I stared at him blankly as I tried to figure out what the heck he was talking about.
“Because basketball tryouts are today.” Preston sighed. “Please tell me you have a ride home today.”
“Totally.”
Preston shook his head. “Look, I know you made co-captain and all—”
“Wait, what? How did you hear that?” I shrieked. It hadn’t been made official yet.
He shrugged. “Veronica, obviously. But now that you made your team, it’s time for me to make mine. Senior Year Rematch is almost here, and I need to get my head in the game. I need you to find a ride home.”
“I have a ride home today,” I lied, fully intending to text Daria as soon as my brother was out of my sight. “I was just recovering from my life flashing before my eyes after you ran that red light.”
“Oh, good.” He paused. “And the light was yellow.”
“In your dreams.”
“Whatever. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Yeah, see ya,” I answered, but he was already out of the car and on his way to the main building of the school.
I pulled out my phone and shot a quick text to Daria.
Charlie: Can you give me a ride after school?
She answered right away.
Daria: Can’t. I have a dentist appointment right before lunch.
I audibly groaned.
Daria: Where are you by the way? You’d better not be hiding in your car.
Charlie: I’m not. Walking up to the school right now.
I reached down to grab my bag from the floor of the car.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The angry banging on the car window had me jumping. I looked up to see Daria giving me a playful, stern look. She held her phone up and pointed to where I’d just texted her.
“You are a big, fat liar, Charlie Royce!” she yelled loud enough so that I could hear her through the window. Unfortunately, so did everyone else walking by.
I went to grab my bag a second time, and got out of the car, ignoring the curious looks of everyone walking by. “Good morning to you too,” I said to Daria, who watched me in amusement.
“Okay, spill,” she said as we walked up to the school.
“What do you want to know?”
“Charlie,” she all but growled. “I swear you are the most irritating best friend in the history of best friends. I want to know all about…” she lowered her voice to a whisper. “Romeo.”
Now, she chose to be quiet? After broadcasting I was a liar to everyone moments earlier? “There’s not much to tell.”
“Not much to tell? Girl, I saw the long stream of texts on your screen yesterday.” My eyes widened. “And no, I didn’t read them.”
“Thank you.”
“Ugh. I’m not that bad. But you gotta give me something since I’m keeping this a secret and all. Like, what’s his real name.”
She might not make the connection if I just gave her the first name. I hadn’t. And it wasn’t like his name was that uncommon, right? “Jackson.”
“Jackson and Charlie, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S—“
I smacked her. “Will you stop?”
She laughed. “Fine. So how did you meet him?”
“Marlowe Junction’s Helping Hands.”
“Your volunteer group?”
I nodded.
Daria waggled her eyebrows. “Is he a bad boy? Did he show up to the nursing home riding a motorcycle and wearing a black leather jacket? Does he have tattoos and smoke?”
“Don’t be dumb.”
“Fine. But I gotta know, is your totally-not-a-bad-boy hot?”
I thought of Jackson’s green eyes and warm smile and nodded.
“I knew it!” She pointed an accusatory finger at me. “Have you seen him outside of Helping Hands?”
I played with the hem of my shirt and nodded again.
Her mouth fell open, and she smacked my arm. “Charlie! Are you kidding me? When?”
“Saturday night,” I said behind a cough.
“Satur—” Her eyes went wide. “That’s why you didn’t want to come to Homecoming. Charlie, you brat.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
Daria fixed me with a stare.
“I promise I planned to stay in that night. But then he messaged me after you and I texted, and he invited me to Langford Farm. So, I went.” I shrugged.
“Did you kiss?”
The question wasn’t out there. Daria and I had spent countless hours talking about the boys at our school and wondering what it would be like to kiss them. But I felt shy when it came to Jackson, and I wasn't sure if it was because I liked him so much or if it was because he was the enemy.
Maybe it was a combination of both.
I shook my head. “Of course we didn’t. It was only our first date.”
“But you wanted to, right?”
I couldn’t stop the blush that heated my cheeks.
Daria started laughing. “Oh, man. My best friend’s got it bad.”
Yeah, she did.
Daria wrapped her arm around my shoulder as we walked in the front door of the school. “Here’s the final question, Charlie.” She paused and smiled deviously at me. “When do I get to meet him?”
Never.
I bit my lip and was mercifully saved from answering her question by the bustle of the hallway as everyone raced to class.
The rest of the day went smoothly, and I’d completely forgotten about finding a ride home from school until I walked out to the parking lot.
Crap. Crap. Crap.
Daria was gone. Preston was at tryouts. Mom and Dad were working. And from the look of things, the other people I usually would have asked had already high-tailed it out of school.
I could wait for my brother to finish tryouts, but then I’d have to admit I never got the ride I told him I had. My heart skipped as another option entered my mind. It was crazy and possibly worse than just asking Daria to come get me since she had to be done at the dentist by now.
But once the idea came, it wasn’t easy to shake it. Part of me wondered what he would say, and I convinced myself that was the only reason I was choosing Jackson over my best friend.
I pulled out my phone.
2:05 PM
Charlie: What are you doing right now?????
Romeo: I just pulled into my driveway. Why?
Charlie: Oh. No reason.
Now that I knew he was already home, I felt silly asking him to come get me. Daria it was. I started to text her when another message from Jackson came through.
Romeo: Seriously. What do you need?
Charlie: I was going to ask if you would give me a ride home.
I held my breath and hit send before I could chicken out. His answer came immediately.
Romeo: From Rosemark?
Charlie: Yeah, my brother has basketball tryouts today.
The small bit of information felt too close to a betrayal, even though there was nothing Jackson could do with it.
Romeo: I’m like 10 minutes away. If you go out front, I’ll just swing by.
Charlie: Thank you!
Romeo: Don’t mention it.
Fifteen minutes later, a white Jeep stopped in front of the school. The passenger window rolled down, and Jackson hollered out, “Come on!”
I quickly looked around to see if anyone was watching. After the picture Anderson took at the corn maze, you’d think I would be more cautious. When I didn’t see anyone lurking behind the building with their spy camera, I opened the door and hopped in.
I quickly told him which way to go.
“Thanks again,” I said as Jackson turned onto Main. “I owe you one.”
Jackson chuckled. “Then I’m thrilled I came to get you. Can’t wait to cash that one in.”
“Shut up.” I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see me with his attention on the road.
“I’m serious. I already know what I’m going to ask for.”
I shifte
d in my seat, so I faced him. “Oh, yeah? And what’s that?”
“A second date.”
I groaned.
“No, I’m serious. And if you hate it, I won’t ask you again. I promise.”
“What about Saturdays?”
He stole a quick glance in my direction, as I told him where to turn. “What about them?”
“Won’t it be weird if we stop dating and then we still have a bunch of community service hours together?”
Jackson shrugged. “I’ll take those weeks off. It’s one of the perks of doing it as an actual volunteer and not a delinquent.”
“Ouch, dude.”
He chuckled, and I warmed to the sound. I loved the way his laughter rumbled deep in his chest and always sounded like it escaped—never like it was forced.
I pointed to my street and told him to turn down it. “I’m the third house on the right.”
“You mean the one with the basketball hoop in the driveway? I never would have guessed.”
I gave him a playful shove. “Think you can try to stop being a smart aleck for like, two seconds?”
“But, Charlie, I might die.”
I suppressed a giggle. “You’re worse off than I thought.”
Jackson parked. “And you’re still just as pretty. Even when you’re wearing orange and green.”
I looked down at my Rosemark class shirt I wore that day. “Should I start wearing blue and white?”
Pinebrook’s school colors.
“That would make a statement.”
But just what kind of message would it send? That I was a traitor to my own school? Besides, I didn't think Jackson actually wanted me to start wearing his school colors. That would be too weird.
We stayed in the car, both looking out the front windshield, not talking for several moments. The more I tried to play it cool next to Jackson, the more I was aware of his every movement. He shifted in his seat, then cleared his throat. I took a deep breath and made my best effort to calm my beating heart.
“So, uh...thanks for giving me a ride.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, but a strand got stuck on my lips.
My fingers went to pull it off but were met with Jackson’s warm hand. I stopped and looked up at the boy who’d come to get me after school. His face was close and serious as he brushed the stubborn piece away. “I really want to kiss you, Charlie.”
Oh yeah, there was no way my heart was going to find its normal rhythm now. It pounded inside my chest, and I was sure Jackson would be able to feel its rapid beating from where his fingers lingered on my cheek.
“Uhh,” I answered quite articulately as Jackson’s eyes searched my own.
“I want to, but I’m not going to.” He pulled his hand away and leaned back.
My body slumped, and I let out a loud sigh.
“I told you, I like you. Not kissing you right now is really hard, but when I finally kiss you, I want it to be because you and I both want to.”
“Oh, I want to.” The words were out before I realized it, and I slapped a hand over my mouth as my eyes went wide.
Jackson chuckled, and my face heated.
“You know what I mean,” he said looking at the clock on his dash. “I gotta go, but I’d love it if you texted me later.”
Wait. Did he just say love?
Get it together Royce.
I nodded, keeping my face neutral to hide the direction my thoughts had spiraled. “Okay.”
I got out of the car and waved at Jackson before walking up to the house. He stayed parked on the street until I got inside.
My parents weren't home yet, so I had the house to myself. Once the front door was shut, I leaned back against it and squealed as loud as I could.
Jackson Brooks had almost kissed me!
Not only that, I would have let him.
If he wanted to wait until I was interested in dating him, he might just be getting his wish. I mentally listed off all the reasons there were to like him.
He volunteered because he wanted to.
He was romantic.
He was considerate.
He was hot. (That was an understatement and really could be on the list twice.)
Jackson Brooks was the whole package. What girl wouldn’t be falling over herself to date such a catch?
Oh, right. The girl who was related to his biggest rival.
I had to consider what this would mean for my reputation at school, and my relationship with my brother. True, it wouldn't be easy convincing my friends at school that dating a guy from Pinebrook was no big deal, but it was something I’d be willing to do.
Preston, however, was a completely different story. I wasn’t sure that he’d be able to look past who Jackson was, no matter how big of a romantic my brother could be.
Of course, if he cared about me at all, then he’d know I wasn’t trying to hurt him, right?
I continued to weigh the pros and cons of dating Jackson long into the night. Were my obstacles really worth not giving us a shot?
In the end, I decided I didn’t think they were.
Chapter Thirteen
Preston and I were driving to school when Coach Scruggs finally sent the email out with the team roster. It had been several days since tryouts, and we’d all been waiting not-so-patiently for the players to be announced. Every day, Daria and I would ask the other if they’d heard anything yet. And every day, we both had to say no.
So, I was thankful that Preston was driving when my phone dinged with that long-awaited email. That meant I was free to read the list right away. I quickly scanned to see my name listed on the varsity team, with the word “co-captain” next to it. A few lines beneath that was Daria’s name.
I did a little victory dance in the passenger seat.
Preston jerked his head in my direction. “Good news?”
“Coach Scruggs finally sent out the roster.”
“She really was drawing it out, wasn’t she?”
I nodded, thinking about how jealous I’d been when the boys’ coach emailed the team roster the same night. But finally, I was vindicated. I’d made varsity, even while on athletic probation.
I’m co-captain of the girls’ team!” I squealed.
“That’s great.”
I shot off two quick texts. The first one was to Daria.
Charlie: Congrats!!!! Looks like we really are stuck together now. Can’t wait to boss you around.
Daria: You’re never gonna get rid of me, even if we go in opposite directions after graduation. Just you wait and see!
The second one was to Jackson.
Charlie: I made varsity and co-captain. I’m SO excited!
Romeo: That’s great, babe.
My breath caught in my chest. I hadn’t told him that I was willing to date him yet, but I still liked the way that word looked on the screen of my phone.
Charlie: Babe?
Romeo: Just trying it out.
Charlie: Uh, huh. Better be careful calling me that.
Romeo: You know I’m a rebel. It’s why I get to see you at Helping Hands on Saturday.
Charlie: Whatever. We both know you’re a softie.
He sent a string of emojis—an angry face, a middle finger…a weird mask guy? I didn’t know the meaning behind half the little cartoons on the emoji keyboard, but I could tell this was his “I’m not a sweet guy” argument. Little did he know, I wanted a sweet guy.
I wanted him.
“Wow. Who knew you were so excited about the team?” Preston said, causing me to look up quickly. “I mean, you already knew you were going to make it, right?”
“Yeah. I guess everything with athletic probation had me on edge. It’s good to know that’s one hurdle I don’t have to worry about.”
I hadn’t meant to say that last part out loud. If Preston asked me about my other hurdles, I wasn’t sure how I’d tell him it was Brooks. Thankfully, my brother was off in basketball la-la land.
“This is going to be the best year ever, Charlie. We�
�re both seniors about to graduate. We’ll both be on varsity when the scouts come this year. Hopefully, we’ll get scholarships and go to college without massive loans. It’s gonna be great!”
And those things were great. I just hoped everything else could somehow fall into place.
When I bumped into Daria later that day, she looked like she’d seen a ghost.
“Daria, are you—”
She put up a hand to stop me. “We need to talk. Now. Let’s sneak out to the football field for lunch.”
“I can’t,” I argued. “If Mr. Richards catches me, I’ll be in a lot of trouble.”
My best friend held up her phone. On the screen was the infamous picture Anderson had sent to me. I put my hand over the screen and looked around quickly, making sure no one saw it.
Daria lifted her eyebrows. “Come to the football field. Now.”
She started walking down the hall, away from the cafeteria without looking back to make sure I was behind her. I scanned the hallways for any signs of Rosemark administration before following her out the double doors, and out to the field.
Neither one of us spoke, and my mind raced the entire walk out. Who had sent that to Daria? There was only one person I knew who had that picture. Anderson. But now I worried that he’d shared it with more people than Daria and me. How many people knew my secret?
And what did Daria think of me now? I’d been keeping this from her, and she found out from my sleazy ex-boyfriend. She had to be angry at me, but I wasn’t sure how bad it was.
Like, you took a fry without permission angry?
Or, we’re never hanging out again angry?
My stomach twisted as I played out the different possible scenarios in my head until we were standing beneath the bleachers.
Daria turned to face me. She jerked her hands upward. “How could you?”
My words rushed out in a jumble. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. We were working at Helping Hands together, and he was so sweet. I really liked talking to him. And then he took me to the maze and drove me home the other day when you were at the dentist.”
Courtside Crush: Varsity Girlfriends Book One Page 10