“Sleep tonight, Jack.” I touch his jaw and he leans into my touch. “We’ll figure this out, but you need to take care of yourself too.”
“I need to protect you.” His expression is stubborn.
“I needyou. You aren’t alone.” I press up on my toes and kiss him. “We’ll figure this out together.”
The girls,Kenz, and I go to the coffee shop again. Penny hangs back instead of leading the group. I still feel awkward with her. She’s Luke’s sister and she’s known this whole time. It’s just odd to think about.
After we order and sit down, Kenz leans back in her chair and grins at Penny, who has her head down. Her fingers rub on her cup.
“So how was school today, Penny?”
Penny lifts her brown eyes to Kenz. She glances at Nat, Izzy, and Vicky before sighing. “It was okay, but weird.”
“Weird how?” I sip my frozen coffee drink.
She looks around the coffee shop and sighs again. “Guys who have never noticed me came up to talk to me. A few asked meout. Others eyed me like they could get something from me. Even fucking Evan came up to try to get back together.”
Her gaze stays on her cappuccino. She shakes her head and takes a deep breath. She looks defeated, not triumphant.
“I’m surprised you were able to keep it a secret.” Kenz leans forward a little. “Most girls would be telling everyone, shouting it from the fucking roofs that they’re related to a horseman.”
Penny’s wary gaze meets Kenz’s. “Would they? I mean, look at Ava Ross. Her parents sent her away because of how bad it got for her.”
Ava’s relationship with Tanner isn’t well known. It was kept among the guys. They told me not everyone understood why they took Tanner down. It’s what makes him still dangerous. All anyone knows is he’s not someone you want to associate with. Not if you don’t want to get on the horsemen’s bad side.
“Besides, I couldn’t risk my mom. My father could have bankrupted her.” Penny shivers and takes a drink.
I press my lips together. “I’m sure it will get better when something new happens.”
“Yeah.” Izzy takes Penny’s hand on the table and squeezes it. “Homecoming is coming up and that will bury this as everyone worries about the candidates for queen and king. Also, we need to find dates for the dance.”
Vicky sips her tea. “I already have a date.”
While the others go on about their options, my pulse increases. Eli told me that Sidney plans to put me on the court. We haven’t decided whether that’s a good thing or not, since the court will most likely consist of some of my guys.
Voting was today and tomorrow at lunch. The court will be announced on Friday afternoon at the pep rally for that night’s game.
We don’t know what else the Cheermonsters have planned. But next week is busy. There will be events every day and spirit week. I’ve never paid any attention.
I followed the protocol for what to wear each day because it was necessary to blend in and not stand out, but I didn’t pay attention to the court. Especially since it was so fucking predictable.
Luke and Sidney won freshman, sophomore, and junior year for our class. Until Eli revealed the Cheermonsters’ plan, I was confident they would be king and queen. I was also totally fine with it. I don’t really want to be up there or in the parade or anything.
People see me enough as it is. Giving them a show isn’t exactly fun or something I want to do. When Nat’s eyes meet mine, I clue in to the table.
“Are you all going to go together?” Nat asks. She twists the straw wrapper around her fingers.
“Yes.” That’s the plan. We go together and stick together, then leave together. Not sure where we’ll go. Everyone’s parents are in town, which will make our weekends a lot less predictable.
The guys know I want to spend some time at the dance, because it will be my first school sanctioned event outside of football games. I’m excited about it, but also terrified. Maybe we should just sit it out, but we can’t back down or whoever is trying to take down the horsemen will win.
We’re wary based on what Ashley told Eli. It was refreshing to hear the Cheermonsters weren’t actually planning on drenching me in blood, but what else could they do to me? There are endless scenarios that all seem to end with me humiliated.
“I gave her my prom dress from last year.” Kenz pulls out her phone and shows the girls pictures of the dress. The girls make noises of approval.
“That’s going to look amazing on you.” Izzy looks at me. “I’m just hoping to find a date.”
“I thought Ryan was going to ask you?” Nat tosses her wrapper to the side.
