Page 9 of Ly to Me

He almost looked…intrigued.

“I’m fine,” I repeated.

His hand made circles in the air, and when I didn’t continue, he did. “And you’re welcome.”

I peered over his shoulder—or tried to, anyway. He was much taller than I was, and had he not been a respectable distance, I might even fear the way he was now grinning at me. “Shouldn’t your eyes be”—I flopped my hand out, gesturing toward the rest of the guys and girls not too far from us—“over there?”

“What if I want my eyes right here?” He cocked his head, slicking back his slightly overgrown brown hair. I didn’t know much about the army program, but I thought they were supposed to keep their hair short and well-kempt.

I shook my head, swiping the grass free from my skin one more time. “You don’t want your eyes anywhere near me, Army Boy.”

He chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest. “Army Boy, huh?” He rubbed his hand along the faint hint of stubble that protruded evenly along his jaw. “I kinda like that. What can I call you, then? Field Girl?”

I huffed and bent down, retying my laces while glaring at him. “I don’t care what you call me. Won’t matter in a few months, now will it?”

He let out a low whistle. “Senior?” I nodded. “Me too. Might want to watch how you’re tying those laces. Looks like you’re—” My fingers pulled the laces tight, catching onto my middle finger, trapping it. I cursed, then refocused on the laces and tied them again while Army Boy remained staring down at me. “How come I’ve never seen you before?”

I righted myself and glanced past him again, noticing a few lingering eyes falling on us. “Don’t know. Don’t care. Maybe if we’re lucky, you won’t see me ever again.”

His thumb toyed with his bottom lip, smirking when it drew my attention. He had nice lips, but I only looked because it was movement. He seemed to take it as an invitation. “Don’t go anywhere, Field Girl.”

“I won’t.” The second he turned and walked away, so did I. Not more than two minutes later, he was running up behind me, bag thrown over his shoulder.

“I told you not to go anywhere,” he said, catching his breath beside me.

“Why, so you could bother me more?”

He smirked again. “Am I botherin’ you?”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose, and nodded, then shook my head once confusion hit my gut. I didn’t have friends. Everyone avoided me like the plague. Having Army Boy ask me questions was kind of nice, even though I was being anything but. He helped me from falling, too. But even boys—men—his age had their minds set in the wrong places.

“So, which one is it?”

“Both,” I replied honestly.

“Huh. You told me back there you wouldn’t leave.” He swung out in front of me and stopped walking, making me freeze in place. “What were you doin’ out there in the field all by yourself?” His brow cocked, waiting for me to reply.

I rolled my eyes. “Watching the eye candy, of course,” I answered, looking him over likehewas that eye candy.

He laughed. “What's your name?”

My shoulders lifted. “Don’t have one.”

“Everyone has a name. I won’t stop asking ’til you tell me.”

“Persistent.”

“About some things, yes.”

I rolled my lips in. “Fine. It’s Lyra,” I finally relented.

“Lyra.” He smiled, flashing his brilliantly white teeth. “Pretty name.”

I focused on the shredded tips of my sneakers, trying to hide the blush on my cheeks from his compliment. “That's subjective, I suppose.”

I tried to step around him, but he blocked me again. “You lie a lot, don’t you?”

I raised my brow in annoyance. “Also, subjective.”