Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake Page B

hard. “I get it. Just don’t invite me to dinner next time, all right?”
    I rub my eyes, confused about how this whole meal suddenly turned into an issue between me and Kat. She’s supposed to be here supporting me, making it easier, not ganging up on me and pointing out everything I’m doing wrong.
    â€œHadley,” Kat whispers. Her eyes are wide on something over my shoulder as the door’s bell dings, signaling a new patron. “Isn’t that Sam Bennett?”
    I turn and see him. He’s wearing a worn black sweater, jeans, and flip-flops, even though it’s cool out. A girl is with him. She has his same wavy blond hair, but is sporting a streak of purple in the front. She’s pretty, her delicate features contrasting sharply with her tight black jeans and gauzy black shirt and black boots. They lean on the front counter and look over a menu while the redheaded, lip-glossed hostess looks over Sam.
    â€œYeah, it is. I think that’s his sister.”
    Dad comes back and slides in next to Kat. “You girls about ready?”
    â€œSure,” Kat says, but I can’t get my eyes off Sam. He turns around and our gazes touch. Sam starts to smile, but looks around our table and stops himself. His eyes darken and narrow on Kat or my dad or maybe me. I can’t tell. Then he barely nods his chin at me and turns back around.
    Dad gets the check and slaps his credit card down while Kat tries to give him money. They argue back and forth while Sam props his arm on the girl’s shoulder and says something to her. She eyes our table and nods. Then they leave the restaurant without another glance in our direction.
    â€œI’ll be right back.” Before I know what I’m doing, I’m following them out the door, my heart knocking against my ribs. “Sam!” I call when I see them next to a navy Honda Civic. He turns and holds a hand to his forehead, blocking a sliver of the setting sun breaking through the thick gray clouds.
    I cross the lot and meet him at his car. “Hey,” he says, stuffing his hand in his pockets.
    â€œHey.” I fold my hands and run my thumb along my palm. “Why did you leave? It’s a really great sushi place.”
    â€œUm. Yeah, we just decided we wanted something else.” He looks to his sister for confirmation and she nods. “Sorry I didn’t say hey. You were with your family.”
    I wave a hand. “It’s fine. It’s just my dad and my friend Kat.”
    He nods and scratches his forehead. “Oh. This is my sister, Livy.” He puts a hand on her back. “Livy, this is Hadley, the girl I was telling you about.”
    He told her about me? He seems to realize how this sounds, because he quickly amends his statement. “The girl I have that project with.”
    Livy nods and smiles, but it’s all wrong on her face.
    â€œHi,” I say. “Nice to meet you.”
    â€œYou too.” She looks down at the pavement, scuffing her boots over the concrete.
    Sam squeezes her shoulder. The movement is light and easy, like it’s a reflex. “Well, we need to get dinner. My mom’s waiting.”
    â€œOh. Yeah, I need to get back. I just wanted to say hi, I guess.”
    â€œI’ll see you tomorrow.”
    I nod and head back to the restaurant before he can see how red my face is.
    â€œHadley,” he calls, and I turn around. He looks at me for a minute, the fading sun spilling gold into his hair. “Thanks for saying hey.”
    â€œSure.” The clouds glaze over the sky again as he gets into his car and drives away.
    I’m still watching his car, wondering why I felt so compelled to chase him into the parking lot just to say hello, when I feel my dad next to me.
    â€œWho was that?” he asks. He stares after Sam’s car, his brows cinched in the middle.
    I blow out a breath. “You know, I’m not really sure.”
    â€œHuh.”