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He looks at me with surprise. “You and Madison?”
I let out a short laugh. “Yeah. Best friends, actually. Her thirteenth birthday was just a couple days before my dad…died. It was a pool party. I got her a sparkly headband.”
“What happened?” Caleb asks quietly.
“Life. High school.” I shrug. “She cares what people think. I’ve never had that luxury.”
“What do you mean?”
“People judge me for things I have no control over. Nothing I can do about it. Maybe it was just bad timing, but I think high school has a funny way of turning friends into foes no matter what.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” Caleb says softly.
“I’ve got to get home,” I tell him. “I’ll see you…later?”
Caleb nods. He said he would text me about batting lessons, but I don’t know if he actually will. Don’t know if I really want him to. It will only confuse everything more.
I start down the crowded hall, feeling his eyes on me the whole way.
I’m sorely tempted to turn around.
But I don’t.
CHAPTERELEVEN
LENNON
The incessant beeping is getting to me.
“I forgot to grab rice,” I tell Gramps, which is actually true. “I’ll be right back.” I duck out of line to head back into the main section of the supermarket.
It doesn’t take me long to find the correct aisle and grab the light blue bag. There’s only one grocery store in town. Gramps and I have been coming here every Saturday for as long as I can remember to stock up on food for the week.
Gramps has moved up to second in line by the time I return to the check-out. I toss the rice in the cart and try not to wince as the scanner keeps beeping nonstop.
Finally, it’s our turn. Gramps chats with the owner as she rings up our groceries.
“I’m going to put these in the truck,” I tell Gramps, grabbing two of the paper grocery bags and heading toward the door. He nods as he continues making small talk.
I spin around to push open the door with my back. When I turn back around, I’m standing on the sidewalk just outside the store.
Face-to-face with Caleb Winters.
We stare at each other as we contemplate what to say.
At least, that’s what I’m doing.
“Hi.” Running into Caleb outside of school is strange, especially following his unexpected offer to help me pass gym. It added another layer to our already complicated…something. Not a friendship,definitelynot a relationship, but something more than nothing.
“Hi,” Caleb repeats. All I can see on his face is surprise. Unlike me, he’s not alone. Jake Barnes, Colt Adams, and Luke Evans all hover behind him. Jake looks bored; Colt and Luke amused. “Good weekend?”
“Thrilling. Can’t you tell?” I nod at the two paper bags I’m clutching to my chest.
“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious.”
I shift the weight of the bags I’m holding. “How about you?”
“It’s been all right,” he responds.
