Page 191 of Headstrong Like Us

“Being shot down for a kiss is like face-planting when you’re trying to accept a participation award. And it waslegitimatelyawkward. You know what, he stared at me for a full-second like I spoke fuckingThebulanfrom Luna’s tentacle smut.”

Donnelly hops up on the balcony railing. “That’s my favorite smut.”

“Exactly.” Oscar gestures to him. “Where’d you come from?”

“Bathroom.” Donnelly slips a cigarette behind his ear and gives me a rising smile. “Dr. Hale.”Feels good to hear my last name.“What are we talking ‘bout?” His South Philly accent is thick.

I motion to Oscar.

He sighs. “I asked Highland if I could kiss him, and I was rejected.”

Donnelly nods. “At least you asked for consent.”

Oscar blinks, deer-in-the-headlights. Reliving the embarrassment.

Now I do feel badly. “Did Jack say anything to you?”

“Yeah.” Oscar expels a heavier breath. “He said,thanks, but I’m straight.”

I cringe.

“Don’t even say it,” Oscar tells me.

I’m going to say it. “I told you not to fall for a straight boy.”

He lets out a rough sigh. “I had to give it a shot. He’s hot and he’s stolen three pieces of my wardrobe already.”

“Yeah?” I frown.

“Yeah, he’s got my bandana, my sweatshirt, and he borrowed my extra belt this morning.” He shakes his head. “You bet your ass when I can stare the guy in the eyes again, I’m collecting all that shit.” He touches his chest. “I could land just about anyone. I’m aten, and I can’t keep doing this.” He’s frustrated.

“It’ll be okay,” I tell him.

Donnelly hops off the balcony and picks up the plate off the armrest. “Cake?” he offers to Oscar.

We laugh.

Oscar takes his plate back, eats a bite and eases against the lounge chair.

Donnelly checks over his shoulder. “Guess what I heard in the bathroom?” He has a shit-eating grin.

“Gossip,” Oscar guesses.

“Some type of bullshit,” I chime in.

“Yes and maybe.” He smirks at me. “I heard Tom Cobalt talking to Eliot about how you saved him in the bathroom at the bachelor party. And I don’t think he knew I came in, ‘cause he told his brother,Remember when I had a crush on Farrow growing up?”

I choke on a laugh. “No.”

“Yeah, Tom had a crush on you.”

I make a slight cringe-face. Not sure what I feel.

Oscar bursts out laughing. “Your face, Redford.”

“I know I’m hot, butwhat?” I never noticed Tom Cobalt having a thing for me, but that’s most likely because I tend to not pick up underagecrushing.

Shit, Oscar and Donnelly don’t even know that Maximoff had a sixteen-year-old crush on me, and I find that teenage crush cute as fuck. Mostly because he hates when I mention it.