Page 10 of Stealing the Biker

Finally, the last bell rings and I dash to my locker, hoping to see Jonesy before he hustles off to football practice. I pretend to be looking through one of my binders as he struts down the hallway like royalty. He’s the king around here and I’d give anything to be his queen.

I chance a glance in his direction, and our eyes lock. Holy shit, I think he’s smiling at me. Shoving my folder back into my locker, I close the metal door and lean against it, pretending to act aloof. This is it. He’s going to ask for my number or to add me on Snap or something.

“What’s up?” He jerks his chin upward, coming to a stop in front of me, so close that the toes of our shoes are nearly touching as he towers over me.

I pull away from the lockers and glance up at him. “Hey, Jonesy.” I bat my lashes, unable to stop myself. He’s so hot with his blonde hair and baby blue eyes that twinkle when he smiles. Not to mention his abs that he loves to flash on TikTok.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you...”

“Yeah?” I do my best to sound interested, but not overly eager.

He starts to smile, but his expression freezes as he looks past me.

What’s happening? Panic bubbles in the pit of my belly. Did I do something wrong? Does my breath stink? I popped a mint in my mouth at the end of class.

I clear my throat to regain his attention.

His lips turn down the second I feel the heat of someone standing behind me.

“You ready to go?” Jimmy questions as Jonesy walks away without another word. “Grab my jacket from your locker, brat.”

This can’t be happening to me.

“I’m going to murder you.” I spin around and shove Jimmy as hard as I can, and he doesn’t budge an inch.

“What’d I do?” he laughs with a twinge of nervousness, wearing a dopey expression, playing innocent. He knows exactly what he did. He just ruined everything. I can’t believe him. I should tell Link he made a pass at me so he rips his balls off or something.

“Forget it.” I yank his jacket from my locker, drop it at his feet, and stomp toward the exit, knowing he’ll follow. Sam is waiting near the door, grinning at me.

“How’d it go? Who’s your shadow?” They stare at Jimmy with curiosity written on their face.

“It didn’t. I’ll explain it to you later.” I don’t have time to get into it right now. Today is the worst day of my life. I can’t believe Jimmy did that just now. He’s supposed to be protecting me. Not ruining my chances at a social life.

Sam grabs my wrist as I attempt to storm through the exit. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine,” I snap a little too harshly, instantly regretting taking my anger out on them as I twist out of their grasp.

Jimmy’s long-legged strides make it easy for him to catch up with me. “Wait up. Where are you running off to?”

“Anywhere you won’t be.” I flip him off over my shoulder while increasing my walking speed, navigating the bus riders.

“What will Jonesy think?” he mocks, and I want to slap his stupid mouth.

I keep marching on, ignoring him, scanning the parking lot for Jonesy to see if I can salvage our conversation.

My heart catches in my throat and I stop in my tracks at the sight of him. He’s talking to a JV cheerleader. A freaking freshman.

“Hey. You can’t be running off on me,” Jimmy says, coming up behind me.

“It’s a free country,” I mutter as my heart hammers in my chest. I wonder if this is what heartbreak feels like as I struggle to catch my breath. I ball my fist, digging my nails in my palm deep enough to make crescent-shaped grooves.

“You know what I mean.”

Yeah. I know exactly what he means. He’s my babysitter who can’t let me out of his sight. I watch as Jonesy presses the freshman cheerleader up against the side of his car. That’s supposed to be me right now.

“You ready to go?” Jimmy tugs my backpack off my arm as my tears threaten to fall, further adding to my humiliation and anger.

“I can carry my own stuff.”

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