Page 23 of Charger

“No,” I reply, giving Lisa a confused look. I seek Zach out in the crowd. “I’ll be right back.”

I strut toward him and of course Sam is there. Guess she decided to forgive him for the dare. Ignoring her, I grab Zach’s arm, spinning him around.

“Hey, what’s—”

“Why did you punch Tommy? He wasn’t worth it, Zach. You could get expelled, or kicked off the football team!”

He raises an eyebrow. “Do you think I care about the stupid football team? And Coach Russel wouldn’t let me get expelled anyway.”

“That’s not the point. I don’t need anyone fighting my battles for me.”

The annoyed tap of Sam’s toe is tempting me to rip off her shoe and hit her with it. Zach grabs hold of my shoulders and lowers his head to me. “I wish, and I can’t tell you this enough, how I wish it was me who punched that asshole.” His warm hands leave my shoulders. “But it wasn’t me.”

I cock my head back as if I was smacked. “If it wasn’t you, then who was it?”

“Your brother.”

“You told Garrett?” He shakes his head. “Nope, the fucker bragged about what happened on Facebook, or rather, what didn’t happen. Garrett saw it and obviously was pissed, so he punched him this morning.”

Pulling out my phone, I text Garrett.

Me: You know I didn’t sleep with him, right?

He responds almost instantly.

Garrett: I don’t know. I mean you’re so fucking secretive lately.

Me: Seriously, Garrett! You know I didn’t. Stop being dumb and I hope you didn’t get in trouble for the sucker punch.

Garrett: Fine, I believe you. And, no, Coach just benched me for next practice.

“Is that Garrett?” Zach looks down at my phone while I nod my head yes.

“I gotta get to class.” Zach trails behind me, ignoring Sam, who throws her hands in the air. “You better not follow me or your girlfriend is gonna freak. She might even throw one of her tissue balls from her bra at you.”

Zach laughs and pulls me around the corner to an empty hall. He rests his forearm on the wall above me and grabs my waist. “I broke up with her.”

My heart skips like a happy grade-schooler. “Oh yeah, why did you do that? I thought you guys were super cute together?” I am every bit sarcastic. He shrugs and brushes a strand of hair away from my lip. “She just wasn’t for me, pretty girl.” I swallow nervously.

“You’re turning eighteen soon.” He leans in and whispers, “Which means you’ll be legal, Jules.” His mouth hovers over mine and I can feel the goosebumps on my skin.

“Happy birthday to me then, huh,” I whisper back, having no freaking clue where that came from. Zach brings out something in me that I’ve never experienced. Like this new, more confident girl.

He leans back from me with a surprised as fuck look on his face. But he likes it. I can tell because of how he grins from ear to ear, how his eyes come alive. The bell rings, and I quickly duck out from the wall under his arm. Without turning around, I head straight to class. But I can feel his stare burning into my back.

NINE

Jules

“Happy birthday to you…” The comforting, soft sound of my mother’s voice singing happy birthday to me stirs me awake. It carries on until she gets through the whole birthday song. I’m eighteen. Welcome to adulthood, Jules.

My taste buds awaken at the scent of bacon and eggs. She sets the tray of breakfast goodness down in front of me. “Mom, you didn’t have to do all this,” I tell her as I toss a strawberry into my mouth, the sweet taste hitting my tongue.

“You only turn eighteen once.”

“Did you do the same for Garrett?”

“Are you kidding me?” My mom laughs. “Your brother would kill me if I woke him up this early on a Sunday. Birthday or not.”

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