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Frankie frowned but didn’t argue. My gaze traveled to Josie’s door where the light was off beneath it.
“She’s not home,” Frankie said. “She had to work in the writing center today.”
I shrugged, which earned me a laugh from both of them. “Tomorrow we’re going to Baton Rouge High School to sign you up.”
“Mom signed the guardianship papers? How?”
I didn’t want Frankie to worry about how I got the money. Or the fact that I owed Josie five hundred dollars. I stretched my legs out on the couch and ran my fingers through my hair. “I talked her into it. Be ready at one. After class, we’re stopping by to get my schedule at my job and then to the school.”
Jordan eyed me. “You got a lot going on, Booker. Are you worried about your classes?”
Everything seemed easy so far. I’d aced my classes in high school. The hard subjects like math and science were easy for me, it was the writing crap I hated. “I’m fine.”
The front door opened, and the smell of pizza came with it. Josie walked inside holding three pizzas. I sat up straight, my gaze lingered on her like it’d been years since I saw her.
Her dark eyes shifted to mine while Frankie grabbed the pizzas and carried them for her. She slid her small pink tongue across her bottom lip and tucked her hair. I hated how badly my body reacted.
In a pair of loose blue jean shorts and a t-shirt, she looked sexy, even with her natural face and long dark hair.
“Hey,” I finally said, breaking the silence.
“Hey, I got pizza for everyone,” she said, excitement in her voice.
Jordan jumped up. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
He left us alone in the living room, which startled her and she tried to follow. “Wait,” I said, catching her elbow. “You look excited. What is it?”
She smirked. “I received an email from the art director and he wants me to come by his office tomorrow. He saw my piece and was impressed.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” she said.
An awkward silence fell over us, so I cleared my throat. “I—I’m sorry about your lamp.”
Josie chewed on her bottom lip. “It’s okay.”
She lowered her eyes to the floor. Slowly, I lifted her chin with two fingers, and I felt my breath leak slowly from my lungs. “No, it’s not. I have—I have many pent-up emotions and I need to deal with them. Taking them out on you, whether I love every second of kissing you or not, it’s not fair.”
Josie blinked slowly like she couldn’t believe any of this. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it,” she whispered.
Heat snaked its way up my body.
“And you’re right,” she said, meeting my gaze. “King doesn’t make me feel that good.”
Emotions swarmed me. The urge to kiss her, to drag her to my room and never leave taunted me. I stepped forward and my mind swirled at the thought of kissing her in front of Jordan and Frankie, who I could see staring at us.
Then the door opened.
Waverly walked inside, without knocking, stopping when she noticed us in the living room. She wore cheer shorts, with a midriff tank top and a smile that sent my irritation into overdrive.
“Oh, hey, y’all. Smells good in here.”
When she shut the door behind her, my blood began to boil. “What are you doing here?” I asked, sliding my palm down Josie’s arm to her hand.
I don’t know why I did it. I’d never held Josie’s hand, but I wanted Waverly to know she was wasting her time. Waverly’s eyes dropped to our hands. “I had no idea you two were …a couple?”
She slung her purse onto our couch.
