Huh. I’d expected her to make a bigger scene. That was disappointing. I could do better.
The music started, someone flicked off the lights, and people began dancing again. I grabbed Rob by the arm and dragged him toward the back hall so I wouldn’t make a scene in front of everyone. When we had moderate privacy, I laid into him. “What in the heck were you doing? Why’d you call Andy out like that? I know you guys aren’t friends anymore, but you had to know he wouldn’t like being put in the spotlight. That was a jerk move.”
Rob placed his hands on my shoulders and gave me a relaxed smile. “Chill out, Ivy. I was only trying to help him. You saw Andy yesterday at practice. He looked pathetic on the runway. I figured if he got an endorsement from me, the girls might still bid on him, regardless of how much he stinks it up.”
I was seething, but I tried to remain calm, assessing Rob carefully. He was grinning like he’d carried out the best plan ever. I hated to admit it, but his actions seemed sincere. I think Rob genuinely thought he was doing something to help Andy out. If he’d been sober, I doubted I could say the same thing. But tipsy Rob really was nicer. I held my tongue-lashing back and went with a simple reprimand. “Well, thanks for trying, but Andy doesn’t need your help getting girls. I plan to outbid anyone who makes an offer anyway.”
“What a good girlfriend,” Rob said, then reached up to pinch my cheek, which turned into stroking my cheek with his thumb. “You were a good girlfriend to me, too. It’s too bad you broke up with me. Imagine how great of a political team we’d make if you actually liked me.”
I rolled my eyes at Rob’s compliment and decided it was best to get lost before he got any touchier. “Yes, if I actually liked you, we’d be unstoppable,” I agreed, and he nodded excitedly. “Don’t be a crap head to my boyfriend again, or I’m tearing up our peace treaty.”
“I promise,” he agreed solemnly. “I won’t tell any more girls to talk to him.”
“Good,” I said, then turned to find my friends. I hadn’t been gone more than a minute or two, but there was already a crowd around Jake and Andy. Girls were chatting and giggling, standing really close. I could tell Andy was trying to be polite. Jake was eating it up. Lilly was clearly annoyed and started to wander off, but Jake snagged her hand before she could and pulled her back. He didn’t stop talking to his groupies. He didn’t even look at Lilly. But he didn’t let her go, either. He’d laced their fingers together tightly.
“All right, girls, I’m stealing this one away for a dance,” I said, pushing my way through the group. I grabbed Andy’s arm and led him to the dance floor. The song was a fast one, but I didn’t think he’d care that much. I figured he’d be grateful for the rescue.
“What are we doing?” Andy asked, obviously still worked up.
“I was hoping to dance with my boyfriend.” I pouted.
He ground his teeth together. “I don’t do fast songs.”
“Ok, so let’s slow dance.” I grabbed his hands and wrapped them around my waist, then threw my arms over his shoulders.
“I don’t do dance floors.”
“You won’t even dance with me for one song? You agreed to an hour.”
His rebuttal was calculating. “And you said I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone, but I still had to play nice while three drunk girls hung on my arms.” He paused. “Where was my supportive girlfriend while I was being manhandled? Oh, that’s right. She was hanging out in a dark hallway with her ex-boyfriend while he made googly eyes at her and ran his hands all over her face. The same ex-boyfriend that had just hit on her, after making me look stupid in a room full of people.”
My jaw dropped. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t believe that Andy was yelling at me. Ok, he wasn’t yelling, not even close. But it was obvious he was upset, so I felt like I was being yelled at. “I’m sorry Rob did that, but for your information, I was in the back hallway, ripping him a new one for how he treated you.”
Andy stared me down silently. It’s a good thing the music was so loud. Nobody else noticed that we were arguing. Nobody except Lilly, who was watching from twenty feet away and biting her lip in worry. I didn’t want to spend my night fighting, so once again, I tried to smooth things over. “Andy, if it helps, I don’t think Rob was trying to be rude to you. He said he was trying to talk you up so more girls would be interested.”
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say.
“Why are you defending him?” Andy snapped, looking hurt. “You talk about how horrible he is, and you know my history with him. But in the last week, you’ve suggested I dress like him and walk like him, behave like him. It doesn’t seem to me like you hate Rob at all. Maybe you aren’t really over him?”
The accusation was a slap in the face. “What are you talking about? I don’t like him. I can’t stand him. All the suggestions I’ve made have been to help you with this whole auction situation, so you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. So you wouldn’t look awkward when you got up on the stage.” Once the words left my mouth, I wished I could take them back. I knew he’d find them hurtful, though I hadn’t intended them to be.
Andy’s face fell, tinged with disappointment. His words were almost a whisper. “You think I’m awkward? Is that what this whole makeover campaign was all about? Are you embarrassed by the regular Andy, the real me?” He gave me time to respond, but I had no words. “You know, Ivy, I thought you liked me. I always felt like we clicked. I’ve always enjoyed the friendly banter in art classes. You’re one of the most beautiful girls I know. And even though you can be uncomfortably forward, abrasive, and honest to a fault, I’m ok with it. Because those things make you who you are. And I like you. All of you. I’m sorry that you don’t feel the same about me.”
Tears pooled at the corners of my eyes. How could he possibly think that I didn’t feel the same way about him? I was crazy about him. But rather than telling him that, I stayed silent because I was scared. My big, fat mouth had screwed up enough tonight. I didn’t know what was safe to say. I worried that if I spoke, I’d only make things worse. Finally, I gained enough courage to talk. “I do care about you, Andy. I think you’re amazing.”
“Do you, though?” he asked quietly. “You only wanted to date me after you tried to change me. You had me cut my hair and wax my eyebrows. You told me my clothes weren’t good enough and that I looked better without glasses. You pushed me into doing activities that you knew I wasn’t into. And to top it all off, you’ve suggested multiple times that I do things more like Rob, a person I greatly dislike, just so I can be more socially desirable.” Andy looked around the room and threw his hands up in frustration. “I don’t care if these people like me. I only care that you like me. But I want you to like the me that I am. Not the me that you want me to be.”
The tears were spilling over now, running freely down my cheeks. “Andy, I’m not trying to change you. Not on purpose, at least. I do like you for who you are.” I reached for his hand. He let me grab it but didn’t hold mine back. Instead, he brought his free hand to my face and gently wiped at my tears.
Andy shook his head slowly. “I want to be with someone who’s ok with cargo pants and baseball caps. Who’s ok with spending time alone or with a couple of good friends instead of a million people I don’t know. I need a girlfriend who isn’t going to try and get me drunk so I can fit in at a party I didn’t want to be at in the first place.” Andy gave me a small smile, but I was too upset to laugh at his attempted playfulness. “I’m willing to compromise and let you be you, but I think you need some time to decide whether you’re willing to let me be me. I think I need a little space.”
Andy pulled out of my grip and crossed the dance floor, shoulders slumped. He walked over to Lilly and Jake, who were both watching us at this point. Then he whispered something to Jake, and Jake nodded his head. Andy sent one last glance at me before walking out the door without saying good-bye.
I stood in the middle of the dance floor, alone and confused. What
had happened? Andy said he needed space. Did I just get dumped? I walked through the crowd and threw myself down on a fluffy chair in the corner of the room. Within seconds, Lilly came over and sat on my lap, wrapping her arms around me.
“What happened?” she asked.
“We had a fight. I think he might have broken up with me.”
“I’m so sorry.” Lilly frowned, then squeezed me tighter. Jake approached us with a concerned look on his face.
“You ok?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’ve only had my heart pulled out through my throat and shoved into a blender,” I replied sarcastically. Immediately, Jake’s concern turned into a frown matching Lilly’s. “Sorry, sorry,” I apologized. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t take my frustration out on either of you.”
“Andy asked if I’d take you home,” Jake replied. “Did you guys break up or something?”
“I’m not sure. He didn’t say he was breaking up with me. But he did say we needed some space so I could think. For some reason, he believes that I don’t like him the way he is, which is ridiculous. He’s only, like, the perfect guy.”
“Next to me, of course.” Jake smiled, then looked to Lilly for confirmation.
I rolled my eyes. Lilly cocked her head to the side and said, “That remains to be seen.”
Jake pushed out a pouty lip but moved on to giving me advice. “Give him his space for a day or so. I guarantee he’s being overly dramatic because Rob was a jerk to him and a little too friendly with you. Andy’s extremely sensitive wherever Rob’s concerned.”
“I know what went down between him and Rob,” I responded, “and that was really crappy, but I can’t completely cut Rob out of my life because we have to work together. It’s not like I go out of my way to be buddies with him.”
“I get that,” Jake answered, “but you have to understand, because of what happened with Rob and Sophia, Andy’s going to be really wary about your interactions with Rob.”
“What happened with Rob and Sophia?” I asked, confused. “You mean them dating this year?”
“No, what happened freshman year,” Jake replied.
“What happened freshman year?”
“I thought you said you knew what went down?”
“I thought I did. Andy told me about his dad’s job and their parents having a falling out because Rob’s dad’s a dishonest creep. He didn’t say a word about Sophia, though. He told me he broke up with her because she was shallow.”
“That was part of it,” Jake admitted hesitantly, “but if he didn’t tell you the rest, maybe I shouldn’t.” His eyes were wary with concern.
I threw my hands up in frustration. “Oh, just spit it out already. Someone has to tell me what’s going on, or I’ll never be able to fix the problem.”
“Andy had been unhappy with his relationship for a while. But what really caused him to pull the plug with Sophia was that he caught her and Rob kissing…at our birthday party.” Jake paused and appraised me cautiously. “When you knocked him into the pool that night, he’d just gone outside to get some air, so he wouldn’t punch Rob in the face.”
I winced. “That was sucky timing on my part. I’m lucky Andy will talk to me at all.” Jake was still watching me with a funny look. “So, why’d Rob kiss Sophia?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Andy thinks Rob did it to hurt him, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sophia initiated it. That was Rob’s claim. It’s one of the reasons I stayed out of the whole scandal. Don’t get me wrong, I was plenty mad. I basically didn’t speak to either of them for months. But I was never quite sure who was most at fault. Sophia and Rob each claimed that the other one had made the first move.”
“Who cares who started it? They both let it happen. I’d have dumped Sophia, too. Cheaters suck.” Jake was still watching me intently, and I finally erupted in frustration. “What? Do I have a booger hanging out my nose or something?” I yelled.
“No,” Jake responded calmly, “I’m just waiting for you to catch up.”
“Catch up with what?”
“Think about that night, Ivy. You’re a smart girl. Put two and two together.”
I replayed our conversation. Andy broke up with Sophia because she kissed Rob at her birthday party freshman year… “What. The. Hell. That a-hole cheated on me!” I was so upset for Andy’s situation that I’d failed to see the obvious betrayal in my own relationship. “We’d had a fight that night. One little argument, and he runs right to Sophia so she can make him feel better.”
Jake pointed at me and winked. “I’m guessing that’s why Andy didn’t tell you. He probably wasn’t sure if you knew Rob had cheated on you and didn’t want to be the one to break the news.”
I scrunched my nose and pursed my lips. Lilly found Rob in the crowd and flipped him the bird. “Do you want me to go kick him in the nuts?” she asked.
“No,” I grumbled, or maybe I growled. “It was a long time ago, and he’s not worth it. This information only reaffirms what a douche he is and how I’m better off without him.” I turned to Jake. “I don’t know why you still hang out with him. You’re a good guy. Aren’t you worried he’ll rub off on you?”
“I’m smarter than that.” Jake grinned. “And I’m still friends with him because everyone makes mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance. Even if they’ve acted like a douche one or two times.”
“Or infinity times,” Lilly mumbled.
“Well, then you’re a better person than me,” I added.
“Don’t feel bad if you can’t overlook his flaws. I’m a pretty awesome person. Not everyone can be like the great Jake Hill.”
Jake was clearly joking, but Lilly backhanded him in the stomach anyway. “I think you two are still friends because he’s the only person whose ego is as big as yours.”
“Andy’s mood swings make so much more sense now,” I thought aloud. “He only gets a split personality when I talk about Rob. I don’t really blame him. He said he feels like I’m always defending Rob or trying to make him more like Rob. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Jake silently nodded his head. “I can see why he’d think that, though.”
Jake thought so, too? Was I dense or something? “But he’s wrong,” I defended myself.
“I didn’t say he wasn’t. I believe you aren’t trying to change him. Maybe you should be a little more sensitive and aware of what you’re saying and doing,” Jake suggested, shrugging his shoulders.
“Geez, you sound like Lilly. Did she tell you to say that?” I dropped my head into my hands. “Did you plan this whole conversation at dinner?”
Jake grinned. “Nope. The peanut’s more like me than she wants to believe, which is why she likes me so much.” Lilly pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes at him, but he smirked and continued speaking. “Also, I’d try not to mention Rob or talk to Rob while you’re around Andy. I’m sure he trusts you, but he definitely doesn’t trust Rob.”
I banged my head against the back of the chair a few times until Lilly grabbed my face and held it still, forcing me to look her in the eye. “He just needs a day alone. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He doesn’t want to break up, trust me. He’s probably more worried right now that you’ll dump him after he ditched you here.”
“He didn’t ditch her,” Jake defended Andy. “He made sure she was taken care of before he left. And the munchkin’s right. He likes you a lot. I think that’s why he’s so upset right now, because he likes you so much.”
“I don’t know,” I argued. “He sounded really mad. He walked out and left me here, for heaven’s sake. I still can’t believe he did that. He’s always such a gentleman. If our relationship only lasted a week, then I’m officially the worst girlfriend on the planet.”
“I’ll say.” Sophia snorted, popping her head up behind her brother and leaning on him for support. Great, that’s the last thing I needed. After Rob’s little display, I bet Sophia was in a more vicious mood than normal
. I wondered exactly how much of our conversation she’d heard.
“Did Andy come to his senses and kick you to the curb? Because he should’ve after tonight, you dirty sl…” Jake slapped his hand over her mouth before she could finish calling me a horrible word. But Sophia immediately yanked his hand away. She was snarling like a rabid dog. “What were you doing with Rob in the back hallway, trying to seduce him? Throwing yourself at one of my exes isn’t enough? You need to sink your rotten little teeth into both of them?”
I guess Sophia was forgetting that I dated Rob first. And that she helped him cheat on me. And that she’s the one who’s a horrible word.
“Sophia,” Jake warned. “Just go away…please.” I could tell he was angry but trying not to completely unleash on his evil twin.
I was annoyed by Sophia’s rudeness but wasn’t really that angry. I’d come to expect that kind of attitude from her. I wasn’t even bothered by her accusations that I got around. I was still a virgin, for heaven’s sake, so I knew that wasn’t true. Pretty sure my present company knew it, too. I was prepared to completely ignore Sophia altogether, but apparently Lilly had other ideas. She sprung to her feet, fists clenched in anger. I wasn’t going to hit Sophia, but if Lilly wanted to, I might not stop her. She’d earned that right.
“What’s your problem?” Lilly spat at Sophia. Sophia was already tall, but add four-inch heels and she towered imposingly over Lilly. Lilly didn’t look phased, not one bit.
“My problem is the ho bag seated behind you.” Sophia growled in my direction.
“You need to leave. Right. Now,” Lilly hissed through her teeth.
“It’s my house, and I’ll leave when I feel like it.”
Perfectly You (The Perfect Series Book 2) Page 18
