Page 48 of Jake Forever
Silently, I nodded. The way I saw it, the sooner we were inside, the better.
Jake gave me a serious look. "I mean it. Don’t go anywhere, okay? Because if I have to find you again–" He paused. "Just don't make me, alright?"
That didn’t make any sense. Jake hadn't found me. I'd shown up here mostly on my own, right here, where we both lived. Finding me couldn't have beenthathard.
I might have argued, but Jake was already making his way toward Pete. As he did, Bianca sidled closer to me and said, "In case you were still wondering, the answer is 'no'."
I gave her a perplexed look. "No to what?"
"To your question."
I blinked. "There was a question?"
"The video from last night," she said. "No. I didn't see it. I didn't have to." She smiled. "Because unlike some people, I was there."
At this, I almost laughed in her face. "Where? At the convention center?" I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right."
"You don't believe me?"
"Hell no, I don't believe you." I straightened. "Iwas there last night.Youweren't."
"That's whatyouthink." She smirked. "And unlike you, I was there for the whole thing."
"Like I'm gonna believe that. You're like the biggest liar on the planet."
At this, she had the nerve to look insulted. "I am not!"
"Oh yeah?" I glanced down. "How's your broken foot?"
"Much better." She pursed her lips. "Thanksever so muchfor asking."
I gave her a snotty smile. "You're soverywelcome."
With that, I turned away, hoping she'd take the hint. I was already cold and soggy. A double-dose of Bianca wouldn't improve anything.
But apparently, she wasn't done yet. "If you don't believe me," she said, "ask Jake.Hewas the one who invited me."
"Uh-huh," I said, not bothering to look at her. "Sure he did."
Just then, Jake returned to my side. He wrapped an arm around my waist and said, "Come on. Let's get you upstairs."
I glanced out toward his car, still parked in the turnaround. The driver's side door was still open. "What about your car?" I asked. "Don't you want to move it or something?"
"No. What Iwantis to get you inside."
I gave his car a worried look. "Yeah, but—"
"Don't worry about it," Jake said. "It's handled."
Next to us, Bianca spoke up. "What about me? I'm not 'handled.' Aren't you takingmeupstairs, too?"
Jake spared her half a glance. "Nope."
"Why not?" Bianca demanded.
As an answer, Jake started steering me away. Over his shoulder, he told Bianca, "When Vince shows up, have him meet me in my office."
A minute later, Jake and I were finally alone inside the elevator. His arm was wrapped tight around my waist, and I couldn't resist leaning into him. I heard myself sigh. "Talk about a crazy day."
