She frowns and glances at the recipe book she has open on the kitchen island. “I wanted to make your favorite.” She brightens. “Why don’t you invite your friends over here for dinner? The lasagna would feed an army. Your dad works late tonight, so it’d be fun to meet your friends.”
I hesitate, and the smile slips from her face. Disappointing my mom is a hard pass usually. It’s hard to remember she’s just moved back to this town herself, and Dad has been working a lot. He tries to be home for dinners, but apparently not tonight.
“Fine. I’ll ask.”
Practically buzzing with excitement, she grins and goes to the cookbook. “Oh, I’ll need to get out the nicer dishes.”
I shake my head. I doubt the horsemen will think anything about ordinary dishes, but again I don’t want to disappoint her. Seeing her smile makes me happy. The past few years have been rough on her. That was the point of moving back here. Dad would work less and have more time for Mom.
“Warning, whatever you think is enough, make double. I’m bringing five teenagers home with me.” If I can convince them to come. Of course, the only one I really have to convince is Harper, and the others will follow.
“Five?” Her fingers worry her necklace again.
“Theguys and Harper.”
Mom’s smile is huge and knowing. “Harper? Your little girlfriend from elementary school?”
“She was my best friend, not my girlfriend, Mom.” It pops out of my mouth from habit. Now, I don’t know what to call her. But fuck it, I have every right to claim her. She’s mine. “But she may be my girlfriend now.”
Mom makes anawface.
I wave her off and back out the door. “Gotta go. Thanks for the sandwich, and see you tonight.”
“Love you, Nico.”
The door shuts before I can say it back. I hope I can convince everyone to come for dinner. I get in my car and head to school. Parking next to Eli’s car, I get out and grab my backpack.
“Hi, Nico.” Angela Harris stands on the curb, waiting. Her blond hair glints in the sunlight. She’s got just as much makeup on as yesterday and shows even more cleavage. Her skirt might be even shorter. What is with the girls at this school?
“Angela.” I glance toward the school sign and see Jack and Eli talking near it. As I try to walk past her, she falls in step with me.
“So I was thinking, we should really get ahead on this art project.” She smiles and licks her lips. “We could work on it at the coffee shop.”
“We have weeks to work together in class. I’m sure we’ll be fine.” I lengthen my stride, but she keeps pace even in those ridiculous heels.
“But we could work at thecoffeeshop.” She grabs my arm to stop me. If I don’t want to drag her with me and make a scene, I have to stop.
Turning, I glare at her. She’s working on my last nerve. Oblivious to my mood, she preens like a poodle at a dog show. Fuck this girl.
“See, everyone around here knows what happens in the coffee shop bathroom, but maybe you don’t since you’re new.” She grabs the necklace that falls between her cleavage, probably to draw my gaze to her breasts.
“You mean fucking in the bathroom. Yeah, I’m aware. But you know I’m spoken for, so I’m not sure why you would even imply I would want that.” I don’t have time for these games. I gave her an out, and she didn’t take it.
She laughs. “No one thinks that thing with Harper is going to last. I heard she’s frigid, and that’s why she’s still a virgin.”
My eyes narrow, and I grab her upper arm. “Who’s spreading that around?”
“Ow, you’re hurting me.” She pouts, but her eyes sparkle with interest. “Everyone knows. I had to change my bet. But I’m hoping you guys get impatient waiting for her to give it up.”
My brow furrows.
“I won’t tell if you don’t.” She bats her eyelashes.
I shove her away. “We have a project in class together and that’s the extent of our relationship. You’re not my friend, and I’m not interested.”
She purses her lips, but then turns and storms off into the school. Shaking my head, I walk over to the guys. Fuck, are all the girls at this school like that?
“Is that typical?” I gesture toward the door she disappeared behind.
