“I’ll see you out there,” he says finally and brushes past me.
I let out a long breath and then follow him. I come up short outside his office when I spot Lacey. She’s dressed in athletic shorts and a crop top with tennis shoes and her pom-poms in hand. The cheerleaders practice outside between the football and soccer fields. She’s gone out of her way no matter where she’s headed.
Dad’s office is on the other side of the wall, and I don’t think there’s any chance she didn’t hear him reprimanding me.
I square my shoulders as I approach her, attempting to infuse myself with confidence I am not feeling right now.
She shifts uncomfortably and moves her blue and silver pom-poms to one hand. “I didn’t mean to overhear.”
“It’s fine,” I say when what I mean is I am horrified, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
“I’m sorry about the test. Dr. Frievalt is going to let you retake it?”
“Next Wednesday,” I say. “Not that it matters. I had weeks to study for the last test and still failed. Another week isn’t going to make a difference.”
Her brows pinch together, and her mouth twists until it falls into a sympathetic smile that makes me feel even worse. It’s not like Lacey thought very highly of me to start, but I really hate that she now knows I’m an idiot who is going to fail Algebra II.
“Don’t say that. You can do it.” Her voice takes on the cheeriness I’ve often heard from her, but never directed at me.
I’m not quite sure how to reply, so I don’t.
“I could maybe take a look,” she says, back to sounding a whole lot less cheery.
My brows rise, and I don’t even try to hide the surprise on my face.
“If you want,” she adds quickly.
“What’s the catch?”
“The catch?”
“You didn’t want to help me before. Why the sudden change of heart?” I should shut my mouth and just accept her offer, but I need to know what’s prompted her to show up now.
“I feel bad, I guess. And the team needs you. Austin and Rowan are moping around like the world is ending.” She tries a smile, but it’s small and brittle.
Guilt. Well, that makes sense. Couldn’t be because she actually wants to help me. Not that I can really afford to be picky.
“Sure.” Worth a shot. If she can’t help, then I really am out of luck.
She keeps staring at me. Maybe she expected me to be more enthusiastic about her offer, but honestly, I’m not even convinced she can help me anymore.
“I have to get to practice,” I say, tipping my head in the general direction I need to go.
“Right. Okay. How’s tonight after practice?”
From the humiliation of filling water bottles to tutoring. My night is lining up to be stellar. “That works for me.”
Her demeanor changes immediately. Bright smile, shoulders pushed back, pink in her cheeks. She even has a little swing in her ponytail. “Great.”
It doesn’t feel great, but then again, I’m the one who needs a tutor. Even playing water boy to my teammates sounds better than standing here while Lacey smiles at me like she’s just solved all my problems.
She’s still aiming that big grin at me when she asks, “Do you want me to come to your house, since it’s one of the three places you’re allowed to go?”
My face flushes hot. There goes my last shred of hope she hadn’t overheard me with Dad.
“Sounds good.” I look to the ground and start to shuffle past her. I stop two steps away and force myself to meet her gaze. “Thank you, Lacey.”
* * *
