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I swallow. He doesn’t detail exactly how, but he doesn’t have to. I believe him.
Before another word can be said, Milo comes back downstairs with my pajamas. I’m less mad about leaving now. I don’twantto be here with Jonathan.
Without a word, I grab my pajamas and slip into the guest bathroom to change out of Edie’s clothes.
When I emerge, I’m hoping Jonathan will have left the room so I can at least say goodbye to Milo in peace, but I should have known better. Jonathan is standing right beside his father, arms crossed—an angrier, younger carbon copy.
“Thanks for the headphones,” I mutter to Milo.
But I don’t wait for his response before I slip out the front door.
Chapter twelve
Kennedy
My stupid locker is jammed.
I jiggle the million year old latch and pull on the handle, trying to get the damn thing open, but it won’t budge.
“Come on,” I mutter, jiggling it more aggressively before slamming my palm against the door, not so much to open it as to vent my annoyance.
“Want me to give it a try?”
I gasp, turning around and slamming into the locker as Jet startles the hell out of me. “Jesus. Don’t sneak up on people like that.”
He cracks a smile, hoisting his bag on his shoulder. “Sorry.” He nods at the locker. “May I?”
“Yeah, I guess,” I murmur, taking a step back and tucking my hair behind my ear. “I’ve beaten the shit out of it, though. The stupid thing won’t open.”
He puts his bag down and places his palm against the metal door, lightly knocking against it with his hand in a few places, but I get the feeling he’s listening more than trying to fix the jam. “Usually when they stick, there’s something blocking the mechanism on the other side. Is your locker pretty full?”
I shrug. “I guess.”
He nods, lightly smacking the locker door with his palm. “Might want to clean it out.” He leans his knee against the locker down below and says, “Come over here and try the combination again.”
I do, and like magic, it pops right open.
“I swear, I smack the shit out of it for ten minutes, and you come over and give it a light tap and the thing opens. Maybe I loosened it up for you,” I say lightly, reaching into my locker to pull out the books I need to take home.
“Sometimes it’s better to use careful, deliberate movements than to be blatantly forceful. Saves more of your energy that way, too.”
“Well, thank you.”
“No problem.” He picks up his bag and slings it over his shoulder. “So, what’s been going on with you lately? We haven’t talked much this week.”
“I’ve just been busy.”
“You’re not mad because I was hanging out with Stephen last weekend, are you?”
I frown, turning to look at him. “What?”
He shrugs, dropping my gaze. “It kinda seemed like you wanted to come over that one day, but I wasn’t home. And it kinda seems like you’ve been avoiding come over since then.”
Does he not know I came over, anyway?
“No, I’m not mad. I picked up a shift last night. I was working on homework and stuff Monday and Tuesday. Just busy.”
“All right,” he says. “I just wanted to make sure.”
