Page 12 of The Second Kiss
“Fun but tough.” She flips her ponytail. “I thought I was in pretty good shape from cheering all year, but you’re an animal.”
“Thanks.” I take a long drink of water and then wipe my face off with my sweat towel.
She glances at the clock across the gym. “We’d better get going. We don’t want to be late.”
“It’s a party.” I hang back. “How can we be late?”
Jasmine starts towards the door. “Don’t worry about changing or showering, okay? Just grab your stuff and let’s go. I have an outfit already picked out for you. We’ll get ready at my house.”
I groan. “Whatever.” It’s not worth arguing with her about it.
Jasmine pauses at the door and looks at me critically. “No sulking, okay. The Brad thing is over, forgotten.”
I wish. He still calls me once in a while, laughs and hangs up, just to torture me. Or texts me. Things I delete before my mom checks my phone. Sometimes I wish I could go back to being invisible.
Jasmine is still talking as she pushes through the door. “There’s this guy I want you to meet...cute, funny, and new. Just moved here from Cali. The perfect candidate to double with me and Chris for homecoming.”
“Wow, you must really like this guy if you’re ready to commit to a formal dance.” Jasmine collects boys. She falls madly, passionately, and completely in love every other month. Then she drags the poor guy along until someone new catches her interest.
“I didn’t say I wanted him to take me toourhomecoming, but if I get an invite to his—”
I shake my head at her. “Now you’re just being greedy—”
“Jess.”
I look up. It takes a second to figure out who said my name. When I see him, I don’t recognize him.
Not at first.
I stop dead, not sure I can believe my eyes. Somehow, I manage to stay on my feet as I gasp his name.
“Jacob.”
eight
The Nag
My breath catches in my throat. “Jacob Ricks?”
“Hi Jess.” Impossible. Unbelievable. But it is Jacob. It has to be. He still has the same boyish half-grin that makes one dimple stand out on his left cheek. He still has the same deep brown eyes.
I grip my gym bag for support and try to breathe. Childhood memories shouldn’t be allowed to look that good. “What are you doing here?”
“I got transferred to Fort Lewis a couple months ago.”
“I know that.” I work to keep the shock out of my voice. “What are you doinghere?”
He shrugs casually. “Your mom sent me.”
“My mom?”
It looks like Jasmine is about to lose it completely and start laughing—at me. It must look like I’ve seen a ghost. That’s what it feels like, that I’m looking at the unbelievably hot ghost of childhood's past.
“I stopped by your house for a visit.” He says it like it’s completely normal for him to just drop in, like it hasn’t been five years since we’ve seen each other. “Your mom said your car wasn’t working, and that you needed a ride home.”
“Oh,” I hesitate, “I was going to go with Jasmine.”
“Okay,” he draws the word out slowly, his southern drawl coming out. “I guess I don’t have to take you home.”
