“Yeah, just can’t get enough.”
“Nice shiner. Everything okay?”
I raised my fingers to my eye. I’d almost forgotten about it. Glancing over at Mr. Rafferty, who was probably my grandfather’s age and looked like a bald Santa Clause, I shrugged a shoulder and said, “Just took an elbow in gym class.”
“Gotta watch out for those stray elbows. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“Actually, I’m ready. I want to get a long-sleeved shirt in this burgundy color with this printed on the front.” I handed him a piece of paper.
He read it and glanced at me. “Okay. I don’t get it, but I don’t get much of what you kids want these days.” Shaking his head, he walked to the back of the store. “Give me fifteen minutes,” he called over his shoulder.
“Thanks. I’ll be back.”
I found Jenna, Tim, and Brody sitting on a bench outside the music store. “Hey, where were you?” Brody asked, walking over and taking my hand.
“I know where she was. The T-shirt Factory. Right, Willow?” Jenna smiled.
“Yeah. I have to go back in fifteen minutes.”
“Why didn’t you let us go with you?” Brody look down at me.
“Because I don’t want you to know what it’s says until it’s done.”
Brody quirked an eyebrow at me and smirked. “Should we be alone?”
I laughed. “No, Ace. Nice try though.”
After I picked up my shirt, Jenna and Tim followed us to Brody’s Jeep. Jenna forgot what part of the lot she’d parked in, and Brody offered to drive her around until she found her car.
“I thought you were paying attention, Tim,” Jenna snapped as we walked to the Jeep.
“You drove. You should have been watching where you parked.” Tim rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, I was driving. That means you weren’t doing anything but riding, so you had less to do. That means you should be able to remember where the car is.” Jenna threw up her arms and let out a frustrated breath.
“They’re a match made in Heaven,” I whispered to Brody. He laughed. Jenna and Tim rolled their eyes at me.
“Show us your shirt,” Jenna said when we reached the Jeep.
“Not now.” I shoved the bag under my arm.
“Yeah, I want to see it,” Brody said.
“I don’t want you to see it until I’m wearing it, and there’s nowhere to change here. I’ll wear it to school tomorrow.”
“So change in the Jeep. The windows are tinted,” Jenna said. I looked at her with my mouth open. “What?” She shrugged. “They won’t look.” She waved her hand at Brody and Tim.
“Yeah, Willow, change in the Jeep.” Brody’s blue eyes sparkled with a hint of a dare as he let his keys fall from his hand and dangle from his fingers in front of me. “I won’t look. Much.”
I glanced at the windows and back at the three of them. Jenna’s eyebrows were raised; she was completely daring me to do it. Tim looked bored. If it didn’t have to do with chess, it really didn’t get him going. And Brody looked amused.
“Fine. Give me those.” I swiped the keys from Brody. “You better not look.” I pointed at him.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I climbed in the back of the Jeep and quickly switched from one shirt to the other, smoothing the new one in place before getting out of the SUV. “Okay.”
I felt a little stupid standing in the middle of the parking lot while three people read words plastered across my boobs, but there I was.
Brody laughed as soon as he saw me. Jenna and Tim looked at me and said, “Huh?” in unison.
“‘Movies in the back of Jeeps do it better.’ What the hell does that mean?” Jenna said, looking at the back of the T-shirt for the punch line.
“Just an inside joke,” I said, biting my bottom lip to keep from laughing.
Jenna looked at my face, which I’m sure was beet red, and then at Brody, who was still laughing. “Uh-huh. Inside joke. Nice color. Really matches Brody’s Jeep.” She pointed between my shirt and the Jeep.
Brody doubled over with laughter.
Tuesday. I woke up to my phone chiming that I had a text message. Groaning, I pulled my quilt over my head. I still had twenty minutes before my alarm was set to go off. I’d just started drifting back to sleep when my phone chimed a second time. I flipped the quilt off and grabbed my phone. Whoever was texting me was not going to like my response. Then I read the name and smiled. Except him. For him, I’d make an exception.
Brody: Good morning, beautiful.
Me: Hey, Ace.
Brody: Were you awake?
Me: No, but this is a nice way to wake up.
Brody: Ick. Too sappy for this early.
Me: What’s up?
Brody: Wear something funny.
Me: Weird request. I’m game.
Brody: Later.
Me: Bye.
Wear something funny? What does he think is funny this early in the morning besides waking me up to tell me I’m too sappy? Guys. God’s way of letting women know He has a sense of humor.
I pulled out a blue, long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of black jeans. Jenna was going to have a fit. It was technically my day to dress normal, but Brody’s request outweighed Jenna’s, so funny T-shirt it was.
I showered, doing my hair and makeup before getting dressed. Grabbing my blue converse tennis shoes and my book bag, I was just walking out the door when my phone chimed. I looked at the screen, expecting a text from Brody. My heart stopped when I read the name across the top of the message. My hands turned clammy and started to shake. I was so dizzy I had to sit on the bottom step of the staircase before I fell.
There was just one line, but it was going to change everything.
I stared at the text, willing my breathing to calm. I could feel myself start to hyperventilate. Tears pressed at the back of my eyes and, for the first time, I realized something. I was happy, happier than I’d been in months, maybe more than a year. And then another truth slammed into me like a linebacker on Jaden’s football team. The message I was staring at was going to rip that happiness away.
Jaden: Someone saw you at the mall yesterday.
The letters started to swirl and blur as my eyes filled with tears. My head pounded in sync with the blood rushing behind my ears. I sucked in two deep breaths, letting them out slowly to calm my rapidly fraying nerves. One thought was in the forefront of my mind—I had to warn Brody.
I tried to call him as I drove to school, but my call bounced to voicemail. I hung up without leaving a message. Pushing the speed limit, I drove through yellow lights and rolled through stop signs. I was lucky there weren’t any cops around, or I would have gotten one helluva ticket.
I parked in the student parking lot, not caring I took two spaces, and hurried into the building, sliding to a stop when I saw Jaden leaning against my locker. I’d prayed that he’d just let it go. That he’d use this as an excuse to break up with me. Play the part of the jilted boyfriend. Smear my name all over school. I wouldn’t have cared. I’d be free of him. That was all that would’ve mattered.
But I’d known deep in my gut that he wouldn’t. He’d make me suffer for the embarrassment I caused him. Breaking up with me would be too easy. He’d want to hurt me—the sadistic streak running through his dark soul wouldn’t let him walk away. This was a game to him. One that had just become a lot more fun.
“I don’t know what was going on at the mall and I don’t care. But it’s gonna stop. Now. From now on, I’ll walk you to and from your classes. You’ll sit with me at lunch—the entire lunch period. Karen will stay and watch your chess practices and tournaments while I’m at football practices, and you will be required to attend all of my football games. If you need a ride to the away games, Karen will drive you.”