Page 78 of Enemies to Prom Dates
“Fitz,” he said. “Can I help you?”
“I would like to speak to Beth.”
More smugness. “Let’s forget how you even know she’s here and say she’s indisposed at the moment.”
I forced myself to remain calm. “Please don’t tell me you’ve been feeding her sleeping pills. You know you might want to try engaging with a girl when she’s awake. Unless you have tried, and they only prefer your company when they’re asleep.”
His eyes sharpened. “I didn’t… That’s not what happened with Gi. I don’t give a fuck what you think.”
“Whatever. Let me talk to Beth.”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you. That’s why she’s here. Everyone in school knows you dropped her after the party last week. Pretty harshly, too.”
Excellent, my plan both worked and failed spectacularly. Because Beth was too damn smart for her own good.
“Wick, we can do this easy way or the hard way. You and I both know why Beth is here and it’s not to get naked with you. Tell her I’m here and to come talk to me. Now.”
He seemed to consider my order. “I could shut this door on you right now and call the police to report someone trespassing on my property.”
“You could. Or you could ingratiate yourself back into my good graces by simply asking Beth to come to the door.”
I could see it in his face. Hope. The idea that I might forgive his treatment of Gigi. That I might let him back into my inner circle. I was popular, being in that circle, by definition, made the people around me popular.
Popularity in my high school meant power.
And everyone wanted more power.
Whatever incentive Beth was giving him, which was no doubt just to piss me off, wasn’t worth nearly as much to him.
“Wait here.”
Wick left the door open and walked away. I turned to Ed who was smiling at me.
“What?” I asked him.
“You two do like your dramas.”
“I donotcare for drama,” I said stiffly.
“Yes, you do. For you two it’s like foreplay. You’re circling each other like sparring partners waiting to see who is going to throw the first punch. For what it’s worth, my money’s on Beth.”
“You’re useless to me right now. Go wait in the car. In fact, why don’t you go home? I’ll walk Beth to her house. It’s only a few blocks from here.”
“But I think I might want to watch,” he laughed.
I glared at him. “Sure, sure. But then I might take some time to ask myself a) how Janie Eyre had your number, and b)why she textedyouabout what Beth was doing. What exactly is your connection with her?”
Ed’s expression changed, briefly to anger, then finally to resignation.
He shoved his hands in his jean pockets. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“Thank you.”
Ed left and I stood on the doorstep waiting. It didn’t take long. A furious and fiery Beth came to the door with Wick trailing behind her. The tight jeans, the blown-out hair loose around her shoulders. She’d put more effort into her appearance tonight than I’d ever known her to do and it made me want to throttle her she was so damn hot.
“What do you want?” she asked, crossing her arms over her breasts, which were more pronounced in the sweater she was wearing.
“I would like you to come outside so we can talk. Privately.”
