My face scrunches up. “Ew.”
Leo shakes his head. “There’s no way they knew that’s where he was taking her.”
And now my eyes are bugging out. “You are so gullible!”
“I’m just saying, there are two sides and I don’t think you ever consider theirs.”
I’m mutteringno, no nobefore he even finishes his sentence. “You were just as bad when you lived here. Bad as them. You tried to beat Charlie up.”
He barks out something between a laugh and growl. Too loud for this tiny car. “Are you talking about when we were at the park for that school party?”
I won’t look at him. “You know exactly when I’m talking about.”
“Charlie had run into both of them like three times before he finally knocked Jo Lynn over,” Leo argues. “Is that why he’s been looking at me like he wants to go another round?”
“They were playing football. And Jo Lynn was practically in the middle of their game hoping one of those boys would notice her. And no, Charlie is completely over it,” I lie.
He starts to say something—I’m sure something in their defense—but I stop him. “We’re not talking about this.”
“So that’s two subjects off the table,” he mumbles. He leans forward just an inch. “Whatcanwe talk about?”
I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out. We are far too close together in the backseat of this car. Is it hot in here?
Turning to stare out of the side window, I hear him chuckle at his small victory that I had to look away first. Neither of us says anything else until we get to my house.
We unfold ourselves out of the car and watch the Uber drive off. “How much for the ride?” Leo asks.
“I got it,” I say, waving him off.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” We’re on the curb in front of my house.
“I can drive you.”
He doesn’t really look at me. “I can walk. It’s not far.” He takes a few steps, then stops. Turning back, he says, “I hate that I wasted the ride fighting with you.”
Before I can even think of how to respond to that, he starts back down the sidewalk in the direction of the Evil Joes’ house. I don’t know what it means that I stay in the same spot until he’s no longer in sight.
He never looked back once.
I drag myself inside and take another shower, hoping it will get me out of this funk. When I’m about to climb into my bed, I notice my phone has a screen full of notifications. I open the one from Mom first.
MOM:Aw, it looks like you left the party early? Was it not fun? Loved the pic you sent of the four of y’all in your togas! But why are you so sunburnt like that? I thought your dress you wore today was sleeveless.
ME:I changed into a t-shirt and shorts after the luncheon and sat outside with Sophie. Didn’t realize how long we were out there
Next, I open up the group message I have with Sophie, Wes, and Charlie.
SOPHIE:Just making sure you made it home!
ME:Yes! Showered and about to get in bed. Y’all have fun
And then I see Locke finally texted me back.
LOCKE:Let’s start over. No talk about MJ or JL or Charlie. No questions asked about why you’re at the course. Deal?
Oh crap. My stomach flips. This isn’t Locke. And if he’s mentioning MJ and JL, there’s really only one other person this can be.
Leo.
