Love In Strange Places

ta

ne wouldn't stop buzzing. I groggily reached for it, squinting at the notifications lighting up my screen.

when are you dati

e wasn't mu

f you at the game last night?

dropped.

sat up and opened Instagram.

ung over my shoulder at the arena. Someone

r's got a girl. Did

ugh the comments only m

ike Jason's type. This w

what I wanted to avoid-attention, speculation, people prying into something tha

ason's voice called

f out of bed, I unlocked the door and found him standing t

friend," he teased,

ord, narrowing my eye

aid, pushing past me into the room

made my jaw tighten. "

ebrow. "So you did

t on the edge of my desk, completel

shot back. "You like

something almost amused.

ed, clutching the coffee like it was my only source of sa

ead, studying me.

to say," I muttered

phone, scrolling casually before glancing

t that what last

ying attention. We can't jus

llusion made my head ache. Jason, on the other ha

s weekend," he conti

nched. "I don'

do

flat look.

dened. "No,

a

e party wasn't easy, but event

o be there, arms crossed over a simple black

ot being held hostage," I

tension in her shoulders eased. "What

ike a c

"Do couples normally go to opposite sides of th

d. "Not

at was enough. People were already watching, whispering. More than a few girls

Ava making her way over. She

r eyes flicking to Natal

her cup, but she forced a

unimpresse

pped an arm around Natalie's waist, pull

ing conversation. You're not u

be he just hadn't met t

ething between amusement

lieve it... I

atalie, steering her away b

earshot, Natalie exhaled s

"Welcome to

yed the part, stayed in sight, made sure people saw us

lding the door open as we st

me a look

y hands in my pockets.

hate that I h

e spoke again, softer this time. "But... thank y

er, watching the way the streetligh

welcome,

rted this, it didn't feel like