Stay

Alexi scrunched his face into a dissatisfied expression and carried his untouched meal to the tray return. Mia tilted the dessert cup left and right. She wanted to tease him some more.

“Watch the chocolate.” Lauren flinched backward, keeping her purple cheer top pristine. “Heave it that way if you want to start a food fight. Maddie’s wearing junior white, throw it her way.”

“Nah.” Mia straightened the pudding cup and wiped her fingers off on her napkin. “Purple hides chocolate.” Her words trailed off as her gaze followed Jake going over to Alexi. Her ex was accompanied by another new guy. The new guy wore black jeans, a concert T-shirt, and had purple streaks in his hair. They all walked back to the table together.

Jake stood at the end of the table, wearing one of the new purple and yellow jerseys. “Yo, this is Quinn.”

“Hi.” Quinn stared at her, his gaze on her hair. “Who’s she?” he said, continuing to look at Mia.

Mia played it cool and ignored him.

Jake and Alexi both frowned. “Mia,” Jake said after a pause. Alexi didn’t respond at all.

Mia stuck the chocolate-coated spoon in her mouth. Lauren responded with a jerk backward like she’d flick it at her. Mia took a bigger scoop and held it in aiming position.

“She can flick that at me if she wants.” Jake spoke as if she couldn’t hear, but he knew she could. “I wouldn’t regret that.”

Dump her and then flirt? Not a game she was playing. Jake had his shot and now he was restricted to the friend zone. No one got out of the friend zone with her. No second chances.

Alexi stiffened.

Quinn muttered something she couldn’t hear, and Alexi’s fists clenched. Quinn didn’t notice. He strode directly to her and held out his hand. Mia checked her fingers for chocolate. They were clean so she shook his hand.

Quinn held on and didn’t let go.

Alexi pulled her hand free, a move she didn’t acknowledge except to take a quick glance at his frown.

“I’m Quinn. Want to go out Saturday?”

Flattering. Too soon. She didn’t want to face the other reasons she wasn’t interested. “Uh, I have plans.” Mia stared at Quinn’s eyes. Was that eyeliner? He had an indie rocker vibe.

“How about Sunday?”

“She said no.” Jake stood with his feet braced apart and his arms crossed over the number on his big chest.

He thought he could speak for her? Mia frowned. That wasn’t happening.

***

Alexi made up for his lackluster appreciation of school pizza by filling a heaping dinner plate.

Mia took a sip of her fizzy soda, while Alexi reached for the wine bottle. Right in front of Hope and Niko, he poured a glass, breathing in the aroma, and took a sip. “A hint of cinnamon.”

Mia took another sip of soda. “Hint of sugar.”

He mouthed ‘barbarian’ at her. Her lips quirked.

Hope’s eyes widened. She turned to Niko, tapped his papers, and shot the red wine a pointed look.

“What?” Niko wore a blank expression.

“Look at what Alexi’s drinking.”

Alexi swung his gaze toward Hope and tilted his head.

“The drinking age in Greece is sixteen,” Niko said.

Oh. Yeah. Finally, some progressive attitudes. Mia grabbed an empty crystal glass from her place setting and pushed it toward Niko, eyes bright. “Fill ‘er up.”