Page 58 of Look What You Made Me Do

“I want to form a cheer squad.”

Jake glanced sharply at Trish. The years fell away between them and he could see her in her little bitty skirt, her ponytail bouncing as she did the splits in mid-air, the team logo emblazoned across chest. “You okay with this?”

“Course she is,” Miranda jumped in. “Mom even said she’d coach us.”

Trish shrugged. “I’ve tried to talk her out of it.”

Jake looked at Miranda again, not comfortable with the idea of her flaunting her ass and legs and shaking her chest in front of a bunch of horny teenage boys. As a professional, he understood cheerleaders were part of the showbiz of the game.

The razzmatazz.

But cheerleading wasn’t all pom-poms and routines. He and Trish knew that better than anyone.

He’d hate to see history repeating itself. Hate to see Miranda crushed like her mother had been. But he didn’t have the heart to tell her no.

He’d never been able to say no to her.

Then a sudden thought had him smiling – Ella could do his dirty work for him. “Okay. But you gotta get Ella’s permission first.”

Miranda squealed and grabbed him around the neck. “Oh thank you, Jake. Thank you, thank you.”

Jake chuckled as he untangled himself. “Yeah, well, don’t count your chickens.”

“Could you come with me, Jake? Ms. Lucas has been a real grouch all week and she likes you.”

Liked him? Liked to castrate him, maybe. “Grouchy, huh?”

“Cameron thinks she might be, you know…” Miranda lowered her voice. “Going through the change.”

Trish rolled her eyes and Jake threw back his head as a huge belly laugh escaped. How old did they think Ella was, exactly? “Best not mention that to her.”

“So you’ll help me? Tomorrow before training?”

It was on the tip of Jake’s tongue to tell her no. He doubted whether his presence would do much for her cause.

But wasn’t that what he wanted?

“Okay. Sure.”

“Yes.” Miranda squealed again. “You’re the best, Jake.” And she ran back to a group of girls who huddled together and they all started squealing together.

“Oh God,” he said to Trish. “I’ve created a monster.”

Ella, already well and truly shitty with the world, was tearing up another letter that had arrived in an ominous yellow envelope when the knock came.

“Come in.”

She smiled as Miranda opened the door and entered. Jake followed her in and the smile died. She hadn’t spoken with him since Sunday and had, frankly, been dreading the prospect.

She’d lived that dreadful sinking moment when she’d realized Jake had been in Rachel’s room over and over and it didn’t matter how hot he looked right now in his tight, gray T-shirt, screwing her mother was unforgiveable.

Maybe it wasn’t fair of her to hold Jake to a higher standard than other guys from Trently – but she did.

Miranda shifted nervously in front of her and Ella dragged her mind off the mess with Jake. The young woman gave her a shy smile and Ella wondered where peppy Miranda had gone.

“Can I help you with something, Miranda?” She didn’t bother to acknowledge Jake, which was petty but, too bad.

“I asked Jake yesterday if we could form a cheer squad and he said you had to give your permission first. So… that’s why I’m here.”

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