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Mia’s eyes turned to steel. “I just described myself. So no, not a nerd.”
I pushed back my grin. “Sounds like you described a nerd.”
“You think I’m a nerd?”
Because I decided it best not to answer that question, I slid inside our shared car instead, while she followed suit.
“I’m not a nerd,” she mumbled once we were inside, like she couldn’t help herself.
“I agree,” I said, because I truly did, “but you could use a little more socialization outside of Ethan. And a boyfriend wouldn’t hurt.”
Mia said nothing, which sparked something inside my chest. In my periphery, a flash of blond hair caught my eye, and I watched as Barry Glick got in his car, a stack of textbooks in his arms.
“Actually,” I started, as the spark flared into a flame, “there’s a boy in my chemistry class that I think you’d really like. He seems really nice, and you’d have a lot in common.”
Mia narrowed her eyes, and I could practically feel the heat of her gaze. “He’s a total dork, isn’t he?”
I started the engine of my car and backed out of my parking spot, hoping to disguise the look on my face that said I was busted. “What? No. Of course not. He’s a little different, but he’s super smart, pretty much everything you described. He’s even going toPrincetonin the fall. I bet I could totally hook you up.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No way. Not interested. I don’t need a boyfriend and certainly not this kid from your class. I mean, he’s a year older than me. If I want a date, I’ll find one myself.”
“You can’t date someone older?” I asked, ignoring her protests. “It’s only by one year. Look at you and Ethan! You’re best buds, and he’s only a sophomore.”
“That’s different.”
I arched a brow.
“It’s just . . . he’ll go off to college, and I’ll be stuck here for a whole ‘nother year.”
Her words hit me square in the chest because as much as I wanted to get away from Lakeview, she wanted it even more. Mia didn’t handle our parents quarreling well, and I imagined she was pretty envious of the fact I got to bail before she did.
“Well,” I said, trying to think of the positive, “maybe it’d be cool to be the senior chick dating an ivy league college boy.”
“Sure. Because I’m so concerned about being cool.”
It was clear she wasn’t buying it, so I let it drop and we drove the rest of the way home in silence. Immediately upon pulling into the driveway, I noted Dad’s car, and I hadn’t even turned the ignition off before the familiar sound of a shouting match drifted to us from inside.
I glanced over at Mia, whose throat bobbed as she stared at the front door, like going inside was a death sentence, and the instinct to protect her welled inside me like a boiling hot spring. “You know what? I’m in the mood for ice cream. Would you mind if we hit up Swirly’s for a sundae?”
I noted the relief in her eyes. “Yeah, sure.”
I set my jaw and nodded without another word as I backed out of the driveway. I had no idea what was going on with my parents. Frankly, I tried to keep my nose out of it and ignore whatever was between them, because ignoring was easier than acknowledging there was a huge problem—there had been for years. But, come fall, I’d be in college, and Mia would be on her own to deal with their bickering alone. What would she do once I wasn’t there? I needed to know she’d be okay without me. She needed a distraction, something to keep her mind off the turmoil. An element of excitement in her life. And honestly, I could use a diversion from obsessing over Adam and how I’d been so wrong about us.
Once I was on the road again, I pressed the gas and watched her from the corner of my eye while I mulled over a solution, and our earlier conversation hit me. Mia needed a boyfriend. The sooner, the better. It was the perfect distraction, just the ticket to keeping her mind off Mom and Dad’s volatile relationship and focused on her own budding one. After all, if Mia was wrapped up in some boys’ arms most nights, fielding phone calls and texts, and hanging out with him and his friends, she wouldn’t have time for anything else, at least not fretting over the state of our parents’ relationship. Or lack thereof.
I smiled to myself as I turned out of our neighborhood, headed in the direction of the ice cream shop while a plan formed in my head. Based on her description, Barry was perfect for her, and I could almost guarantee he’d like Mia. I mean, who wouldn’t? With gorgeous reddish blonde hair, fair skin, and an adorable sprinkle of freckles over her nose, she was the cutest thing since Grumpy Cat. Think Strawberry Shortcake all grown up with nice legs and a cute butt.
All I needed was to bring down her wall of steel and get her to give him a chance.
Chapter 3
BARRY
WhenIpulledintomy driveway, my excitement at being home immediately dulled by the sight of my mother’s boyfriend’s van parked in the driveway.
With a groan, I tipped my head back, wondering what I did to deserve this kind of punishment. Report cards came in two weeks ago, and Mom and I had rescheduled our celebratory ritual of going to Bake and Batter for the millionth time due to her work schedule and Bat Man’s near-constant presence. She promised we’d go today, not that I was champing at the bit or anything. In fact, I was probably getting too old to be rewarded with a treat for good grades, but we’d gone every grading period since I was five, so skipping felt a bit like missing Christmas. It just didn’t sit right. But if we went today,he’dtag along. Afterward, I’d probably be forced to sit through an entire dinner of Bat Man regaling us with stories about his time spent with a pigskin tucked under his arm in college.
Even if Mom allowed me to hole up in my room for the night, I’d never hear the end of it from Mister Machismo if I got caught playing a “nerd” game, or worse yet,actually reading a book.Gasp.Not that it mattered. With him there, Mom would force me out of my room to join them. Why? I had no idea. There was no love lost between us. I think she was simply desperate for us to get along.
