Page 72 of Old Acquaintances

The officer frowned.

I said, “I’m often hysterical and improperly clothed.”

Tucker made a sound that could have been a laugh.

“Andyou,” the officer directed to him. “I know you.You’re Christian Harrison’s kid. You pitched a great game last weekend.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You don’t think something like this is going to affect your future?”

I insisted, “He didn’t do anything to me, I swear.”

Tucker and I met eyes.

“He would never hurt me.” I felt my lip quivering. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me intentionally, but he had, whether or not he realized it. I clarified, “He would never put his hands on me.Ever.”

The police officer would not let us go. He made us call our parents and refused to allow Tucker anywhere near me while we waited for them.

Tucker left in Christian’s car, my dad drove the BMW, and I hopped in my mom’s van. I explained to them, as best as possible, what had happened. I left out the part about Tucker using me for a date. I made it seem like some girls poured soda on me because they were jealous, nothing more. They were not surprised that I stripped off my dress in a panic. They never entertained the idea of me and Tucker having sex in the car. I called Lori that night to explain.

Tucker called me, too. He texted me over and over, all night and into Sunday. He showed up at the house and I refused to see him. I was afraid my dad would let him into my room without permission, so I shut myself in my closet.

At school on Monday, he was waiting in my parking spot. Beside my window, he said, “You can’t avoid me forever.”

I got out of the car to the sound of him apologizing. I leaned against my door, staring at the ground.

He said, “I didn’t take you to prom just because I didn’t have a date. I broke up with Angel because I wanted to -”

I stopped listening almost immediately. I’d spent all nightthinking of how I could show my face at school again. At the end of the day, Tucker and I would go back to being friends or friends of friends, so my first priority was the gossiping voices and judgmental looks. I hadn’t done anything wrong going to prom with Tucker.Hedid something wrong. I didn’t need to cower. I didn’t need to act upset. If I was unbothered by it all, then it would blow over quickly.

If Tucker was the prize, then I had won him. I came out of this humiliation with the victory. I just needed to present an unaffected front.

He was mid-sentence when I grabbed his neck and pulled him to me. I opened my mouth and sank my lips to his. He made a sound, grabbed me and pushed me up against my car.

There were whistles. Cheers. Honks.

We were in the school parking lot, but Tucker still put his hands all over me, conquering my mouth. I almost forgot why I was doing this. I whimpered, wishing Saturday night had gone differently.

The bell rang and I pushed him off of me. He stared, confused. His lips were wet and swollen, his hair disheveled.

“Now you know what it feels like to beused,” I snapped. I lifted my chin to his and said, “That’s never happening again.”

Chapter Nineteen

Today

I drink. A lot.

I hover in the kitchen for a long while, leaning over the island and clutching the neck of the wine bottle as if someone might try to take it from me. From this vantage point, I watch Tucker’s back, his flat, strong shoulder blades shaking when he laughs. I smile when I hear him laugh. I smile when I see him smile. I feel my bones turn to goo when he looks at me.

I’m better off in the kitchen.

Johnny walks in and stands beside me, stiff and quiet. I’m happy to absorb the energy of someone with zero sexual interest in me. I say to him quietly, “Why are you looking at him like that?”

Johnny frowns. His glasses inch up his nose. “Because he’s not supposed to make a move on you. He’s going to ruin everything, Ella.”

“It was a game.”

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