Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler (best novels in english .TXT) š
- Author: Dahlia Adler
Book online Ā«Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler (best novels in english .TXT) šĀ». Author Dahlia Adler
Does that even make sense? I donāt know. Nothing does.
I force myself down the stairs in my silver platform heels and take the hands he extends, accepting the kiss he drops delicately on my cheek so as not to mess up my makeup. With every move he makes you can tell heās done this beforeābeen the handsome guy picking up his beautiful date whoās told him not to muss anything before pictures. But that knowledge doesnāt affect me and I donāt know if itās because Iām aware of who heās dated in the past, or because I feel strangely numb as everything moves around me.
We pose for picturesāin a group of eight, in our quartet, in couples. I make a point not to watch Kiki and Jasmine take their photos, but when I sneak glances, itās clear that Kiki was telling the truth. Jasmine doesnāt put her arms around Kiki the way Chase does to me, and they donāt take classic shots of one of them gazing into the otherās eyes, though maybe thatās because theyāre the same height.
I donāt know if Jasmine tells Kiki she looks beautiful the way Chase tells me I do, though Kiki definitely does look beautiful in her gothic gown with its corset bodice, and Iām jealous even though itās stupid. But there are a thousand pictures of me and Jasmine together from this past summerāselfies on the beach and pictures taken by Keisha at parties and portraits forced by Declan and Mom before events where our presences were requested. It feels like we should take one for them, at least. Except, of course, no one knows how closely our parents work together.
āEverything OK?ā Chase murmurs, his hand warm through my thin dress, and I assure him that it is without even having to think about it.
Itās Homecoming. Iām Chase Hardingās date. How could it not be?
Everyone piles into the limo, and Chase immediately pulls me close. Part of me is happy to let him, and part of me wants to claw my way out and end this night before it even begins. I hate that I feel this way on a night that should be one of the best of my life, especially since I have a weirdly good chance of being named Homecoming Queen, but I hate so many things about how I feel lately. This is just one more on the pile.
āTime to open that champagne!ā Lucas whoops, and suddenly thereās foam everywhere and everyoneās laughing and a bottle is being passed around. I donāt want any, but that doesnāt stop me from drinking when it comes my way, and itās so nice to have something occupying me that I take an extra sip. And then another. And another.
āSave some for the rest of us, Mrs. Harding!ā Shannon yells, and everyone cracks up, even Chase. I try to smile, but the name makes me want to crawl out of my skin. Even Jasmineās laughing. How is Jasmine laughing?
I pass the bottle along and now I donāt know what to do with my hands, so I take one of Chaseās and twine my fingers with his. I know in my heart that heās warm and safe, but itās not translating, no matter how much I squeeze. Even when he kisses the top of my head.
āYou excited to watch your boyfriend win Homecoming King?ā Jasmine asks, and everyone else cheers while Chase hangs his head modestly.
āAre you kidding?ā Apparently, Giaās had some champagne too. āThis is literally Laraās dream come true. Like, literally.ā
I shoot daggers at her with my eyes, but sheās completely oblivious, as is everyone else.
āWho knew so many years fangirling on the sidelines would pay off?ā Shannon says innocently, and then giggles like sheās had too much to drink, even though the bottle hasnāt reached her yet. Gia and Jasmine join her, even though I knowāI knowāI never talked to Jasmine about that, which means Shannon has. How much time have they spent laughing at me behind my back? What kinds of friends do that?
Chase squeezes my hand and tells them to shut up and pass the champagne. Heās trying to be kind, but I donāt want it. I donāt want any of this. I just want to climb through the sunroof and run home to my mom, leaving my stupid heels in the dirt.
Every glimpse I catch of Jasmine hurts my heart and feels like the worst betrayal, worse than Shannon, even, because she knew me in a way Shan never has, and because for everything I love about Shannon, I never expect more from her than this. Sheās there when Iām in need, when shit hits the fan. Thatās not nothing, but it isnāt what I got from Jasmine. She doesnāt open my eyes to different ways of looking at things. She doesnāt make me feel like the best version of myself. She doesnāt make me feel like I can do anything, like I donāt just matter, but am in fact significant.
How did the girl who was once my biggest cheerleader become ā¦ this?
Chapter Eighteen
THEN
The seafood boil on the beach was such a success that Brea decided to have a smaller one for her birthday a couple of weeks later. Iām about to reply to our group text with a āCanāt wait!ā when Jasmine beats me to answering. So sorry, Breaāgoing to my momās that wknd.
Immediately the chain floods with boooo and weāll miss you! But my fingers stay still. Iād never spent an evening out with everyone minus Jasmine. Iām not afraid I canāt handle itāIād definitely become friends with everyone in my own rightābut ā¦ everything sounds like less fun without her there.
I open our private text thread, which is mostly full of be there in 5 and do you have my blue nail polish? and start to tap out a message,
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