of people were hanging around.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry. I figured it was okay now…. You took down the pictures.”
I tried to wrestle control of my emotions. Tess knew . Tess knew and wasn’t angry or even hurt. So why was I the one bawling like a baby?
I was embarrassed. Actually, embarrassed didn’t go far enough— humiliated would be a better word. It was like being blissfully unaware of the fact that you’d been parading around with your skirt tucked into your underwear.
Tess looked worried and a little confused.
“Why?” I choked out the question. “Why did you let me lie to you?”
Tess gave me a small smile. “Because you weren’t hurting anyone. I have to lie all the time for my mom, and she hurts us every day. You? I don’t know. I guess I just wanted you to be happy.”
Tess hugged me and pulled me back to the Jeep. “Now get in. Remember the rule? No more talking about Todd. It’s over.”
I sat there, wrung out and slightly relieved. Tess knew the truth and still loved me. What more could a girl ask for?
CHAPTER 6
I could ask for a lot, apparently. The top thing being that Lexi would transfer to another school district. She not only came to the game but planted herself and a couple of her friends on the bleachers right in front of the squad. I swear, every time I had to shake my hips I got a look of judgment from her.
Tess noticed, too. During a water break she asked, “Does she usually come to the games?”
I shook my head. “Not that I know of.” I had yet to see Liam, but it was still the first quarter.
“Lexi’s harmless. Liam asked you out, not her. She’ll get over it.” Tess trotted back to her spot.
I hoped she was right.
Just then I caught sight of Liam strolling through the crowds toward the bleachers. He caught my eye and made his way to the fence line where I was standing.
“Hey, you. Still up for tonight?” He leaned on the metal fence, a killer smile across his face.
“Yeah. I like your jacket.” I reached out to touch the soft brown leather, and he rested his hand on top of mine. Shivers went through me as well as a shot of fear. I didn’t know what to do on a date. What will I say? How will I act?
“Mallory!” someone from the squad shouted.
I heard the music start. “Gotta go!” I ran off, looking back as I jumped into my spot. He was still leaning in the same position, watching.
I knew the routine cold, so as I spun and cartwheeled and jumped around, I was able to keep track of Liam. First he was just standing there watching me. Then I saw Lexi walking down the bleachers. Then she was standing next to him. And by the time the dance was over, she had moved him up into the bleachers right beside her.
How dare she? She’d snaked him away all in the span of a four-minute song.
I stood next to Tess, who had her arms crossed and was scowling in Lexi’s general direction.
“She’s got nerve, doesn’t she?” Tess said.
“Yeah, and she’s using it on Liam. Aren’t there a hundred other guys in this school?”
“She’s probably thinking the same thing about you.”
“Not helpful.”
“Why are you even worried about it? Remember, he asked you out.”
The music started again, and I moved into my place, never taking my eyes off Liam and Lexi. She seemed to be talking to him while he watched the game. And me. He was definitely looking in my direction, and he smiled several times, too. It should have been enough to reassure me, but it wasn’t.
And the game going into overtime didn’t help. Liam looked at his cell phone several times, and I knew a movie was going to be out of the question if the game didn’t end in the next ten minutes.
I turned toward the field, willing someone—anyone—onour team to score and end the agony. Tess walked over and stood next to me.
“You don’t have to see a movie. It’d be better to go somewhere you can talk, anyway.”
I nodded.
The opposing team fumbled, and the crowd reacted with a
“I didn’t mean to make you cry. I figured it was okay now…. You took down the pictures.”
I tried to wrestle control of my emotions. Tess knew . Tess knew and wasn’t angry or even hurt. So why was I the one bawling like a baby?
I was embarrassed. Actually, embarrassed didn’t go far enough— humiliated would be a better word. It was like being blissfully unaware of the fact that you’d been parading around with your skirt tucked into your underwear.
Tess looked worried and a little confused.
“Why?” I choked out the question. “Why did you let me lie to you?”
Tess gave me a small smile. “Because you weren’t hurting anyone. I have to lie all the time for my mom, and she hurts us every day. You? I don’t know. I guess I just wanted you to be happy.”
Tess hugged me and pulled me back to the Jeep. “Now get in. Remember the rule? No more talking about Todd. It’s over.”
I sat there, wrung out and slightly relieved. Tess knew the truth and still loved me. What more could a girl ask for?
CHAPTER 6
I could ask for a lot, apparently. The top thing being that Lexi would transfer to another school district. She not only came to the game but planted herself and a couple of her friends on the bleachers right in front of the squad. I swear, every time I had to shake my hips I got a look of judgment from her.
Tess noticed, too. During a water break she asked, “Does she usually come to the games?”
I shook my head. “Not that I know of.” I had yet to see Liam, but it was still the first quarter.
“Lexi’s harmless. Liam asked you out, not her. She’ll get over it.” Tess trotted back to her spot.
I hoped she was right.
Just then I caught sight of Liam strolling through the crowds toward the bleachers. He caught my eye and made his way to the fence line where I was standing.
“Hey, you. Still up for tonight?” He leaned on the metal fence, a killer smile across his face.
“Yeah. I like your jacket.” I reached out to touch the soft brown leather, and he rested his hand on top of mine. Shivers went through me as well as a shot of fear. I didn’t know what to do on a date. What will I say? How will I act?
“Mallory!” someone from the squad shouted.
I heard the music start. “Gotta go!” I ran off, looking back as I jumped into my spot. He was still leaning in the same position, watching.
I knew the routine cold, so as I spun and cartwheeled and jumped around, I was able to keep track of Liam. First he was just standing there watching me. Then I saw Lexi walking down the bleachers. Then she was standing next to him. And by the time the dance was over, she had moved him up into the bleachers right beside her.
How dare she? She’d snaked him away all in the span of a four-minute song.
I stood next to Tess, who had her arms crossed and was scowling in Lexi’s general direction.
“She’s got nerve, doesn’t she?” Tess said.
“Yeah, and she’s using it on Liam. Aren’t there a hundred other guys in this school?”
“She’s probably thinking the same thing about you.”
“Not helpful.”
“Why are you even worried about it? Remember, he asked you out.”
The music started again, and I moved into my place, never taking my eyes off Liam and Lexi. She seemed to be talking to him while he watched the game. And me. He was definitely looking in my direction, and he smiled several times, too. It should have been enough to reassure me, but it wasn’t.
And the game going into overtime didn’t help. Liam looked at his cell phone several times, and I knew a movie was going to be out of the question if the game didn’t end in the next ten minutes.
I turned toward the field, willing someone—anyone—onour team to score and end the agony. Tess walked over and stood next to me.
“You don’t have to see a movie. It’d be better to go somewhere you can talk, anyway.”
I nodded.
The opposing team fumbled, and the crowd reacted with a
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