Page 64 of How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend
My eyes go wide. My name isn’t the first word I expect out of Hayden’s mouth when I walk into the room. I bite my lip, then put on a grin and pop my head over Mr. Marcus’s shoulder. Zachary nudges up against me. I don’t know if he’s trying to remind me he’s here or just being clumsy.
“Hey.” I make barely a whisper above Kiki going on about how he already looks so much better and lively.
I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have followed Zach, but how was I going to explain that?Your brother just woke up from his coma, and oh yeah, of course I’m his enbyfriend, but I’m not coming?That would be a disaster, almost as bad as showing up. I ran through every scenario on the drive here. I even texted Kaitlynn—sorry, Mom—to help me get out of this. She was halfway home by then, but like the amazing friend she is, she immediately turned around. Still, she was literallynohelp. The best I could conjure up was: A, ditch and run at the next stoplight—there aren’t many around here; B, say I need to get a drink before we see Hayden and get “lost” in the hospital and just leave—but that’s not very believable after interning here, plus a weird thing to do on the way to see my supposed boyfriend; C, somehow beat Zachary into Hayden’s room and start yelling I’m not Hayden’s enbyfriend and it was all a lie and then run off; or D, play sick.
I almost went with D, but I couldn’t do it.
I can’t tell if the wince in Hayden’s confused grin is from pain or confusion. He looks from me to Zachary and then back again just as Kaitlynn stumbles in behind me, gasping air like she just ran a marathon.
“Sorry, did I ruin a moment?” Kaity squints.
“Who is—” Mr. Marcus turns on the balls of his feet.
“Kaitlynn.” I bolt to her side and grab her arm up in mine, turning enough so the rest can’t see my face and give her a nervous glare. “She’s my bestie.”
“Oh, uh…okay.” Mr. Marcus doesn’t seem sure what to do with the information.
I knee Kaity and whisper just loud enough for her to hear without moving my lips, “Don’t be weird.”
The looks bounce between us but quickly recenter on Hayden. Right. Hayden’s up! And he said my name! And apparently no one fixed his hair. It’s…everywhere. I pull Kaity with me a few steps to stand with Zachary. It’s better than standing with his dad, who still sort of scares me.
“You take my barista while I was out?” Hayden grumbles at Zach.
Immediately heads turn and all eyes are on us. All of them. Even Dr. Kline with a clipboard clasped between her hands and her coat. She smiles. It helps a little.
“Huh? I don’t like coffee.” Zachary playfully punches Hayden’s shoulder. He doesn’t grimace, so I guess he’s not in pain. “They—”
“You two dating? Wait, is that why you were so determined to go to the shop with me all the time?” Hayden shakes his head with a giggle.
I’m sorry, what?Is that why you were so determined to go to the shop with me all the time?Every muscle in my body wants to sling my face toward Zach, but I refuse.
“No! It wasn’t that! I, uh…I just…” Zachary stumbles all over his words as other voices jump into the mix.
“You’re dating Mackenzie?” Holly looks up at Zachary. “But—”
Wait. Did Zachary come to the shop to seeme?
“Zachary! How dare you…” Mrs. Marcus starts into him.
“What?” Zachary goes on the defense. “You—”
“Are y’all a throuple?” Super Old Gran’s eyes go big and excited, followed immediately by my own.
No! No! It’s too much at once. Too many voices. And no, we’re not a throuple! But did he?
“Hey now!” Eliza throws her hands in the air to get everyone’s attention off us and on her. It’s exaggerated, but I don’t care. It’s a distraction and hopefully this means she’s going to save me. I didn’t want to be here when she finally did, but right now anything is better than this. Once the voices dim to a whisper between Mr. and Mrs. Marcus, Eliza coughs and continues. “Well, isn’t this exciting. How about we—”
“Dating? Us two?” Zachary interrupts Eliza, laughing and looking back at me. His façade is thin, but it might just do to cover the fidget in his eyes and sudden disdain when he looks at me. It’s a drastic change from the want in them earlier. A crowd of laughs explode behind us. They think it’s a joke. “Why would we be dating?”
I fight my impulse to bore my gaze into Zach.
He’s not wrong though, and suddenly the thought makes my shoulders slump. We’re not, but like, that was way too quick and forceful. Especially after tonight. Ouch. What the hell is happening?
“I-I…” Eliza stutters and tries, but it’s no use.
“He’s your type,” Hayden blurts.
I suck in my lips and feel the blush rising in my cheeks. Why me?
