Authors: Bria Quinlan
Chapter
18
Jovi’s
Pizza wasn’t the cool place
to hang out if you were in high school—it wasn’t even the cool place to hang
out if you were in junior high—but that was what made it so great. We knew we’d
never have to deal with the people we saw enough of every day in school.
And it was exactly the place to spill your guts to the only
person who would listen to the whole thing without stopping you or throwing in
anything that sounded vaguely like an I-told-you-so.
It was a haven, a confessional… a reason to put off telling
Rachel the mess I’d made for another four blocks.
Finally, two stoplights before we hit downtown, she turned
the radio off.
“Alright.
Before
you tear apart the last shred of my upholstery with your fidgeting, spill.”
I started the story, hitting the highlights: Luke and
Chris’s clash over the spot on the team, Chris and Cheryl, their breakup,
Chris’s really sincere sounding apology, Luke’s girlfriend, all the arguments
and accusations.
I’m a summary complainer. Hit the high points and then fill
in the entire story once the audience is settled in for the long haul.
“Amy, I don’t want to add to your day, but it sounds like…”
She glanced at me as she searched for a spot off the town square. “What did you
call him? Overbearing-know-it-all-stubborn-new-guy might have a point or two.”
Traitor.
“Now don’t give me that look,” she continued. “I know Chris
has been the love of your life since fifth grade. But it took being his
work-shadow all summer for him to notice you. Whoever said there’s no such thing
as unconditional love has not watched you walk around polishing his ego and
doing whatever he asks.”
“So, you’re saying he’s using me? That I’m like the sidekick
version of what a girlfriend should be?”
Rachel pulled the car into a spot at the end of the row.
Turning off the ignition, she eased back against the faded grey seat of the
three-times-hand-me-down car and looked my way. I could almost see the scales
she was mentally weighing before she spoke.
“I think he wants the best of both worlds and, because
you’re so crazy about him, he knows he can have it all.” She stalled by
fiddling with her seat belt and stowing her keys. “When was the last time you
really hung out with him?”
I shook my head at her. “He has tryouts. Things are busy.”
“Yeah, so busy he only has time for one of the girls he
calls girlfriend. The one everyone knows about no less.”
This is how things had gone between me and Rachel since I
started hanging out with Chris at the
Rec
Center. I
worried and rambled. She told me how bad he was. I worried more.
I shrugged. After last night I was so confused I didn’t know
what to say. Everything had been typical Chris right up to that apology… that
desperate sad-sounding apology. I could see he was struggling to do the right
thing. And now with Cheryl out of the picture, that should be a lot easier for
him.
And I’d liked him for
so
long.
So.
Long.
It felt like quitting to give up on something I’d wanted now
that it just might be within reach.
Especially since what I was afraid to want just kept getting
further and further away. A girlfriend showing up out of the blue could do
that.
“All I’m saying is Chris doesn’t know what he’s got, but he
doesn’t mind holding on to it. It sounds like this Luke guy already knows you
better.”
I rolled my eyes at the mention of Luke Parker and his
all-seeing superpower abilities.
“Okay, if he’s so bad, maybe it’s time you start at the
beginning and give me the details. Not just the things you wanted to get out.”
Darn it all. She knew me way too well.
One
of the disadvantages of having a BFF from birth.
Okay, we’d only known
each other since fifth grade, but it felt like birth.
Rebirth
maybe?
I unclipped my seat belt and shoved the door open, wincing
as it bounced back and caught my leg halfway out.
“I definitely need caffeine for this.” Stall. Stall. Stall.
Rachel smirked. “Then caffeine you shall have.”
We dodged cars crossing Main Street to the little hole in
the wall pizza place we called home. The scent of buffalo chicken wafted over
me as I pushed through the door behind Rachel. Before we were in the seating
area, the most beautiful laughter heard outside a Disney movie tickled my ears.
It was light and airy and girly to the extreme.
And
completely unfamiliar.
My stomach did that drop-jump thing because I
knew only one girl could be attached such a perfect little laugh.
Across the dining room, the entire Parker family sat eating
pizza and sharing a couple pitchers of soda. And in their midst, looking right
at home, was perfect little Katie, her chair
scooched
close to Luke’s.
Before I could stop her, Rachel raised a hand toward the
counter and shouted, “Hi
Jovi
. I’m back and I’m sure
you missed us.”
If I hadn’t been watching him, I wouldn’t have noticed how
Luke leaned away from Katie. I felt a little sick seeing him and knowing how he
really was. He may point fingers at Chris all the time, but he was the one
leading on the fairy princess over there.
I slid into the booth across from Rachel, thankful my
typical seat faced away from the Parker clan.
It was pretty obvious Luke was
with
-with Katie. I guess I’d needed to see that. I mean, it put
things in perspective.
Rachel waited until we’d almost finished our pizza and I’d
spilled my guts—quietly—to glance at the family dinner across the pizzeria.
“So.”
She drew the word out.
“That’s Mr. Manners, huh?”
“Who?”
I tried not to glance behind
me as I said it, but I couldn’t meet her eye either.
“Oh, I don’t
know,
the absolutely
gorgeous dark haired guy with his family. The one who keeps staring at you like
you read his diary, know all his secrets, and he wants to steal them back.” She
smirked before continuing, “But
keep
you.”
As if.
“The only secret I know is that he’s leading that poor girl
on. Either that or he lied about it. Neither of those things rate very high in
my book.”
Rachel glanced past my shoulder again.
“I don’t know. He looks
uber
-uncomfortable.”
Rachel smirked. “She doesn’t. If she could crawl into his lap without his
parents noticing, she’d already be there.”
Lily, the girl from school who worked there, brought more
Diet Coke, a perk of being regulars. Rachel’s energy level had already surged
way past the limit with the drama-adrenaline kick. I seriously considered
cutting off her caffeine intake.
“No! Oh
my gosh
. She totally just
kissed him.”
I whipped around before I caught myself. Luke was scowling
at her, but anything could have happened while my back was turned.
Not that it mattered.
“She did not.” I should have kept my mouth shut.
“I swear she did. She leaned over and pretended to whisper
in his ear, but she totally kissed him right there instead.” She angled herself
to look around me again. “His dad is wicked annoyed and pretending not to be.
His mom seems pretty oblivious. Oops.”
Oops?
Rachel sat straight up again and dug into her last slice of
pizza.
With focus.
“Ladies.”
Boys.
Two of them.
Identical.
Great.
All I needed today was the
Parker twins.
Each slid onto a bench with us. I glanced back and forth.
Even sitting down, Jared had more swagger and Justin had more chill.
“Rachel, you’ve got Jared.” I motioned to the twin next to
me. “This is Justin.”
“Oh, twins.” Rachel clapped her hands and giggled. “And you
said you had a boring summer.”
Both guys laughed, deeper than I expected for juniors. There
didn’t seem to be any of that awkward phase
thing
for
the Parker guys. Justin slid his arm across my shoulder and gave it a tight
squeeze. I felt the comfort along with the teasing he sent my way.
“So, Amy.
I don’t suppose you’d
consider a younger guy?”
“Justin, I told you I’m seeing someone.” I laughed as he
cocked an eyebrow at me.
He let out an overindulgent sigh a B-grade film star would
have envied. “Oh Amy, you were put here to break my heart. Maybe I should have
snagged the seat with your friend.”
“No can do, bro.” Jared stretched his hands in the air and
let one fall on the bench behind Rachel, mocking one of the worst moves in
history. “I’m very comfortable right where I am.”
Rachel, little flirt that she was, glanced his way and then
over at Justin. “I don’t know. I think I’d be better off with the cute twin.”
Typical Rachel.
Always
going for the hot, flirty guy.
Justin laughed good-naturedly. “All the girls say that, but
I try to share. Keep his spirits up and all. Plus, it’s fun to tweak my
brother.”
Jared did not look happy at the idea of switching places,
the arm across the bench slid to land on Rachel’s shoulder, cupping her in
toward him.
Justin laughed at him. “Not you. Luke.”
“So,” Rachel began and I knew it couldn’t be good. “Did that
girl just totally kiss your brother at the table, or was it my imagination?”
Justin’s arm tensed across my shoulder.
“Oh, hear that?
The silence?”
Rachel glanced from one guy to the other. “That must mean the answer is yes.”
Jared eased back to gaze down at her and then his brother.
They did that wordless-looking thing Luke did, but I think within the Parker
clan it included some actual form of communication. Beside me, Justin shrugged.
“Yeah.
That’s a yes. Luke’s totally
trying to be nice to her, but I think he’s about to push her out the door and
lock it behind her.”
“Sounds like your brother really knows how
to treat his girlfriend.”
I wanted to cheer for Rachel. She was finally getting the
whole Luke thing. Then I caught the mischief in her eye and realized she’d
never learn.
“Katie isn’t his girlfriend. When she was, she was a
horrible girlfriend. As an ex, she’s a nightmare. Our mom and dad have no idea
what to do with her until her parents get here and—like I said—Luke's trying to
be nice.” Jared shrugged. “You know Luke.”
“Actually, no.
I don’t.” Rachel
seemed to cuddle into him. “Why don’t you tell me about him?”
“Luke?” Jared glanced across the table.
At
me this time.
“Luke’s great.
Annoyingly so.
Perfect even.”
Yeah. I’ll admit it. I snorted. “
Soooo
…
Anyway, we were going to get Rachel a new cell phone. Hers is swimming with the
fishes.”
The guys took the hint and slid out of the booth. I realized
we weren’t getting rid of them when Jared offered Rachel his hand as she
slipped out behind him.
The twins headed toward their family. Rachel blindly
followed along, dragging me into enemy territory without protection or
ammunition. Knowing how big Mrs. Parker was on manners—and that she was just
plain nice—I felt I needed to go along to say hello anyway.
As we approached, Tom jumped from his chair and rushed to
me. Crooking his finger, he motioned me down toward him. I leaned over till he
could whisper in my ear.
“Just because I’m having dinner with Katie, doesn’t mean I
don’t still like you best.”
I cupped my hand over his ear and whispered back, “I like
you best, too.”
“Really?”
I nodded my head and Tom shot Luke a triumphant grin.
Great.
If it didn’t work out with… anyone, I had my own nine
year-old boyfriend in the wings.
“Amy!” Mrs. Parker waved me around the table to where she
sat with her husband. “I’m so glad you stopped by to say hello. This is Mr.
Parker.” He looked a little
more stern
than Mrs.
Parker. Of course, Care Bears were
more stern
than she
was. “And this is Luke’s friend Katie.”
Before I’d even pivoted to face her, Katie was bubbling
over. “Hi! The guys have told me all about you! I’m so glad they all have a new
friend here before they even start school!”
Luke looked physically pained by all her energy. The new
inner me couldn’t help but laugh a little at that.
Inside of
course.
Jared broke in before things could get any more awkward.
Yeah, because that was possible.
“We’re going with Rachel and Amy.”
Please note—I had already been relegated to Rachel’s
sidekick. That would be a record eight minutes.
Jared draped an arm around her shoulder before clarifying
our evening for all of us. “Rachel will drive us home.”
“I will?” She rolled her eyes, but the smile she gave him
let us all know there wasn’t an issue. “You’re not one of those controlling
guys are you?”
“Nah.
I just knew you wouldn’t be
able to get enough of me in the time it takes to buy a phone. You’re going to
need at least the car ride home to feel content.”
Even Justin looked a little ill at this exchange.
Once outside, Justin threw his arm about me, mirroring Jared
and Rachel in front of us, before we passed the restaurant window. I knew he
was teasing, but I gave him
the look
again.
“Don’t mind me,” he said.
“Like I said.
I’m just tweaking my brother.
Serves him right getting stuck
with the wrong girl.
I told him she was trouble and to steer clear.”