15

LENNOX

The saltshaker slips from my fingers, falling to its side.

Tony glanced at me as I straightened the salt shaker on the table. It was a simple gesture, but it triggered a surge of jealousy within me. I found it absurd that I could feel this way about an anonymous celebrity wearing a beanie at a bar. My ex-boyfriends would have found it hilarious that I cared so much about a twenty-two-year-old famous person.

I unwrapped a piece of gum and just as I peeled off the foil, Ashton, sitting across from me, asked an unexpected question, "What's your favorite color?"

A smile formed at the corners of my mouth. "My favorite color?" I repeated, as if he had asked me something trivial. Well, it was a kindergarten-level question, but in that moment, I couldn't help but think that Ashton's interest had shifted from that other guy to me.

Ashton crossed his arms and challenged me, "What kind of high school names someone valedictorian when they can't even answer their favorite color?"

Leani