“I care about you. I didn’t mean for this to happen.” She waves her hand between our bodies.
“Don’t act like you care now, either. I know you don’t. But thank you for trying to pretend.” I give an ironic smile and try to comb my hair back to place, I probably look like a mess.
Cassie takes a deep breath, her gaze steady. “I’ll give you some space… Take care, Ty.” She breaks first and walks out the doors. I can tell she feels defeated by the way her shoulders are sulking.
But I wasn’t going to let it get to me. A simple “I’m sorry” doesn’t magically solve the problems between us, nor can it convince me to let her back in. The damage was done and it was beyond repairable. Unfortunately for me, I don’t think Cassie realizes that. I hate that I have to sound cruel, but she’s been on my ass to hear her out. I made my peace months ago and I’m ready to move on.
I hang back in the hallway for a few minutes, in hopes Cassie has left already so we don’t have a part two to our conversation. Once the coast is clear, I step outside and my long-sleeved shirt saves me from shivering at the slight breeze. The senior parkinglot is pretty empty since it’s after hours and the only students left are the ones who participate in fall sports or do off-season training like me.
I spot my black Four Runner in the distance and walk towards it, keys in one hand ready to go, until I spot a figure pacing the front of their car a couple of rows down. I’m closing the distance and next thing I know, a smile wears my face. “Hey, sunshine.”
Serena whips her head as she sets her phone and keys to her side. “Oh, hey.”
I jut my chin to her car. “Need help?”
Serena rubs her arm due to the chilly breeze flying by. She’s still wearing her practice outfit, and over it, an oversized navy blue sweater withCharlotteembroidered across her chest. “Yeah, my car won’t start and my family isn’t answering.” She glances at her phone, hoping for a notification to pop up. “And my friends left already.”
I set my bag down and motion for her keys with my hand out. “Let me take a look.”
Serena willingly hands me her keys and I get to do with the car maintenance skills I’ve learned from my dad. I unlock her car and plop in the driver seat, inserting the car key. The dead engine spurring confirms her battery is dead.
I pop my head out, “The battery’s dead.”
Serena’s expressions shift, displaying a mix of fatigue and frustration. She rubs her forehead, “Ugh, that’s what I thought but I didn’t want to believe it.” She stands next to me as I come out, handing the keys back to her. “Thanks for helping.” She grabs her stuff from the backseat, slinging her backpack on and her cheer bag over her shoulder.
“Can anyone take you home?”
“I’m just going to take the bus. It’s only 15 minutes.”
If Jared found out that her car died and I let her take the bus, I’d be six feet under by tomorrow.
As Serena starts to walk away, I reach for her arm and swiftly spin her around. She stumbles at my sudden action, landing against my chest. She glances up with those big brown eyes, confusion swirling around in her orbs and cheeks flushing pink. “If your brother found out I let you take the bus, I won’t hear the end of it.”
Serena backs up from my arms and coughs to the side. “Oh.”
I don’t take that as a no, so I tilt my head at where my car is parked. “Come on. I can’t let you take the bus when I’m perfectly capable of taking you home.”
She nods and I reach out a hand to help her with the bags. She hands me only the cheer bag, and we walk together. We throw the bags in the backseat, and I open the passenger door for her, but Serena looks hesitant to get in, “I don’t bite.”
With a reluctant sigh, Serena hops in and pulls her seat belt on. “I know.”
I hop in the driver seat, and we exit campus. I don’t need to ask for her address, now that I know she’s Jared’s sister. I’ve been to Jared’s house a few times to drop him off, but I never stayed for too long. For the past year, he’s came over to my house since I’m watching Harper most of the time.
I’m thinking of ways to ask how their step sibling thing works without sounding like a creep, but Serena breaks the silence lingering between us. “How do you know Jared?”
I glance at her, then return my attention to the road. I clear my throat, “We’ve known each other since middle school. Pain in my ass ever since.”
I sneak a glance at her and catch her looking out the window.
“I see.”
“How do you and Jared know each other?”
Serena picks at her nails. “We’re stepsiblings.”
Oh, I knew his dad remarried, but I didn’t know he got a sister from that marriage.
“Jared hasn’t said much because it’s... complicated.” She glances at me, a silent look in her eyes. “Beckham just knows everything since their moms are friends.”
