Page 4 of Bad Boys Don’t Date Clumsy Girls

“Uh-huh.” I rub the tender spot on my forehead and scan the neighborhood as Joel backs out of the driveway. Mr. Winters is sweeping his front walk. A couple of kids ride scooters on the sidewalk. Mrs. Henkle’s chihuahua is loose again, stopping to pee on each mailbox post he passes. I look at all the nicely groomed yards, but don’t glance at our own dead grass or the heaps of broken furniture piled on the side of the house.

“Do you need a ride home tomorrow?” Joel asks.

We have the same dark hair and brown eyes, but Joel’s nose is broad, and his chin is square, whereas my features are softer, rounder. When he’s in a surly mood like he is now, his heavy brows and chiseled features make him look intimidating. But I know better.

“No, thanks. Sam can drop me off. Though I’ll probably stay over tomorrow night, too.” I glance at my brother’s clenched jaw. “Do you work tomorrow?”

Joel nods.

“All day?”

Another nod. “Offered to cover a shift for a guy who has some family thing.”

“That’s good. You need the money, right?” He’s obviously upset about something and I’m yammering nervously in case it’s me. But why would it be me?

“Um, yeah.” Joel flips his blinker on and turns as soon as traffic is clear. “So, Chris, David, and I found a place.”

No wonder he’s acting weird. He was probably afraid to tell me. I swallow the sudden lump in my throat. “Really?” I try to sound excited, but I know I’ve failed when Joel’s fist tightens on the steering wheel.

“Yeah. We’re, uh, putting the deposit down this weekend. It’ll be available July first.”

“Oh, wow. July. First. That’s so exciting.” I’ll never be an actor. I flash a smile at him but can’t manage to look directly at him. “Congrats, Joel.”

Joel’s gaze only darts my way as well. “Yeah, thanks.”

Trees and houses flash by outside the passenger window. I see a knot of girls making chalk drawings on their driveway. I envy their normal life. I assure myself I’ll be okay. A flutter of panic erupts in my chest. I knew Joel got his job to work toward this goal but hearing that they have a move-in date is the first time I’ve realized it’ll leave me alone in the house with Mom and Grandma. I blink away tears as Joel turns into Samantha’s long driveway.

He scans the front of Sam’s huge house with the same hungry expression he always has when he pulls up to the front. I flash him another smile. “Thanks for the ride. Have a good evening at work.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

I can’t escape the car fast enough. Which means, in my haste, my foot gets caught up in the strap of my duffle and I fall out of the car and onto my hip.

“You okay?” I can tell by Joel’s flat tone that he’s only asking out of habit.

“Sure.” My side stings a little, but it’s nothing I’m not used to. It seems like I unwind miles of backpack strap from my foot. How did I manage to get so twisted up in it? I stumble to my feet. Just before I slam the car door, Joel calls my name. I bend to peer into the car. “Yeah?”

“I’ll always be there for you. I’m not abandoning you.”

I nod, because deep down I know that, but right now I’m silently panicking anyway. “I know.”

I wave and push the door closed. As he drives off, my heart cracks open in my chest. It’s been Joel and me as a united team since the beginning. He’s always done everything he can to protect me from the worst of it. I know how much he’s looking forward to getting out of the house. But I suspect once he does, he’ll never walk back into it again.

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