When she walked through the halls of Sugartree High School the next Monday morning, a little less rested than usual but flying high on the excitement and nerves of her impending confession, she had no trouble spotting Lake. He stood in a small group in the crowded hallway, effortlessly commanding the attention of those around him. She admired him from afar. The way he laughed then ran a perfectly tanned hand through marvelously messy hair. How he somehow seemed less sullen and more energetic than usual.Had he thought of her all weekend like she’d thought of him?Georgia waited for the hallway, and his audience, to clear before she approached.
The bell signaling the next class rang, and most of her classmates left the halls, but Lake remained with a girl she didn’t know well. One she’d seen only a few times before. She had dark curly hair, heavy eye makeup, and an edgy look and persona Georgia could never pull off. Mystery girl looked up and down the hall—but didn’t see Georgia from behind a well-placed locker—then handed Lake a small plastic bag with something inside. He inspected it quickly, smiling his wide genuine smile, and pulled out his wallet. After paying her, he placed the bag carefully in his backpack and turned in the other direction. He placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close as they walked away.
Georgia’s heart stuttered. Whatever she’d just seen, the secret exchange was meant to be just that… a secret. She had heard rumors in the past with Lake’s name and drugs intermingled, but she’d never wanted to believe them. But now…
Stunned. Angry. Broken-hearted. Georgia slid down the wall she’d been leaning against, rested her head on her knees and ached over the possibilities she’d allowed herself to envision over the past forty-eight hours. She was only thankful she hadn’t told anyone her foolish hopes.
Georgia spent the rest of the day in a blur. She gave little thought to her classes, her friends, or even the Winter Formal. Instead, she replayed every moment from the scene in the hallway and how foolish she’d felt in having placed her trust in Lake. When she finally made it to Good Start that afternoon, she’d gone from heartache to indignation and had a hard time reigning her feelings in.
“You are really cranky, Georgia Snow!” her mother chastised Georgia after she’d thrown a used, metal milk container in the sink. “What is goin’ on?”
Georgia huffed and then blew her unruly hair out of her face, both hands busy with lattes that had been ordered. “Sorry my personality isn’t up to your standards today, Mama… I’ll try to be more chipper,” Georgia clipped and threw another container in the sink after pouring the steamed milk on top.
She handed the lattes over to customers, two girls from her school looking slightly embarrassed for her, and chirped sarcastically, “Have a great day!”
The girls left, and when they were alone in the shop, her mother grabbed Georgia by the arm, turning her daughter to look at her. “Now you’re just bein’ ugly! What is the matter?”
“Nothing!” she lied, unable to look her mother in the eye.
“Nothin’?! Nothin’ has caused you to be rude to every dang person who’s walked through those doors today, and nothin’ has caused you to act like your mama is too low to be spoken to with a little respect? You better stop puttin’ on airs, girl, and talk to me.”
Georgia looked at the ceiling. “Mama. Please? Please, just let me be… for now.” Her eyes started to well with tears. Her mom took pity, holding her daughter’s hand for one, two, three beats, then squeezed it a few times.
“Alright, Georgia Snow… for now. But ya know you can talk to me? About anything.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay… Well, you better buck up, buttercup.” Her mother looked at the entrance just as Lake Lovett strode through the door. “Looks like you’ve got a customer. I’m just gonna step in the back for a minute.” She gave her a sympathetic smile and left her alone with the very root of Georgia’suglyattitude.
Lake approached the counter, totally unaffected by the day’s events and the frigid atmosphere inside of Good Start Coffee. “Hey, Peaches,” he greeted her and leaned over the counter with all the confidence in the world. When earlier his smile and easy demeanor had been charming, now it grated, sending unease to Georgia’s gut.How had she let herself go silly over him?
Georgia bore down on the cup she picked up, ready to write down his order for cocoa. “What can I get you?”
Lake looked slightly startled with her lack of acknowledgment but carried on just the same. “The usual, please. And maybe you could take a break with me? I’ll buy you a coffee.”
“Can’t. Too busy,” she said as she relayed his total, gruffly swiped the card, and began making his drink.
He followed her along the counter, hands shoved in his pockets, yet otherwise maintaining an air of confidence. “Could I take you to dinner tonight? Please?”
Georgia glimpsed up from the cocoa in her hand and found Lake looking back at her, a hopeful grin and questioning eyes only making him more frustratingly cute. Like he’d practiced and perfected that look over his most formative teenage years and made it as effective as humanly possible. Georgia nearly growled at the sight of him.
“Nope. Can’t.” She put his cup on the counter and turned her back on him.Must not be tempted by the gorgeous guy at the counter, Georgia. Trouble. Trouble. Trouble.
He. Is. Trouble.
“Ummm…” Lake’s feet shuffled over the wooden floors. “Am I missing something?” he asked.
“What could you possibly be missing, Lakeland?”
She heard him make his way around the counter, nearly crossing the divide for employees. “I mean, I thought after this weekend… You don’t want to go out with me? Like… on a date?”
Georgia whipped her head around from her fake study of the opposite wall and snarled, “Nope. I don’t, Lake. I know it must sound crazy, saying no to the irresistible bad boy, Lakeland Lovett.”
He stepped back, total confusion sweeping across his face. “What? What is your problem?” he asked, only flaming Georgia’s ire more.
“Seriously? You’re upset I won’t go to dinner with you?” She marched over to him and placed her hands over her heart dramatically. “Do you think you’ll recover?”
Before he could respond, she gasped and threw a hand to her mouth. “You know what? I bet you could ask the girl I saw you with in the hallway this morning. You know the one I’m talking about, Lake? You’ve already made a deal with her once, right? I’m sure she’d be happy to go to dinner with you.”
