Page 116 of Come Break My Heart Again

Tuck grins like a little kid, then punches my shoulder. “Let’s go.”

I drain the rest of my beer, then follow him to his truck.

22

“We should only show up for halftime,” Juliet grouses as she stuffs her pom-poms into her cheer bag.

“Better yet, we should switch to cheering for another team,” Keira suggests. “Maybe soccer?”

I shake my head, grab my bag, and head for the parking lot. Juliet drove tonight, so I look for her car. The spaces are half empty, just like the stands were. Seven losses into the season, everyone—including the cheer team—has given up hope of things turning around. We could win all the remaining games on the schedule and still not make it to the playoffs. In all the ways that count, the season is over. Rooting for a lost cause is a hard ask.

I haven’t spoken to Archer since we broke up. I haven’t forgiven him for how he acted that night, and he’s made an obvious effort to avoid me. There are most definitely hard feelings, especially since there’s no way he hasn’t seen—or heard about—me and Ryder.

But I havesomesympathy for him, knowing he’s getting most of the blame for the football team’s terrible record.

“Wow, you’re in a rush,” Juliet says, skipping until she catches up to me. “Does that meanRyderwill be there tonight?”

“No. He has to work.”

If he didn’t, I’d be skipping this party to hang out with him.

“Tucker too,” Keira says, falling into step next to me. “I thought garages had, like, normal hours?”

I shrug. Far as I can tell, Ryder spends most of his time at the garage. If not for a paycheck, to work on the car he’s fixing up for himself.

“So, neither of you is single?” Juliet’s nose wrinkles on the last word.

She has a tendency to lose interest in guys pretty fast. My guess is, some of her relationships have only lasted as long as they have because Fernwood has very limited options.

I glance at Keira, hoping she’ll answer first.

Ryder and I haven’t hadthe talk. We’ve had sex a few more times, and we text multiple times a day. But neither of us has brought up the words we exchanged before I left the trailer that rainy afternoon. We’ve never eaten a meal together or done anything that resembles a traditional date. He’s never referred to me as his girlfriend or introduced me to his mom.

Based on the uncertainty on Keira’s face, Tucker hasn’t been any clearer with her.

For all his faults, at least Archer was very clear about his intentions. He asked me to prom in front of the whole school. Called me his girlfriend at dinner before the dance.

Juliet gets distracted, digging through her bag for her keys, saving us from answering. Once she finds them, we drive to my house. Juliet and Keira planned ahead, packing outfits for the party so we only have to make one stop.

My mom is sitting in the living room, flipping through a magazine. Her eyebrows creep up her forehead as we traipse into the entryway. I toss my cheer bag into the hall closet, not wanting to bother carrying it upstairs.

“Elle?”

“Hi, Mom.”

She strolls into the entryway, smiling politely at Keira and Juliet. “Hello, girls.”

“Hi, Mrs. Clarke,” they chorus.

My mom glances at her watch, then at me. “I wasn’t expecting you home this early.”

“We’re just getting changed, then going to Maddie’s.”

“Oh. You didn’t mention it.”

“Mention what?” I ask.

She lifts one eyebrow. “Could I speak to you for a minute, honey?”

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