Page 26 of Finding Fate

8

Reaching Izzy

Tucker stood beside the bar, drinking from a cup of water the following night at Benton Hall. His energy was still a little low from being sick, so he was trying to take it easy, knowing if he overdid things, his mom would have his head when he got home. As he drank, his eyes combed the dance floor.

Annie and Jet were chatting with some of their lifeguard friends at a table, no doubt taking a break after Annie tripped over her flip flops when Jet dared a spin. Izzy danced with Wesley near the stage, his hips moving in sync with hers from behind. Tucker’s jaw tightened, his brow furrowing unconsciously. He turned back to the bar so he wouldn’t have to watch, wishing he was old enough to order a beer.

“Hi, Tucker!” called out a bubbly, high-pitched voice. A strawberry blonde with wild curls bounced over to his side. “Wanna dance?”

“No thanks, Lisa,” Tucker sighed, holding up his cup of water in explanation. “I’m just taking a break.”

“Oh, okay. Maybe when you’re done then?” she asked, scooting closer.

Tucker shifted to one foot, managing to replace the distance between them. “No, I’m just going to hang out here for a while.”

Lisa’s face fell a little bit, but she continued. “What are you drinking?”

“Water.”

“That’s good; water’s good for you. Hey, I’ve been thinking; it’s been a while since we went and did anything fun, and Corey’s having another beach party tonight. We could go together. You know we had fun when we hung out the last time.”

The sentences flew out of her mouth so fast that Tucker was sure she had planned the conversation. He looked down into her eager and hopeful expression as she bounced slightly on her heels, her curls still moving when she stilled.

He groaned inwardly, annoyed, failing to understand why he’d ever decided to sleep with her. If he’d known he’d still be dealing with her, he’d have kept it in his pants and stayed a virgin.

“Lisa, look,” he tried to explain, again. “It’s not going to happen. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression when we went out, and if I haven’t made myself clear since, but listen to me… There is nothing between us.”

She smiled and put a hand on his arm. “I know you’re just saying that because you’re afraid. You’ve never stayed with one girl very long, and what you’re feeling is new. I understand. I’ll wait,” she said reassuringly and walked off to meet a group of friends.

Tucker groaned and finished his water. What had he gotten himself into? This girl was crazy if she really thought he wanted to be with her. He threw away his cup in the trashcan, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn’t know how he could be any clearer with her, and she was going to drive him crazy if she was still going on about it when school started again.

“One water and a soda, please,” Tucker heard a familiar voice say close by. Glancing over, he found Izzy leaning against the bar next to Wesley. “Oh, hi, Tucker,” she said coldly.

“Hey, Izzy,” he replied, not sure if it was safe to say anything else. She was furious with him and Annie, and the fact that she refused to ride with them to Benton Hall that night showed that she wasn’t likely to get over it right away. Hoping for the best, he continued. “Are you having fun?”

She turned to Wesley. “I think I’m going to go to the restroom. Will you get my water for me?”

“Sure,” Wesley watched her walk away and turned to Tucker. “Whew… She is pissed at you.”

“Tell me about it,” he grumbled, wishing he knew how to fix it.

Wesley moved closer down the bar. “So are you banging that curly-haired chick? I saw you talking to her. She looks like she’d be a lot of fun,” he smirked with insinuation.

“No, I’m not sleeping with her. Been there, done that. It was a onetime mistake.”

Wesley took a drink of his soda. “Too bad. You need to get laid, unwind a bit. You’re too uptight.”

“Wrong. Getting laid is half my problem right now,” Tucker thought bitterly, the words man whore flashing through his brain again.

His jaw clenched. “I don’t know what you’re going on about, man. It’s not like you’re getting any right now since you’re with Izzy.”

“Oh, yeah? See that chick?” he jerked his head towards the edge of the dance floor. Tucker followed Wesley’s gaze to a cute tourist girl glancing shyly back at them.

“That’s Ashley. She’s here for a couple of weeks. Tapped that a few days ago. Probably call her again before she leaves. Now, look at the front of the dance floor…that girl in the red dress with the big necklace...”

Tucker turned his head to see the girl Wesley had been flirting with outside Bob’s Diner. She was dancing by herself, her dress nearly short enough to be a shirt. “Bagged her right after you peeled out of that parking lot.”

Tucker gave Wesley a look of detest. To date and hope to score was one thing, but to sleep with other girls on the side was way past Tucker’s tolerance.

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