AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I channeled as much nonchalance as possible as I searched through the cafeteria. Connor hadn’t texted last night, meaning he didn’t have any questions about the material. I didn’t see him after a few minutes of probing. Or Jade. Or Madison.
That felt like a bad sign.
As discreetly as I could, I reached into my satchel and found the square slip of paper in one of the inside pockets, smoothing it out enough to read. I’d specifically told him yesterday how he shouldn’t leave notes anymore, but when I opened my locker this morning, I found this gem waiting for me.
I’ve got a better place for us to tutor today, don’t worry. Only it needs to stay between us.
Wait for me at the corner of College Ave again @4:30, okay?
-C
Alex nudged me in the side. “Do you have any plans tonight? We could do something.”
Connor’s voice filled my mind, almost like he was whispering in my ear.Play hard to get. Build the anticipation. I picked up the fork on his tray and taking a bite of his broccoli salad. He never ate it, but he always got it for me. “Would you rather hang out tonight or tomorrow night?”
Alex raised his eyebrows. “Wait, does that mean you’d come to the game?”
“What?” Rachel leaned forward over the table, eyes wide. “You’re coming?”
“He made quite the hard bargain,” I said with a theatrical sigh, stabbing a piece of overcooked broccoli in the heart. It crumbled off my fork. “We’re going out afterward.”
Rachel’s expression was as perplexed as I’d ever seen it. “But…you never come to games.”
Ava smacked Rachel’s shoulder with a grin. “Don’t question it! She’s coming! Wait, what will you wear? Do you have any spirit gear?”
Spirit gear. “Uh…no?”
“You’ll come over and get ready with us,” Ava said with a nod, no room for negotiation. “I have a sweatshirt you can borrow. We’ll do your hair too.”
I knew it was not worth arguing over, but I had one rule I’d stick to. “No pawprints.”
Ava crossed her heart, but I wouldn’t put it past her.
With five minutes left in the lunch period, I packed up my things and headed to the bathroom. As soon as I stepped out into the hallway, I saw them.
Jade and Connor stood down the hall, and even from their stances, I knew this conversation wasn’t one I wanted to pop in on. Her little fists were clenched at her sides, and she’d backed Connor against the wall. Not that he seemed too bothered—he had one eyebrow raised, wearing the stupid mask of confidence that always irked me.
He obviously had a death wish, giving that expression to Jade.
“Brentwood Babble might not have posted it, but do you know how many people texted me?” she demanded, her voice low but filled with heat. “Kyle told Riley, who told practically everyone on the cheer squad. Who were you in there with?”
“It’s not what you’re making it out to be, you know.”
I took a step backward because I knew there was absolutely no way I was going to walk past them mid-argument. Quite honestly, it was a miracle they hadn’t seen me yet. Jade had her back to me, but all Connor had to do was turn his head to the side.
Jade let out a little scoff. “Are you kidding me right now? We’ve talked about this. We’regoodtogether.”
“Are we?”
“What about king and queen, huh?” She shook her head a little. “We need this.”
Connor’s voice came out with a little sigh, sounding something like defeat. “I know.”
She stepped up closer to Connor until there wasn’t enough space between them to fit another person. In that split second before she spoke, Connor’s gaze finally found me, but a hand wrapped around my upper arm tightly and jerked me to the side before he had a chance to react.
I barely registered Madison hauling me through a doorway before we ended up in the girl’s restroom, and I stumbled to get my feet underneath me.
“What the heck is with you jocks?” I demanded, trying to find my balance with the bulky backpack weighing me down. “Ever heard of personal space?”
