There was a wicked grin on Parker’s lips. “Sorry, Mr. Green. I couldn’t help it. My art just really moves people.”
I smothered a laugh as our teacher shook his head. “Yes, well, perhaps you can use your skill formovingthings to help us pack up. We’re almost done setting up here.”
“Sure, can do.”
Mr. Green set off, but Parker lingered. “You know, I can think of a few ways we could really cause a scene.”
“Have I told you how impossible you are?” I asked him.
“Not today,” he said. “But then again, it’s early.”
He walked away, amusement pulling at the corners of his mouth. I returned my attention to his comic, trying to stifle my own smile. Parkerwasimpossible. Impossible to ignore. Impossible to despise—no matter how hard I tried. But, more than anything, he made it impossible to be just his friend. Bracelet or not, every time I was with him, I was only reminded how much more I wanted us to be.
Suddenly someone was beside me. “Moving, huh?”
I frowned up at Elliot. He hulked over me, peering at Parker’s work. “I don’t see it.”
He was standing too close, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. I fought the urge to walk away, andinstead stood my ground.
“My ankle’s feeling better, you know,” he continued. “Doctor thinks I should be able to return to hockey soon. Great timing, since it’s your last game tonight.”
“You don’t know that.” I faced him. “I have every intention of staying on the team.”
“Sure, you might make the team,” he agreed. “But once I’m back, will you even get to play?” Elliot gave me a smug smile. “I think we both know that everyone will feel much better when I’m guarding the net again.”
“You’re not back yet,” I replied with much more confidence than I felt.
His eyes narrowed and he stalked away. As much as I wanted to ignore what he’d said, Elliot’s words continued to swirl in my mind. Between my mom’s wishes, my dad’s probation and the harsh reality of what would likely happen once Ford was back playing again, it felt like the odds were stacked against me.
But as I glanced up at the comic Parker had drawn, inspired by me, I felt a flicker of hope. All was not lost just yet.
Chapter 33Parker
“It’s game day andthat’swhat you’re eating for dinner?”
I happened to think it was perfectly acceptable to eat Cheerios at any time of day, so I stayed firmly focused on my cereal. “Go away, Reed.”
“You’d think he’d be a little more excited to see us,” Grayson said. “We came all this way to watch the homecoming game.”
“It’s like he doesn’t even care,” Paige chimed in cheerfully.
“Maybe the sugar’s gotten to him.” Even Violet was here, flown all the way from California just to give me shit along with everyone else.
I looked up from my bowl to see they were all smirking happily at me from the other side of the kitchen bench. Reed had an arm slung over Violet’s shoulders, while Grayson had his wrapped tightly around Paige’s waist. If I were to draw them right now, I’d call the piece, “Whipped.”
“The options were cereal or Mom’s leftover meatloaf. Clearly, I had no choice.”
“Clearly,” Reed said, coming over to swipe the cereal box and take a handful of Cheerios for himself. “You ready for tonight?”
“Yep.”
“Because, no pressure, but the losing streak ends here. You need to destroy the Saints.”
“Yeah, we hate those guys,” Gray added. “No offense, Violet…”
“None taken. Just be glad you never dated any of them.” Violet pretended to shudder but then laughed as Reed’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t remind me,” he grumbled.
