Page 39 of In Too Deep

Pacing beside my bed, I dial her number, holding the phone to my ear with my sweaty hand. The line rings once, twice, three times, my stomach rolling with each one.

“Hello.” Her soft voice flows through the receiver, and I freeze, suddenly forgetting everything I wanted to say. “Hello?”

Pulling the phone away from my face, I take a deep breath before answering. “Hey, KitKat.”

“Lawrence?”

“Does someone else call you KitKat?”

“Thankfully, no.” Her curt tone confirms my suspicion that she isn’t going to make this easy on me. Not that she should. It was a jerk move to stop calling her the way I did. “I just wasn’t expecting to hear from you. Is this about Sandra?”

“Sandra?” I ran into Cat’s friend from school the other day. We’ve met a couple times, so I said hello. We talked for a few minutes, but it wasn’t a big deal. I have no idea how Cat would even know about it, or why she would think my call had anything to do with that girl. “No, my call has nothing to do with Sandra. Why would it?”

“She called me earlier, said she saw you at the mall. She wanted to know if I could get you to ask her out. So, I assumed you were calling for the same reason.”

This is all news to me. I mean, Sandra had been a little flirty, but that’s pretty much how she always acts. I didn’t think anything of it. In fact, I haven’t thought of Sandra at all.

“No, I am not calling about Sandra,” I reiterate.

“Good,” she sighs. “Because I don’t think you should get involved with her. She’s the type of girl who thinks she always needs a boyfriend. They’re like trophies to her or something. She even told me during our conversation today she’s had eleven boyfriends. That’s all you’d be to her, a number. Do you really want to be number twelve?”

Her jealous tone causes a smile to spread across my face. Jealousy is a good sign, and Cat clearly doesn’t like the idea of me dating Sandra.

“No,” I mock. “Seven is my favorite number.”

“Funny.” Though her tone is dry, there’s a playfulness behind it. “Wait…if you aren’t calling about Sandra, why did you call?”

“Because I miss you.”

She huffs. “You miss me?”

“Very much, and I called to ask…no, to beg, for you to come over to see me.”

The line goes silent for a moment and my heart thuds against my chest when she finally lets out a sigh.

“I don’t…are you sure this isn’t about Sandra? Because I’ll give you her number, if you really want it. There’s no need to do all this.”

The fact that she truly believes my call is about some girl I barely know and not her proves what an ass I’ve been.

“I promise, this has nothing to do with Sandra. I don’t give a damn about her. I want to see you. Will you please come over?”

“I don’t understand. We haven’t spoken in weeks and now you’re calling saying you miss me.” The hurt and anger in her voice makes my chest tighten.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s been a while. I’ll admit a part of me was upset when you didn’t show up to my birthday party, but it wasn’t the only reason I haven’t called. I’ve been grounded. My mom took away my pager, and I’m not allowed to use the phone after seven anymore. You’ve got to believe me. I’ve missed you so damn bad. Please come see me. I’ll beg if I have to.”

The light chuckle that comes through the line causes hope to bubble in my chest, but those bubbles quickly pop when she responds.

“Look, I really don’t think it’s the best idea. Besides, I don’t have a way to get there.”

We both know that’s a lie. Her mother would bring her here if she asked. I’m not letting her off the hook that easily.

“No problem,” I chirp. “My sister can come get you. Please, Cat. I need to see you.”

“I don’t think so, Lawrence. I’m sorry. Maybe another time, okay? I should go.”

Before I can even respond, the line goes dead. Cursing, I throw the phone and kick the basketball on the floor. It slams into my dresser, causing it to knock up against the wall, and I hear my sister scream out in surprise from her room next door.

My bedroom door swings open, and Kristen comes barging in. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

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