“Isn’t that pink in your hair, too?” I ask. “Guess you’re stupid, huh?”
“Who asked you?” she barks and snaps her fingers. “Let’s go, girls.”
And now Shania Twain will be playing in my mind all fucking day. I officially hate the little bitch.
“The brat didn’t tip,” Emma says. “Not that I expected much.”
The only girl who doesn’t hurry after their horrible leader hangs back and turns to Mama. “Does Bernie have the money to pay for this?” She keeps her voice low so no one but the three of us can hear. “I have some, if she needs it.”
“She’s covered, sweetheart,” Mama says.
Handing over a handful of cash, she smiles at Emma. “Here. It’s not a lot, but I figured Sierra wouldn’t tip. If I knew she was going to do this to Bernie, I never would have come.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Please, take it. I know she’s difficult.” Turning to Bernie, she smiles. “I love your hair, Bernie. I almost got purple, but we have family pictures tonight, and Mom would have murdered me.”
“Thanks, Carly! You’ll look pretty in your pictures,” Bernie says and waves. “See you at school!”
Carly waves back before walking outside. “Have a good weekend.”
“That’s Carly,” Bernie tells us as she hops off the chair like we hadn’t just heard her. “She’s actually nice. One day, when Sierra took my cookie and threw it on the ground at lunch, Carly gave me her brownie.”
My heart drops, and my head snaps up to look at Mama. She has the same look I do. Bernie’s been keeping secrets. Bullies.
She’s such a sweet girl, but she really does trust too easily. And forgives the same way. All she wants is friends, and people take that for granted. Take advantage of her kind nature.
“You know what I think your backpack could use?” I ask.
“What?”
“A Daredevil patch. Whatdo you think?”
Her eyes light up. “That would look so cool!”
“I’ll get it for you, and we can sew it on together.”
Jaw dropping, she stares in awe at me. “You know how to sew?”
Mama giggles and points at my own patches. “Who do you think sewed all of these on? It wasn’t me.”
“That’s so cool.”
No one will mess with my girl anymore. I’ll make damn sure of it. And if that bitch, Sierra, gets put in her place by the bigger club kids, I wouldn’t be upset. In fact, I might throw them a pizza party when I find out.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Misty
“Pink?”
“It washes out,” Jolene says, her hands in the air. “Zep already checked.”
I frown. “Zep?”
Even the mention of his name has me aching for him. And seeing him just hours ago hasn’t helped, either. All I want is to give in and trust he wants us, but then I remember Chanel standing in his yard wearing his bedsheet.
The same bedsheet I rolled around in.
