“I’m over here. The Jeep Grand Cherokee.”
“Hey, it’s Jaden’s girl! How ya doing?” a deep voice boomed across the parking lot.
I looked over my shoulder and froze. Four guys walked toward us.
“What’s wrong?” Brody asked.
“You have to go. Just turn around, walk to your Jeep, and don’t look at them. They’re on the football team. If they see you and me together…”
“Can I text you later?”
“Yes. Just please go before they get any closer.”
Brody ducked his head and jogged to his Jeep, slipping in and driving away before the guys walked past me.
“Hey guys.” I tried to sound normal. “Where’s Jaden?”
“He’s still inside, grabbing his gear. Who was that?” The guy pointed in the direction of Brody’s Jeep.
“I’m gonna go find Jaden before he leaves. Good luck tonight!” I hurried toward the school, pushing through the doors. My heart hammered in my chest; it was almost painful. I leaned against the wall next to the doors, trying to calm my breathing while I waited.
“Hey. What are you doing here?” Jaden asked when he saw me.
“I just came to wish you good luck,” I said with what I hoped was a convincing smile.
Jaden bent and kissed me. “Thanks, baby. I’ll text you later. Maybe you can talk your mom into letting you go to Jamieson’s for a while tonight.”
“Yeah, I’ll ask her.” I wouldn’t.
“See ya,” Jaden said. He pushed through the doors and jogged toward the field.
Oh, that was too close. Way too close. If I’m lucky, they won’t say anything to Jaden about seeing me with someone. Please, let me be lucky for once.
I was restless at the game that night. Jittery. I popped a piece of cotton candy in my mouth, already on my second stick and it wasn’t even halftime yet.
“Okay, spill,” Jenna said, grabbing the candy from my hand.
“What? Give me that!” I scrambled for my candy like a heroin addict would their next fix.
“You only eat this crap when something is bothering you. And even then, you don’t mow through it this fast. What’s up? Tell me now or I’m throwing this candy on the ground.”
“Give it to me,” I hissed.
Jenna dangled the stick of cotton candy from her fingertips. I watched it sway back and forth precariously. “Tell me.”
“He stayed to watch my chess tournament, and we almost went out for a burger afterward. I would have gone with him, but some of Jaden’s teammates walked out of the school just as we were leaving and saw us,” I blurted out all in one breath. “Now give me my damn candy.”
“Who?” she asked, a frown pulling on her lips.
“Brody,” I whispered. “Who else?”
“Oh, holy hottie, Batman! Give me some of that.” She grabbed a handful of my cotton candy and shoved it in her mouth.
“I know.” I took a bite of my candy, but it melted on my tongue too quickly. It wasn’t giving me the high I needed. “This isn’t enough. I need something stronger. Time for chocolate.” I made my way to the concession stand. My gaze fixed on my feet while I waited impatiently for my turn to order. “Three chocolate bars, please,” I said when it was my turn. “And the biggest Coke you have. With an extra side of caffeine.”
“Sure thing, sweetie,” the old woman behind the counter said, smiling at me. She pushed the chocolate through the small window and took my money, handing me my change and Coke. “And, sweetie?”
“Yes?” I looked up at her.
“Whoever has you drowning your sorrows in chocolate and caffeine probably isn’t worth it.”
I smiled at her. “Thanks.” Turning, I came face-to-face with Brody. He looked down at me, and his lips tipped in a grin.
“Got a sweet tooth?”
“Ah, yeah, a little. Did you get dinner?”
“Are you worried about my eating habits?” Brody asked with a quirked brow. “How sweet and totally unnecessary.”
Sighing, I tried to walk around him. “Forget it.” I couldn’t figure him out. This afternoon he was sweet and friendly, and now he was back to antagonizing and irritating.
I walked through the concession stands on my way back to the bleachers when someone grabbed my arm and pulled me into the shadows behind one of the concession booths, making me drop my Coke.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a jerk back there. I just didn’t want anyone overhearing us actually talking like… we like each other,” Brody murmured.
“Oh.” I hated how my voice sounded all breathy and my mind spun from the closeness of him. “You made me drop my Coke.”
That’s what I say? Deep. Real deep. Earth shattering, actually.
Brody laughed. “I’ll buy you another.”
I shrugged. “At least it wasn’t my chocolate.” I smiled.
“So, to answer your question, no, I didn’t get to eat. Do you think you could get away for a while?”
“Um.” I drummed my fingers against my leg, opening my mouth to answer, and then closing it again before finally asking, “Why?”
“’Cuz I could grab us a couple of burgers from the concession stand, and we could eat them in my Jeep. You do owe me a burger,” Brody reminded me, like I’d actually forgotten.
“Ah, where are you parked?”
“Way in the back. I decided to come at the last minute, so I think I got the farthest parking space there is. In fact, I think it’s actually in another county.”
I laughed. “Okay. I need a minute to see what I can do.”
“I’ll get the burgers. What do you like?”
You. Oh, crap, where did that come from? I’m seriously walking on a very thin line.
“No, don’t get them yet. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to come back or not.”
“I’ll take my chances. I’ll meet you over there?” He nodded at an unlit part of the parking area behind the last concession stand.
“Okay, but if I’m not back in five minutes, you’ll know I couldn’t get away.” I forced myself to walk calmly to where Jenna and Tim sat on the bleachers. As I walked, I opened one of the candy bars and threw the candy under the bleachers, keeping the wrapper. I did the same with half of another. I sat down between Jenna and Tim.
“Got your candy fix?” Jenna said with a laugh, looking at the chocolate bars.
“Yeah.”
“Uh-oh. I know that look. You’re gonna hurl, aren’t you? You ate too much of that crap and nothing else.” She picked up the empty wrappers and looked at them.
“Yeah, I’m not feeling too hot.” I purposely talked loud enough that Karen, who was sitting a row behind us, would hear me. She would tell Jaden everything as soon as the game was over. “Do you think you can take me home?”
Jenna gave me a funny look. “Yeah. What about Jaden? He’ll be looking for you.”
“I’ll tell Karen to tell him I’m sick and had to leave. He’ll be fine with it. He won’t have to worry about my curfew and can go to Jamieson’s party after the game.”
“Okay.” Jenna grabbed her things.
I turned to Karen, who, like I figured, was listening to our conversation. “Karen, I’m not feeling so great. Too much candy, I guess. Can you get a message to Jaden that I went home and tell him I’ll text him after the game?”
“Sure.” She studied my face. I tried to look sick.
“Tell him I said to have fun at Jamieson’s party.”
“I’ll tell him.” She watched Jenna and me walk down the bleachers after we said goodbye to Tim and the others in our group.
As soon as we rounded the stands, Jenna grabbed my arm. “Spill. Now.”
“I’m having a burger with Brody. You were the only cover I could think of. I know you don’t really like the games anyway, so I didn’t think you’d mind leaving early.” I cringed, waiting for her to say something.
“Nope, don’t mind at all. He’ll give you a ride home?”