Page 31 of Science Project

“So? I think she’s hot,” I said, trying to brush off my jealousy as if it were nothing. “It doesn’t matter. She would never like me anyway. And if, miraculously, she did, my father would never approve of her. He’d take one look at her and judge her, the way that he judges everyone.”

But really, it was mostly the former reason.

Because Jace Harbor had a billion dollars he could give Nicole. He had the Redwood fame and prestige and a future in the National Football League that was almost certain. They’d be perfect together.

Unlike her and me.

“Every decision you make doesn’t have to be for him,” she said, offering another smile. “Sometimes, the best ones are the decisions you make for yourself because being the perfect son in his eyes will never be achievable. I’ve tried, so don’t worry about what he thinks. You do you.”

After mumbling a thanks that I wasn’t even sure she heard, I sank down in my seat and picked at another fry. Imani’s advice would be great, if my mother didn’t kill people for a living and my father wasn’t the dog who sat by her side, both expecting the best and worst life for me.

When the girls moved closer, I stared down at my textbook and wished that I could disappear. Nicole had skipped Anatomy and Physiology today, and it was probably because of how awkward I had been with her last night.

I ignored the girls until they began their stampede to the exit. Then, I dared to look over to see Nicole one last time. But instead of talking with the others, she clutched a brown paper bag in one hand, a milkshake in the other.

And she was staring back at me, her eyes wide and a frown on her face.

After her gaze drifted to Imani, she gritted her teeth and walked out of Beestra.

Not looking back again.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

NICOLE

Three hours after seeing Akio out on a date with Imani Abara, I sat parked in front of his house. I had been driving around Redwood for God knew how long, trying to wrap my head around what I had seen at Beestra tonight.

I had just wanted to get some dinner, and I had gotten a whole eyeful of something else.

Of Akio out with someone better than me, of course.

Why was he out with Imani?!

The question played in my head over and over, but I already knew the answer.

Imani was smart, pretty, and had everything going for her. Me, on the other hand? I might’ve had some decent looks, but I wasn’t as pretty as I used to be, and I definitely wasn’t intelligent and didn’t have anything going for me.

Except a father who wanted to make me pretty again.

I looked through the windshield with tears in my eyes. The longer I stared at Akio’s front door, trying to get the balls to march up to the door, step inside, and show him what he was missing out on, the more my chest tightened.

I wasn’t good enough for anyone anymore. Not even the guy I’d thought liked me.

Hell, he hadn’t even kissed me back last night!

Clenching the steering wheel, I bit back a whimper. What is wrong with me?

I had vowed not to fall for Akio because I didn’t want my father to hurt him, and now, I was in front of his house, crying.

Akio’s garage door opened, and a car backed out. I sank down in my seat so whoever it was wouldn’t see me basically stalking his house now and watched the woman, who I assumed was Akio’s mother, turn right to head down the road.

A moment after his mother disappeared, the car parked behind me turned on its lights. I squinted my eyes and looked into the rearview mirror, watching the car drive into the road and then up Akio’s driveway.

What the hell?

Once the car stopped near the garage, Akio hopped out. I furrowed my brow at the shape of his skinny, lengthy body in the darkness, the moonlight hitting his graphic hoodie.

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