Jackson leans down to the window and peers inside. “And who is this?” He nods in my direction. “New girlfriend?”
“None of your damn business.”
“You new here?” he asks me.
“Yeah.” I glance at him. “Just moved here from New York.”
“And you already hooked up withhim? That’s too bad.”
“She’s not my fucking girlfriend,” Braden says. “She’s my cousin.”
“Your cousin, huh?” Jackson smiles at me. “What’s your name?”
“Rumor,” I say.
Braden bolts up, turning to block me from Jackson. “Stay the fuck away from her!”
“Relax,” Jackson says, still smiling. “I’m just saying hello.”
“Move your fucking car or I’m calling the cops,” Braden says.
“For what? Trespassing on my property? Good idea. Go ahead and call them.”
Braden’s jaw tightens, and he takes a deep breath from his nose, just like Brock does when he’s mad.
Someone honks. “What’s going on?” a girl yells.
We all look back and see Kristen pulling up behind Jackson’s Range Rover.
“Be there in a minute,” Jackson yells back at her. He smiles at Braden. “Looks like we have a traffic jam.”
“We wouldn’t if you’d move your fucking car,” Braden says.
“Is that your girlfriend?” I ask Jackson, wanting to know what he’ll say with Braden here.
“Depends on who you ask,” Jackson says, eyeing Braden.
“Go to hell,” Braden spits out.
“Jackson, what’s going on?” Kristen says, walking up to him. She’s wearing a cute yellow sundress that matches her blonde hair, and thick wedge heels that make her a few inches taller.
“Found this in my driveway,” Jackson says, pointing to Braden.
She gasps. “Braden. I didn’t know it was you. What happened to your car?”
“Got a new one.”
She glances at it. “It’s nice.”
He looks away, like he can’t even stand the sight of Kristen with Jackson.
“We should move so they can leave,” Kristen says, wrapping her arm around Jackson’s.
“Yeah,” he says, his eyes on Braden. “We probably should.”
“See you at school next week,” Kristen says to Braden. She leans down to look at me. “Sorry, I forgot your name.”
“Rumor,” I rush to say, hoping she’ll leave before telling Braden I’ve been here before. With just a few words, she could ruin everything.
