“I won’t.” I reached over and tossed Lana’s melting bowl of ice cream into the trash. “This Mickey dude…I can’t place him. What does he look like?”So I’ll know who to deck when I see him.
“He’s tall, but maybe not as tall as you.” Her critical glance swept across my body, landing on my hair. “Short, blond hair. He’s in our chemistry class, sits next to me.”
Yep, I know who he is.I cracked my knuckles, imagining them connecting with Mickey’s jaw. “How long’s the Jiu Jitsu class?”
“Dunno.” CC slid her phone from a pocket and checked the time. “I didn’t ask. I’m just glad a guy finally invited me to do something.”
“Ijust invited you to do something.” I clenched my fists and tried to even my breathing as I imagined Mickey and Terri hanging out.
“Yeah, but Mick invited me first. We’re going to catch a movie afterwards.”
Anger flooded through my veins and for a moment, I couldn’t speak.
Terri’s eyebrows drew inward as she watched my face. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. We need to get back home.” I stood up, suddenly needing to get out of there, to find somewhere quiet to release my frustration. Waving my hand toward Lana, I yelled, “Come on. It’s time to leave.”
She pouted her lips. When I didn’t budge, she spoke to her friends, then trudged toward us.
An awkward silence laced the ride home.
When Lana couldn’t get much response from either of us, she gave up and turned to her game.
As the streetlights flickered past the car, I caught myself sneaking glances at Cotton Candy.
I wanted to ask her to forget the class, forget going to the movies with Mick, to forget every guy she’d ever looked at, but I knew how important it was for her to break out of her mold. I’d hoped she’d break it with me, but it seemed I’d never be more than a foster brother.
Gripping the steering wheel, I forced my glance straight ahead, trying not to think about her in another guy’s arms.
Chapter sixteen
Terri Kingston
Withoutaword,Paxtonleft for Jay’s party.
If he’d been going to any other party, I might’ve considered going with him.
But not a party where I know Katrina and the rest of the football team will be the main guests.They’d shamed me enough at the tryouts. Students still whispered or snickered when they passed me in class or the hallways, but I tried to ignore it and reminded myself I could endure for a little longer. Two years was nothing, not in the grand scheme of things.
My phone vibrated. I slung my oversized purse on my shoulder—where I’d hidden a change of clothes for the Jiu Jitsu class—and pulled it from a side pocket.
Mick:I’m here. Want me to come up?
Me:Nah. Brt.
Mick:K.
As I descended the stairs, Lana poked her head from the living room. “Where you going?”
“Uh.” I hadn’t thought of an excuse to give her, but I should have.
Mom appeared behind her, a glass of white wine in hand. “Terri? Where are you going?”
“I have a date.” Technically, it was a lie, but it was the only thing I knew would make my mother happy and might keep her from forcing me to stay home.
“Really?” Her eyes widened and she stepped into the hallway.
“Yep.”Thank God I’m wearing nice clothes.I nervously patted my hair, which was pulled back into a ponytail.
