I duck as fast as I can against my wall, pressing my body so flush against it that I nearly smack the back of my head. I’m such an idiot. How long was he looking at me? I place my hand over my heart, willing it to slow down, and then I dare to take another glance.
But the car is gone. And so is my dignity. But really, what’s he going to say? What’s the worst that can happen? Other than Iembarrass the hell out of myself or he tells me that I need to stop spying on him.
But I’m curious . . . why tell me I can keep his phone number but then say that I shouldn’t be texting him? I think to grab my phone and brazenly ask him via text.Hey, I know you just caught me staring at you but you can explain to me why we can't talk? And why you've been avoiding me?
Yeah, that sounds like a lot of overthinking and honestly, the last thing I was to do is make a complete fool out of myself. So instead, I decide to just head downstairs for some breakfast before taking my shower and getting ready for school.
It’s the last week of the fair before it packs up and heads out next weekend. I’ve been working my summers here for the past two years, mainly at the concessions and ticket booths. But the concession tent is my favorite. I get to enjoy free snacks throughout the day, not that I truly take advantage of that often, and I’m covered; protected from the scorching heat of the sun. Plus, my best friend can hang out in here and not really get caught because it’s either really busy or entirely too slow.
“So what’s on the agenda for secret projectmake-Zach-fall-in-love-with-youtoday?” Ryen asks before she pulls a sour candy rope with her teeth, stretching it before it snaps softly and then reeling it in with her tongue.
“Please don’t call it that,” I say, rolling my eyes at how childish it sounds. “And I am not trying to get him to fall in love withme,” I add as I restock the Pepsi bottles in the fridge. “Besides, I haven’t seen or heard from him in a week, so I doubt that I have a chance at anything.”
“Well then what the heck are you trying to do?” she asks with a mouth full of candy. She leans back against the counter and pulls herself up, jumping a bit to sit on the countertop.
“I don’t know. But whatever it was, I’ve changed my mind.” I close the fridge and turn to busy myself by straightening the chips in the rack against the wall. I can feel her disappointed glare burn in the back of my head and Ryen happens to give the best puppy eyes so I know the moment I turn to face her, it’s over for me.
“Cadie Leigh…” She drags out my name, again, in a motherly tone.
“Not looking,” I sing-song dramatically.
“Well why the hell are you giving up so quickly? You’re really going to give up because he’s been busy? You’ve waited this long, what’s a few weeks more?”
“Zach told me we shouldn’t text,” I admit, feeling a bit defeated recalling the conversation again. “And he clearly meant it because like I said, it seems like he’s been avoiding me. He didn't even really look at me at the game yesterday."
“Well then," she pauses. "You might want to figure out what to say quick because you just got a text from Zach.”
My head swings over, eyes wide as I look between her and the lit-up screen on my phone next to her. We both stare at it for a second, and then at each other.
“You want to answer that or…” Ry picks up my phone and jumps off the desk, walking it over to me. But right as I go to look at the message, customers walk in.
“I got this, go get your man,” she says as she winks at me. And I don’t even care that she isn’t on the clock, yet alone that she doesn't even have a job here. I turn around and walk towardthe back with my head buried in the text message, curiosity pummeling me as my heart thunders aggressively.
Brayden told me you told him.
I hold my breath as I read the message.Great. I mean, I had to have known that Bray would have asked Zach about what I said. But I wonder why he’s choosing now to bring it up. He had a chance to ask me yesterday, assuming Bray told him sometime during school or after the game, which the boys won by the way; thirty-two to twenty. But even though I looked him right in his eyes after the game, we didn’t talk and he didn’t seem bothered, so who knows when Bray decided to tell Zach.
But I have to remember what he said the last time we texted. Bray would lose his mind if he found out we were talking and solely based on Brayden’s very loose but not so vague reaction yesterday morning, I might need to adhere to that advice a little bit. But right now, he’s texting me, so it's an opportunity I have to take advantage of.
I did. Sorry I ratted you out. It just kind of came out.
Did he say where he was?
Idk Zach. Why don’t you go ask him?
I realize my answer is a tad harsh, maybe I’m unintentionally bothered. Confused might be the better term. He’s the one who said we can’t talk, yet here he is, and after spending all week with my brother I doubt he doesn't actually know where he was that night. So why is he texting me? I try my best to calm my nerves as they kick in and take over, running rampant as I watch the three dots floating up and down.
Why would I do that when I could just ask you?
Ummm I thought we weren’t supposed to be texting…
I never said that I just said Brayden wouldn’t like it.
Well I don’t wanna get anyone in trouble.
In trouble? He’s my best friend, not my dad. I’ll text who I want. I just won’t tell him…
lol okay then Zach. But what if he finds out?
