“Forget it. I’m picking you up for the game. She can find her own way.”
“No! I’m not coming up here three hours before the freakin’ game starts.” I yelled. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Brody and Jenna walk by. “I’m driving myself, and Jenna is riding with me.”
“Like hell you are,” he said through clenched teeth.
I leaned in close to him. He was so much taller than I was that I had to almost look straight up to see his face. I pointed my finger, poking him once in the chest. “Watch me.”
Jaden grabbed my finger, twisting it around. I bit my lip to keep from crying out. Brody took a step forward. I shook my head. Jenna grabbed his arm and held him back.
“I’m pretty sure if you break my finger on school property, you won’t be playing ball tonight.” I winced when he pushed my finger back a litter further.
“You better be at the game tonight, and Jenna better be the only one in your car.” He let go of my finger and shouldered past me, knocking me into the lockers.
“You’re not walking me to my car today, honey?” I called after him. He gave me the finger over his shoulder. “I’ll take that as a no.”
“Don’t provoke him like that, Willow.” Jenna came over, grabbed my hand, and looked at my finger. “You know what he can do.” She looked in my eyes. “We all do.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I’ll be fine.” Trying to give her a confident smile, I failed. I could see it in her eyes.
I tried to take my mind off the game that night. I cooked dinner listening to my iPod, singing along with the songs. I did homework. I cleaned my room. But nothing worked. I spent most of the afternoon pacing my bedroom, wringing my fingers. I twisted them so hard my knuckles cracked.
Finally, the first text came through.
Jenna: Are you really picking me up?
Me: No. I’ll see you there.
Jenna: Ok. You’re acting weird.
Me: What’s new?
Jenna: True.
I paced some more, redid my hair and make-up and checked my outfit in the mirror twenty times. I didn’t consider myself particularly beautiful. I wasn’t completely unfortunate looking, but stunning? No. But that night, I was getting as close as I could.
Time for the next text. And it was the biggie. I took a breath and picked up my phone. My hands shook so badly I had to start over twice.
Me: Can you give me a ride?
There wasn’t an answer right away. It took three minutes. I know—I watched the clock. My heart thudded in my chest, and my breathing was shallow as I waited.
What if the answer is no? It’ll kill me.
Brody: Yes.
Me: Be here in ten?
Brody: I’ll be there.
I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding. My whole insides shook. I was excited and terrified at the same time.
Brody pulled up exactly ten minutes later. I ran out the door before he could come to the house. My mom would never let me leave with him. She didn’t know I planned to break up with Jaden, and she wasn’t going to be happy about it.
Brody got out of the Jeep and held the passenger door open for me. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured as I slipped by him.
I smiled, feeling my cheeks heat with a blush.
“And you’re adorable when you blush.” He grinned. He ran his finger down the side of my face, sending a wave of tingles over my skin. I turned my head, kissing his hand.
Brody cleared his throat, rubbed his thumb over my cheek one last time, and shut the door. I watched him walk around the Jeep, swinging his keys around his finger, a finger on the other hand hooked around a belt loop on his jeans, which were riding just low enough on his hips to send any girl into heart palpitations. Smexy. Smart and sexy. That was Brody Victor. Sex personified. And he was mine. I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face.
He’s mine. Holy freakin’ shiznit.
“What’s that grin for?” he asked when he got in the Jeep.
“Just happy.”
“Yeah? I guess I don’t need to ask this, but I want to hear you say it. You’ve made a choice?”
“You’re my choice, Brody. Always have been.”
He nodded once, and a small grin touched his lips. “That’s what I hoped to hear. So, I guess this is our big coming out of the closet, so to speak.”
“Yup,” I said, rubbing my hands down my thighs.
He watched the movement. “Any idea what you’re going to do?”
“Not a clue.” I gave a nervous laugh.
“Well, it’s always good to have a plan,” Brody teased and put the Jeep in gear.
It was official. Brody knew my choice was him. Now, it was time to tell Jaden.
Holy hell. What have I done?
Breathe. Just breathe. I can do this. I just have to breathe.
We arrived at the football game a half hour before it was set to begin. Jenna and Tim were already there. Their expressions were priceless when they saw Brody and me walk to the bleachers and sit next to them, holding hands.
“Oh shit on a shoe,” Jenna whispered. “Does he know?”
I shook my head. “Have you seen Karen yet?”
“I saw her wandering around,” Tim said. “Hey, can I be there when you tell Jaden?” He bounced in his seat like a little kid.
“Yeah, why not? Everyone here will see it anyway.” I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth.
“Damn, I wish I had a camera.” Tim laughed and fist bumped Brody.
“Yeah, the more witnesses the better,” Jenna muttered, folding her arms in front of herself and rubbing her hands up and down her arms.
Brody squeezed my hand, pulling me closer to him. “I’m going to get us something to drink. Slushie or caffeine?”
“You have to ask? Do you not know me at all?” I rolled my eyes, but smiled.
“Caffeine it is, then.” He started to walk away, and our fingers slipped slowly apart.
“Wait!”
Brody turned toward me. I hurried to catch up to him. “I want to go with you.” I threaded my fingers with his. “I think I’ll need a fix, too,” I said, looking at the cotton candy.
“Cotton candy? Or should we go straight to the hard stuff and get the chocolate bars now?”
“Don’t mock the calming effects of the combination of pure sugar and caffeine. Hmm…” I tapped my finger against my bottom lip, looking from the chocolate to the spun sugar and back again. “I think I’ll get two cotton candy and two chocolate bars, you know, just in case.”
Brody nodded. “Always be prepared.”
“Exactly.” I reached to pay, and Brody shook his head.
“I’ve got it.”
“Thanks,” I said, smiling at him. I couldn’t stop smiling. My cheeks were starting to hurt, but it felt so good. I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Brody made me happy—giddy, even. I never felt that with Jaden, even when we first started dating. I never realized it was missing until I met Brody, and he showed me how it should feel.
Are my feet even touching the ground when I walk? Cuz I feel like one of those little cupids with the wings on their feet… yeah, I’m definitely a lost cause. He’s so gonna break my heart. I’ll think about that later, when he’s not buying me chocolate. Tonight, not even Jaden can kill my buzz.
When we got our order and turned to walk back to the bleachers, I stopped dead. There, not two feet from me, stood Karen. I knew it would happen. It had to happen. But I was hoping she’d just see us and report back to Jaden. I didn’t want to come face-to-face with her.