Page 32 of Operation Prom Date
“Who doesn’t?”
“Exactly. Penn State is top ten. It’ll be more competitive, so I might not play as much, but it’d be more recognition. It’s just farther away—like, seven hours.”
“Hmm. I’m sure your brother will understand that playing college ball will keep you busy. And you could probably sneak in a few games still. There are these things called airplanes that get people places super fast these days.”
A big grin broke out across his face and butterflies went to fluttering like crazy in my gut. “Thanks, Kate,” he added, and the way he said my name sent those butterflies crashing into each other.
I glanced up to find Paris and her gang glaring at me. Except for Amber—instead of pretending I didn’t exist anymore, she gave me a small smile.
I was in the middle of trying to decide if I should return it or attempt a polite hello, or if this was simply some kind of mean-girl trap when Mick shifted even closer. “So?” He moved his lips next to my ear. “About this weekend? You down?”
I twisted to face him and his nose brushed my cheek. My nerve-endings went crazy, a mix of euphoria and weirdness, and I couldn’t really pick one emotion out from the other. At least I knew the answer to his question, though.
I slowly licked my lips and then gave him my best flirty smile. “I’m down.”
Chapter Eighteen
Cooper
“Did that sandwich sleep with your girlfriend or something?” Jaden asked, drawing my attention back to him. He jerked his chin toward it. “Or are you just planning on mangling it into submission before you take a bite?”
I looked down at the ham and cheese sub that now looked like a barbell, the middle flattened to a skinny handle while the ends bulged out on either side of my fist. My gaze accidentally drifted back to Kate. Kate, who was sitting so close to Pecker that there couldn’t be enough oxygen for the both of them in that bubble.
No, my sandwich didn’t sleep with my girlfriend, but some jackass had his hands on my girl. Er, my girl friend—friend who was a girl. I wanted to go over and pry his hands off her, but I was the idiot who’d put them there. Apparently my text yesterday had worked.
Again, go me.
If I watched the snuggle fest any more I’d lose my breakfast, so I forced my focus back to my lunch.
Jaden glanced from their group to me. He opened his mouth and I put up a stop-right-there hand.
“Don’t say it. She’s just a sweet girl, and I’m afraid he’ll hurt her. That’s all.”
“Whatever you say, man.”
Great. Now I was acting like some kind of caveman. I’d never experienced jealousy like this before. The closest I’d come was when I heard someone got a choice in career, or when another team beat ours at one of the regattas, but even that had nothing on this toxic burning sensation eating away at my gut.
Last night I’d let Kate in—into my house, into meeting my mom, who of course told her embarrassing childhood tales. I liked to keep all the parts of my life separate. Made things less complicated.
If she’d merely come over, I could deal. But it was that moment after we’d tumbled off my bed, onto the floor of my room that haunted me. That jolt of electricity, that crackling connection in the air I couldn’t have imagined.
If only I’d stuck to keeping my life in those separate boxes.
While I was wishing for things, I also wished my mom had come home about ten minutes later so I’d know if anything would’ve happened if Kate and I had a little more time alone. Or that Mom would’ve shown up sooner, so I didn’t know what it felt like to have Kate in my arms, her body pressed against mine.
My sandwich seemed to be taking the abuse pretty well, so I shoved it in my mouth a couple giant bites at a time. Then I eyed Jaden, struggling with his spoon.
“I was going to ask if you thought you could row, but it looks like you can’t even eat.”
“If I could flip you off, I’d do that. Oh, wait, I have another hand.” He held up his middle finger.
Despite my sour mood, I laughed.
“Ooh, I’m so gonna tell that you’re making crude gestures at school.” Alana sat next to her brother and stole one of his potato chips.
Jaden smacked her hand away. “Go hang out with your own friends. Oh, that’s right, you only care about grades.”
She frowned and shoved his injured arm, clearly not caring about the injured part. “I do not. My boyfriend’s just not here today.”
