No way. She was not asking what I thought she was. I lowered my voice. “I thought you didn’t like him.”
She lowered hers, too. “I thought you said it wasn’t a big deal.”
“She’s never been in a convertible,” Beck echoed, tilting his head to the side. His lower lip pouted out. “C’mon, Nell.”
One of the guys gawking raised his hand. “If she doesn’t want to go, I do!”
“Sorry.” Beck used his knuckle to nudge his sunglasses back into place. “My car only carries pretty girls. And tall boys named Jamie.”
Jamie gave an amused eye roll. “If you two want to go, I’ll drive the car home,” he said to me, slipping his hand into his pocket and pulling out the car keys.
He gave the barest nod to me.Do this for Daisy.
I jerked my chin back at him. Youdo it for Daisy.
Jamie lifted his eyebrow, giving his keys a shake.You hate driving.
Fine. Point there. I hated driving more than I hated theidea of sitting silently in the passenger’s seat of Beck’s car. I could do this for Daisy. I would.
Beck straightened and came up to the passenger door, popping it open and waving a grand hand. “Hop in the back, Eleanor.”
“Theback?”
“Daisy Dear is the one who wants the ride,” he pointed out, and smiled at her. “The bestie deserves the best seat.”
I watched, then and there, as Daisy’s guard fell. Her cheeks pinked almost as red as her hair, eyes excited at the prospect. She bit at her lip to hide her smile, thrusting her backpack into my arms. “I still don’t like you,” she said to him, turning to me. “You’re the best best friend, Nellie.”
Oh, sure,nowyou’re choosing to give him the warm shoulder.
“How come she gets to call you Nellie, hmm?” Beck murmured as I stepped up to him. I could only see my reflection staring back at me in the lens. “Because I’m me?”
The conversation we’d had over the phone last night rushed back at me, in a way that had my skin prickling.
You’re letting Pebble Brain shoot his shot. Why can’t I?
Because you’re you.
“It’s not as if you don’t do it anyway,” I grumbled.
To that, Beck just smirked.
Gritting my teeth, I awkwardly climbed over the passenger seat and into the back, careful not to let my skirt go up in the wind. I shoved our backpacks into the corner as Beck flipped the passenger seatback down. “All aboard,” he said as Daisy climbed in. “Arms and legs clear of the closing doors.”
Daisy turned around in her seat to smile at me. “This issocool!”
“Cool,” I repeated, hoping it sounded like I was agreeing with her, not questioning her taste.
Beck fell into the driver’s seat, starting up the engine, and it roared into the air. His music came to life, the beginning of “Teenage Dirtbag” kicking on. Beck grinned so widely that I caught a glimpse of teeth. The familiarity of it bolted through me.
“Before we begin,” he murmured, reaching up and adjusting the rearview mirror. He angled it so his eyes were perfectly in frame with mine. “Are we okay with a little speed?”
I scoffed. “Absolutely not?—”
Daisy cut me off. “Yes!”
Beck needed no further encouragement. He slammed his foot down on the gas pedal, shooting us forward. Daisy let out a little shriek, but a joy-filled one. This was a bucket list check-off for her, apparently.
I clutched the strap of my buckled seatbelt over my lap, pulling it tighter, hating that I was such a good friend.
