Page 40 of Attractive Forces

“We better get back in there. I think it’s finishing up,” Sammy says finally.

“Yeah, okay.”

I stumble to stand, and suddenly, the world is swaying. Everything is a blurry, swirly mess.

“Shit, Jake, you’re going to get us caught,” Sammy says as I cling to the side of the building to keep myself vertical.

Luckily, they’ve opened the back doors of the gym, and people are streaming out, so I can avoid going back through there and having the teachers notice me.

I get out my phone and send Benji a message telling him I’m making my own way home.

I don’t want to face my friends right now. Especially not Chloe.

My house isn’t that far. I’ll walk.

But while my idea is solid, my ability to walk seems to have faded in the last hour.

I stagger out to the footpath, and my stomach tilts ominously.

Shit.

My stomach lurches, and suddenly, I’m on my hands and knees, puking in the gutter. Initially, I feel relief, but then the smell of vomit and the taste in my mouth almost have me hurling again.

My palms have little stones embedded in them from the curb. I try to focus on that and steady my breathing so I don’t throw up again.

“Jake?” There’s surprise in someone’s voice.

Oh god. It’s Logan. Just freaking fantastic. Exactly who I want to see right now.

I glance up. Jennifer is standing next to him looking perfect, her crown still perched on her head. Meanwhile, I’m surrounded by a puddle of my own vomit.

Logan crouches down next to me. He puts a tentative hand on my back. “Jake.”

Just go away. Go to your hotel room with your girlfriend and leave me in a pile of my own vomit.

He withdraws, and I wonder if I said the words aloud.

But then I hear a muttered conversation and Jennifer’s squawking protests, and I manage to look up with blurry eyes and see him coming back to me.

“I can’t leave him here. He’s my friend,” he says to Jennifer.

And suddenly, Logan’s arms are around me, and he’s pulling me to my feet. I fall into his chest. He smells like Logan, a lemony, woodsy scent.

“You smell like spring,” I try to tell him.

“Yeah, well, you’re not smelling all that great right now,” he replies. “My car is just over there. You think you can make it?”

“Yep.”

I try to get my senses to enjoy this moment, being squashed against Logan as he manhandles me. We reach his car, and he opens the door and bundles me into the front seat.

“Come on, buddy. I’ll get you home.” His voice is gentle as he reaches over to do my seat belt.

This is what I’ve wanted, isn’t it? Logan, all to myself. Logan, with his attention focused on me.

Yeah, maybe not exactly like this.

I definitely didn’t envision him having to pull over twice on the way home for me to puke.