“Have fun,” I said with about as much enthusiasm as sending someone off to a funeral. “And don’t forget a jacket. You’re bound to catch pneumonia dressed like that.” I couldn’t help myself. I guess I just had to stick that in to further solidify my role as a jealous idiot.

Slamming the door behind me, I returned to my room and literally punched the wall. Smart. Taking it out on an inanimate object was really going to help.

I sat on my bed and nervously bopped my feet up and down. The silence was deafening as I held my head in my hands while my heart continued to pound. I was angry with no one but myself for letting my feelings for her get to this level. She had every right to be wined and dined by someone. She deserved the best that life had to offer, and I had nothing to offer her.

My body remained in the same position with my head down until I heard knocking in the distance. It must have been Nina’s date. The thought made my stomach turn.

I got up and peeked out the door, only able to make out bits and pieces of the guy.

Blondish-brown hair. Clean white shirt. Khaki pants. Boat shoes.

Boat shoes. Really? Fucking dweeb.

With my piercings and tats, I was the polar opposite of this dude. If this was the type she went for, then maybe my vibes from her have been all wrong.

When I heard Nina’s bedroom door open, I backed away from my own door so she wouldn’t see me creeping. Once she entered the kitchen, I repositioned my ear to eavesdrop.

I could hear him complimenting her and felt bile rising in my throat.

I opened the door a crack to see them. You should’ve seen the way he was gawking at her. I wanted to choke him because it was exactly the way I was looking at her earlier.

Dirty bastard.

Ryan asked them where they were going, and the guy started talking about some Italian place he was gonna take her to. I was sure he had lots of plans up his sleeve for later, too. I was onto him and needed to let him know it. So, I stepped out into the living room.

“She’s always wanted to go to Top of the Rock.”

All heads seem to turn around at once to look in my direction.

“Right, Nina? You love a good view from the top of a skyscraper. I hear the scenery is amazing, and the food is great.”

Okay, so that was a dick move.

Nina glared at me and wasted no time in talking her way out of my suggestion. “We can save that for another time. I was really looking forward to that Italian place.”

I gave him a darkened stare, sizing him up before walking forward and reaching out. “We haven’t met. I’m Jake.”

He gave me his hand, which felt easily breakable. Maybe that was because I was practically trying to break it. I wanted to break him.

“I’m Alistair.”

“Ass Hair?”

I heard him the first time.

“No…Ali-stair.”

“Ah…sorry, my bad.”

Nina was quick to stop this little exchange. “Alistair, I think we should get going.”

I wouldn’t take my eyes off her as she got her coat and prepared to leave with him. My actions were a fucked up way of showing her that I didn’t want her to go.

Then, she turned around one last time before leaving, and we had what could only be explained as a private moment where time seemed to stand still. I expected that maybe she would have looked angry after the way I’d behaved. Instead, she seemed to be urging me with her eyes, urging me to stop whatever it was I was doing, urging me to talk to her, to tell her how I felt. There were so many unsaid words in that one look. I knew she could see through me and what my antics were really all about. Jealousy was a bitch, and mine was transparent. It felt like a piece of my heart was walking out the door as she prepared to leave with him. My eyes were screaming a million conflicting things back at her, all the things I didn’t have the courage to tell her.

You’re so beautiful.

No one is good enough for you.

Please stay.

Stay…away from me.

“Bye,” I whispered, unsure if she even noticed. In the blink of an eye, our moment passed, and she was gone. But the aftermath of my actions tonight was far from over.

I’d returned to my room all of one minute before Ryan walked in without knocking.

“What the fuck was that all about?” he spewed.

“Ryan! Please. Feel free to just barge into my room whenever you like and shout f-bombs at me.”

“Answer my question.”

“What was that?”

“What kind of a game are you playing with Nina?”

“Game?”

“Yes. You’ve been spending all this time with her under the guise of tutoring, playing with her mind. Then, you take off every fucking weekend probably up to some shady shit. Now, the one time she actually goes out with a normal person, you try to fuck it all up.”

“Normal person, huh? What does that make me?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No. Why don’t you enlighten me before I vacuum my fucking rug with your face?”

“I don’t really know a thing about you, Jake, and I don’t care. But that girl is like family to me, and I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

“Why would she be getting hurt by spending time with me?”

“She’s not your type, okay? She’s a good girl.”

“And how would you know my type?”

“For one, I’ve seen you with Desiree.”

Fuck. Touché.

“That was nothing.”