The Guy on the Right (The Underdogs 1)

“Okay, I’ll be waiting outside the door when you get out. Go, it shouldn’t hit you until you get to school.”

“That was stupid,” he says, shaking his head and readjusting his backpack.

“I got it from an old high school friend a couple of months ago. I trust him. This will be great, you’ll see.” I raise up on my toes and wrap my arms around him. He hugs me back while murmuring a low, “Thank you.”

Backing away, I kiss his jaw, loving the sensation of his beard tickling my lips. What I see in his eyes, lights a fire in me. His gaze travels to my lips, and I sense the hesitation to pull away and grow more curious about the fire brewing in my chest. I want to be kissed by him, but not when he’s in the midst of mourning his past with another woman. I nudge his shoulder.

“Go. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Forty-five minutes later…

“Devin. Devin? Devin! Can you hear me? I feel like I’ve been in this bathroom for hours.”

“Yes, yes, I can hear you, stop yelling, moron. What’s up?”

I press my cell closer to my ear and whisper. “What in the hell did Fraz put in this gummy?”

“Oh my God, you took it?”

“No, I just called to tell you I didn’t. Things are totally normal, and I haven’t locked myself in the bathroom at school. This is what high feels like?”

“I wouldn’t know, I’m not high. Why did you have to do this on inventory day? I can’t even come watch you freak out.”

“I got off my shift and came to school to grab Theo like I promised. But once I started walking down the hall, my legs turned into noodles, and I felt like I got shot in the neck with a tranquilizer dart. Everything is getting…slower. I’ve been sitting on this toilet hiding ever since, and I swear this song has been playing forever.”

“Girl, don’t drive.”

“I can’t even walk.”

“How much did you take?”

“Half that disc.”

“You were only supposed to take an EIGHTH! Those edibles are strong!”

“Oh no,” I lift my hands up in front of me. “I think my hand’s webbing. Is this normal? I hope Theo is okay.”

“He took it too?!”

“Yes.”

“All those times I asked you to get high with me and you wouldn’t but for him, you will? And Theo doesn’t seem the type to do something like this. What were you thinking?”

“Stop making me out to be the culprit.”

“Aren’t you?”

“Yes. But for good reason. I had to pull out the big guns. Emergency high. His roommate screwed his ex last night. Wretched bitch. I just didn’t want him thinking about her all day. He was so sad.”

“You sound jealous.”

“I’m pissed for him. I care about him a lot.”

“Uh huh.”

“I swear to God if you start singing Christmas Carols right now.”

“I won’t.”