I didn’t feel happy at all, though.
20
Cooper
Dahlia wanted to go out on Saturday night. I told my mom I was working until eight, but I was only on the schedule until six. I left my phone in my work locker in case she checked my location and took Dahlia to a Mexican place for dinner.
She spent a lot of time talking about the trouble she’d had finding the perfect homecoming dress. She flirted and complimented me. It was the kind of date I’d imagined having with her, the kind half the guys at school wanted to have. I should’ve been happy. Instead, it felt anticlimactic. I couldn’t bring myself to care about anything she said. I was just going through the motions.
At the end of the date, she hugged me goodbye and lingered in my arms, making it clear I could kiss her. I didn’t, though. Kissing her seemed like a commitment, like I would be saying I wanted her as a girlfriend. I wasn’t sure if I did. Lately, my thoughts had been wandering to Madeline. It was her messages I always looked forward to even though I knew she was only pretending to like me.
Over the next week, whenever we saw each other in the hallways between classes, she always gave me a slight, secret smile. Sometimes she looked at me in a knowing way that made me think of how she’d looked before our last kiss—a mix of hesitancy and eagerness. I wondered if she looked at me that wayon purpose, if she meant to remind me of those moments on my front porch. Because that was where my mind went every single time.
Our parents might need more convincing about our status. Kissing ought to become a repeat event. Maybe before our homecoming date on Saturday. Or after. Or both.
Once, I found her after school to talk about homecoming details. She hadn’t mentioned the dance since our date on Friday, and I hoped she’d changed her mind about it. “Are you still going to the dance with TC?” I asked.
She lifted her chin in a challenge. “Are you still going with Dahlia?”
So that was a yes. I couldn’t dump Dahlia after she’d already bought a dress and given up the chance to go with anyone else. I owed her that much.
“We should go to the same restaurant for dinner,” I said. “That way if our parents check our locations we’ll be at the same place.” And that way, I could keep an eye on TC and make sure he didn’t get too friendly with Madeline.
She held up a hand. “I’m declining that motion right off.”
“Why?”
She gave me a look like she couldn’t believe I was asking. “Because it’s my first date with TC, and it would be awkward to double with my fake boyfriend.”
In other words, she was looking forward to going out with TC. “It wouldn’t be a double date,” I said. “We’d just be in the same restaurant.”
“Still awkward.” She made a conciliatory gesture with her hand. “I’ll give you my phone for the night. Then if our parents check, they’ll think we’re together.”
Not a good idea. “I’ll give you my phone for the night. Ishouldn’t leave you without one just in case TC turns out to be such a jerk you need to call for a ride to get away from him.”
She cocked her head. “Is there a precedent for that worry? Do you know of a girl who had to flee, mid-date, from him?”
“No.” TC was a jerk in a lot of ways, but I’d never heard of girls fleeing from him. “I just ...” I didn’t know how to explain my feelings. I wasn’t quite sure what they were myself. “It’s just safer for you to have a phone.”
“Fine.” Her lips quirked into a teasing smile. “While I have it, I’ll try and guess your password and see what secrets your phone holds.”
“Good luck with that.” My phone was low on secrets.
We spent a few more minutes finalizing the rest of the plans. Once we took pictures at her house, I’d drive her to whatever restaurant she and TC decided to eat at so they could meet up there. After the dance, TC would take her back to the restaurant and wait in his car with Madeline while I dropped Dahlia off at her house. Then I’d drive to the restaurant, pick up Madeline, and take her back to her house.
I wondered if she and TC would kiss while they waited in his car and made a mental note to drop Dahlia off early and quickly.
I also wondered if Madeline and TC would become a couple. I didn’t like the idea. TC was a dirtbag half the time. He wasn’t good enough for her.
c c c
Friday night came and we geared up for the homecoming game against Riggs. It should’ve been an easy win. We were a better team and had the home-field advantage.
I could tell my game was off from the start. TC was adefensive end, and every time he lined up across from me, I thought about Madeline and him at the school tomorrow night. Slow dancing. Flirting. Sitting in his car at the end of the night.
TC knew Madeline and I were only pretending to date, but he seemed to sense I had more skin in that game than I should. He never missed an opportunity to taunt me.
“Hey, Coop,” he called to me after we’d barely managed to make our first down, “maybe once I’m done tackling you, I’ll show Madeline some of my moves. I bet she’ll like them better than yours.”
