, you’re picking your ex-girlfriend over me?”

“I’m not picking anyone,” Jake replied with a sigh. “Just apologize to her, Laurie.”

I realized my mouth was hanging open as I stared between the two of them and I quickly shut it. No way did I ever think Jake of all people would have had my back.

Laurie slammed her hands down on the table and pushed herself to stand. “Fine, whatever, you guys can have your stupid table.” She looked around at the rest of our friends who were still seated. “Come on guys, we can start a new table.”