Jonathan groans.
Before he can tell me no, I make an urgent, maybe even pathetic plea.“You’ll be saving me.I can’t do another night of smiling like a doll and nodding my head like I care what any of these people have to say.Please.Please.Please go with me.”
“Begging now, huh?It must be bad.”Jonathan gives me a crooked smile.
“The worst,” I say dramatically.
“Sounds like exactly where I don’t want to be.”He chuckles.
I pinch his side.He jumps away from me.“Hey!Look who’s getting violent now.”
I cross my arms and sulk.“Fine.I don’t blame you.I wouldn’t go either if I had a choice.”
He lifts my chin.“I don’t want to go, but I will.”
“You will?”I can’t hide the surprise in my voice.I am serious about wanting him to go, but wasn’t honestly expecting him to say yes.
Jonathan wraps me in his arms and lifts me off the ground, swinging me.“For you, I’ll do anything.”He nuzzles his face into my neck.I squeal in laughter.“Even if it kills me.”
“Dramatic much?”
He lowers me in front of him, and my breath shudders when I see the conviction in his eyes.“I’m serious.I’ll do anything for you, Sadie.I swear it.”His mouth seals his promise, igniting another type of fire within me.
Collin bursts in, sipping a smoothie.“Did I give you enough time?”I pull away like I’ve been doused with ice water and shoot him an annoyed look.“Stop.You made up.That’s all that matters.Kiss on your own time.We have a carburetor to install.”
J
onathan is waiting for meby my assigned parking spot at school the next morning with Collin… and Oren.
“Hi,” I say, my eyes roaming from one guy to the next.Jonathan comes up beside me with a kiss to my temple.Collin lingers a step behind Oren, who has his hands stuffed into his varsity jacket, looking like he wants to be anywhere in the world other than here.
“Hey, Sadie.I just wanted to apologize for what went down the other night at your place.I shouldn’t have laid my hands on you.I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”My voice sounds small and uncertain.I glance up at Jonathan, trying to understand what’s happening right now.He slides a hand in mine and squeezes.
Oren redirects his attention to Jonathan as well, standing taller.“We all good?”
Jonathan nods.Oren shuffles off toward the school.I notice Danika in the distance, leaning against his car, waiting for him.She knows I’m watching her and pointedly ignores me when she tucks her arm through Oren’s and walks with him into the building.
“What was that about?”I ask the guys, who haven’t made a step toward the school, like they’re waiting for everyone to clear out first.
Jonathan’s voice is low, confirming the desire for discretion.“I met up with Oren last night, and he apologized.Said he wants to keep what happened between us.”
“Coach heard the rumors and called his house.Oren told him he wasn’t drunk, that he tripped while playing catch in the dark after your party.That he hit his head on the ground.He doesn’t have a concussion; he got cleared.But he’ll be benched for playoffs if he’s caught drinking.”
“Oh,” I respond, not sure I like covering for him.Then again, it sounds like this lie also protects Jonathan.
“Do you think you could talk to Jaz and Darcy?Make sure they won’t say anything?”
“They don’t gossip,” I tell him.“But I’ll let them know.”
“What about your brother?”Jonathan sounds worried.“Will he tell your parents?”
“He won’t,” is echoed by Collin’s, “He wouldn’t.”Jonathan and I look at Collin.He quickly recovers.“You know how he is.”
That doesn’t explain his response, but I nod.“Yeah, he’s never been one to tell.It’s an unwritten agreement between us.I have way too much on him.But it doesn’t stop him from telling me how to live my life.”
“What does that mean?”Jonathan asks, finally moving toward the school at the sound of the bell.
