Unfriendly Competition Read Online Free Page A

steady. Our lips brushed together and his breath, minty and sweet, was gentle on my face when we parted.
    â€œHi,” I said again like an idiot.
    â€œYou look amazing,” Jacob said, pulling out my chair.
    I sat down and gazed across the table at him. Ourbeing together was still so new—I almost couldn’t believe it. Being out in public with him made me feel giddy and self-conscious at the same time. I couldn’t help but wonder if girls looked at me and wondered why beyond hot and popular Jacob Schwartz was dating Sasha Silver.
    â€œThanks,” I said. “So do you.”
    And he did look great. His light brown hair was messy—in that on-purpose way—and his slightly faded tan made his teeth look superwhite.
    â€œI might have had some kind of idea what you like,” Jacob said, his tone teasing. “So, I ordered two hot chocolates that should be here any sec.”
    â€œYum. Perfect,” I said.
    As if on cue, a waitress walked over with a tray carrying two steaming white and blue striped mugs of hot chocolate. She placed a bowl of mini-marshmallows and two spoons in between us.
    â€œEnjoy,” she said, walking back to the counter.
    I looked at the marshmallows, smiling without being able to stop. I’d met Jacob here once, long before we’d been torn apart by Heather, and we’d had hot chocolate. Jacob had noticed I’d eaten all my marshmallows and had spooned some from his cup into mine.
    We put marshmallows into our mugs and took sips.
    â€œThis was such a great choice,” I said. “I guess you do know that I sort of like chocolate. Just a little.”
    Jacob laughed. “Yeah, only a tiny bit.”
    His gaze made me feel warmer than the hot chocolate on my tongue.
    â€œHow’s your weekend so far?” Jacob asked, stirring his drink.
    â€œBusy and . . .” I trailed off, not wanting to talk about stuff that would bring down the mood.
    â€œAnd what?” Jacob asked, his tone gentle. His eyes went back and forth across my face. “I can tell something’s up. What’s going on?”
    I sighed, looking up at him from my mug. He knew me too well. “Today’s just been a little stressful. At the Trio’s, we were planning Heather’s party and her mom called.”
    â€œUh-oh,” Jacob said. I’d given him a brief history of Mrs. Fox before.
    â€œYeah, giant uh-oh. She’d already planned Heather’s entire party as the exact opposite of what Heather wanted. She’s coming to school and it’s going to make Heather freak.”
    â€œLame,” Jacob said. “You know I’m not Heather’sbiggest fan, but you guys have sort of a friendship now. And anyway, she should get the birthday she wants.”
    â€œI know. I agree, and so do Julia, Alison, and Brit. We’re still giving Heather the party she wants—it’s going to be a surprise party after her mom’s event .”
    Jacob reached over, running his thumb across the top of my hand. “That’s what I love about you. You’re insanely busy, but you’re taking time to help throw a surprise party for someone you used to not be able to even be in the same room with.”
    It was almost as if his finger had burned my skin where he’d touched me.
    â€œHeather deserves it,” I said. “And you’re right—we used to hate each other and we both made lots of mistakes. But it wasn’t worth it after a while. It took too much energy to keep attacking each other.”
    â€œYou never stop impressing me,” Jacob said.
    His words repeated on a loop in my head for seconds before I was able to respond.
    â€œThat means a lot,” I said. “I just hope Heather and I can keep our relationship civil like it has been. Things are crazy enough at school without having that drama.”
    I took a sip of hot chocolate and melted marshmallows.
    â€œWhat else is going