She seemed relieved. “Okay.”
“Do you have any pets?”
“A cat named Fluffy.”
He grinned at that one. “Will you come over tomorrow? After school?”
“Why?”
He held in the real answer. The one that told her he wanted to spend time with her. That he liked her. Instead, he said, “So we can work on more Halloween decorations.”
“We can do that at school. All the supplies are there.” She turned and grabbed the door handle.
“Wait. I’ll tell you the real reason.” He frantically searched for something to say.
She looked at him over her shoulder. “What?”
“I don’t know how to dance. Will you come teach me?”
She scoffed and shook her head. “Get your mom to.” She smirked as she grabbed her poster, opened the door then shut it behind her. “Nice try, though,” she called from the hallway.
Great. He leaned up against the door, feeling like a fool. Yeah, that was pretty obvious. Real smooth there. He went into the living room and turned off the television.
If Destiny didn’t think he was a desperate loser before, she definitely thought he was one now.
Chapter 5
Destiny walked to her car, her heart acting like she’d run a marathon. Why did Eli affect her so much? He was cute, and he smelled extremely good, but that was only his cologne. Other guys wore the same one. Why did it smell so much better on him?
Her fingers couldn’t seem to work as she tried to shove her key into the car door. What was wrong with her? The last time she felt this way was when she’d first met Jack. He’d shown interest in her and she’d gotten all tongue-tied.
But this was worse. She could hardly think around Eli. Stupid. She had to pull herself together. She had a test tomorrow in chemistry and had to study tonight. She couldn’t spend the evening thinking about Eli, of all people. She was already struggling in that class.
She drove home, groaning when she saw her older sister’s car parked in the driveway. What was she doing home from school? It wasn’t like she lived far away, just in Green Bay at a community college. But still. Destiny liked having more privacy with her sister out of the house.
She hopped out of her car and pressed the key fob to lock her doors. She ran up to her room and closed the door. Fluffy was curled up in her usual spot on Destiny’s bed. She sat next to her cat as a knock came on her door. Destiny blew out a breath. Her sister had probably been waiting to hear her come home. “Come in.”
Olivia entered. She wore a pair of skinny jeans that showed off her figure, and a cute T-shirt that sported her college’s logo. “Thank goodness you’re home. I need to talk to you.”
No greeting. No asking how her day had gone. That wasn’t her sister. Olivia was all about her own drama. Destiny picked up her cat and scooted until her back hit her headboard. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have school?”
Olivia joined her on the bed. The difference between them was striking. Olivia had dark hair and a darker complexion. She took after their father while Destiny looked more like their mother, with fair skin and blonde hair.
“Long weekend. I’m here until Sunday. But that’s not important. I’m quitting school.”
Destiny blinked. “Wait, what? You can’t quit school. Mom and Dad would kill you.”
“I know.” Olivia put her hands over her face and moaned. “I’m going to be in so much trouble.”
Olivia was always in trouble. Like the time she and her friends took off on a trip to Las Vegas and ran out of gas in the middle of Nebraska. Or the time she decided to run away from home and got as far as the bus station before realizing she didn’t have enough money to actually go anywhere, and ended up calling Mom to come get her. Olivia was beautiful, but she didn’t always think things through.
“What’s going on?” Destiny asked.
Olivia let out a breath and moved her hands around, centering her chi or something. She was into reading auras and junk like that. “I started up a business.”
That was the last thing Destiny expected to hear, and she about choked on her spit. “You did what?”
“A few months ago, I was shopping with my roommate. Kim is sweet, but she has no fashion sense at all. So I helped her buy a few outfits.”
“I’m lost.”
“That’s because you keep interrupting.” Olivia shot her a pointed look. “Anyway, I put together some amazing outfits for her, and she was so excited they made her look good, she gave me a hundred bucks.”
Destiny was starting to see where this was going.
“Then she told Stacy what I did, and Stacy had me shop for her as well.” Olivia rubbed her painted fingernail. “I didn’t mean to start a business, but word spread. My boyfriend created a website for me, and now I have clients hiring me. Can you believe it? People I don’t know paying me to shop for them.”
“Wait a minute.” Destiny held up her hand. “You have a boyfriend and you didn’t tell me?”
Olivia’s cheeks turned pink. “Never mind that part.”
“Never mind that part? What do you mean? That’s the most important part! Who is he? Do I know him?”
She shook her head. “You don’t know him. He goes to my school.”
“What’s his name?”
“Jared.”
Destiny couldn’t believe her sister had a boyfriend and this was the first she’d heard of it. “How long have you been dating?”
“Not long. A few months.” She motioned with her hand. “But that’s not the important part, Des. I have clients. Real people paying me money to shop for them. Do you hear what I’m saying? I’m getting paid to do my favorite thing in the world!” She flapped her hands like she thought she could fly around the room if she got fast enough.
Destiny didn’t know what to say. Her sister had always been great at pairing up clothes to make cool outfits. And she was right. Shopping was her favorite thing in the world. “That’s amazing.”
“I know, right? I think I have a shot at making this work.” She grabbed Destiny’s hands. “I could be a professional shopper.”
Oh, no. This wasn’t good. Olivia tended to jump into things and then regret them later. What was she getting herself into now? “What about your accounting degree?”
Olivia’s shoulders slumped. “Accounting is what Dad wanted me to go into. And it’s as boring as paint.”
That wasn’t the right saying, but Destiny left it alone. “Dad won’t be happy if you quit school.”
“I know.” Olivia moaned again and made a face that looked like she was constipated. “But I can’t do both. And my shopping business is growing.”
“How big?”
Olivia bit her lower lip. “Someone from Alaska just hired me.”
Destiny didn’t want to be a Debby Downer, but she also wanted to force Olivia to see this realistically. “Just one?”
Olivia huffed. “Just one from Alaska. But they don’t know me. And they hired me. This is huge, Des.”
“How many other clients have you had?”
Olivia made a show of counting on her fingers for a moment. Then she put her hands in her lap. “Six. But every business starts off slow. And my website is fantastic. Wait until you see it. Jared is brilliant.”
“Six clients?” How could Olivia think that quitting school now was a good idea?
The bed shifted as Olivia jumped up, Destiny’s phone sliding on the bedspread. “I knew you wouldn’t understand. I don’t know why I tried. This is big, but all people are focusing on is that number.” She looked like she was going to cry.
“Hey, I’m trying to be helpful. This is what Mom and Dad are going to say. You have to think of a better argument for quitting school.”
She rolled her eyes but sat back down. “You’re right.”
Fluffy must have gotten tired of being petted because she stretched and climbed out of Destiny’s lap, then jumped to the floor. “Why don’t you stay in school for a wh
ile, just until your business takes off more? You could do both.”
Olivia put her face in her hands. “I already quit.”
“You did not!”
Olivia dramatically flopped backwards on the bed and moaned. “I did.”
“Then you have to tell them right away. Waiting isn’t going to make it any better.”
Destiny’s phone chimed, signaling a text message had come through. Before Destiny could grab it, Olivia picked up the phone.
“Hey,” Destiny called out as she tried to snatch it back, but Olivia pulled it away, holding it out of reach.
Olivia looked at the screen. “Someone desperately wants to know what your favorite movie is.”
Destiny’s cheeks heated. “Give me that.”
Olivia shrugged and tossed it at her. “Who is it?”
“No one.”
“No one? Really? Now I know you’re hiding something. Who is it? Did you break up with Jack?”
Destiny tried to play it off as unimportant, even though she could tell her face was red. “No. It’s just a guy at school. A friend. You do have those in college, don’t you?”
“Funny.” Olivia brushed her hair behind her ear and squinted at her. “If he’s nobody, then why are you so flustered?”
“I’m not.”
“You are.” Her eyes grew wide. “Are you cheating on Jack?”
Destiny gasped and whacked her sister on the leg. “No. Why would you even think something like that?”
“Well, you did steal Jessica’s boyfriend.”
Ouch. That hurt. And brought up all the guilt, too. “I didn’t know they were still dating, and I feel bad about that whole thing. But Jessica and I have resolved it.”
“That’s good.”
“And I’m totally nowhere near cheating. I can have a guy friend and not cheat on my boyfriend.”
Olivia dismissed the conversation with a hand wave. “What’s up with your favorite movie?”
“I wouldn’t tell him.” Fluffy stopped licking herself to meow. It was the “I’m hungry” kind of pleading she did when she wanted a treat. Destiny stood and got out the treat bag she kept hidden in her nightstand. “It’s embarrassing.”
“What is it?”
“You probably don’t know it.”
“I’d know it if you would just tell me.” Olivia huffed.
She poured out a small pile of treats and Fluffy attacked them. “It’s a sappy Hallmark romance.”
Olivia gave her an eye-roll. “So what? Why wouldn’t you just tell him? It’s not like it really matters.”
True. But she also cared very much what Eli thought of her. The realization made her uncomfortable. Why did she care what Eli thought of her?
She shrugged. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Olivia stood. “You text your friend back,” she air-quoted the word friend, “And I’ll go think about what I’m going to tell Mom and Dad.”
“Tell them you quit school to join the circus. Then, after they freak out, you can tell them you’re just kidding, and then starting up a business won’t look so bad.”
She pretended to kick Destiny in the shin. “You’re no help.”
Olivia left the room and Destiny called out to her, “Don’t wait too long to tell them!”
A voice called back, “Stop flirting with your so-called friend.”
Destiny crossed her room and slammed her door. Then she hopped back onto her bed and picked up her phone. Eli had sent two unread texts. The first one must have been what he sent when they were standing in his kitchen.
Hey, sexy.
Why did those words give her pleasure? She was such a stupid schoolgirl. And then there was his next text.
Tell me your favorite movie. Please? I’m desperate to know it.
She texted back.
Don’t be. It’s stupid. You’ll be disappointed.
His answer came quickly, as if he were waiting for her text to come.
I could never be disappointed in you.
She laughed. You don’t even know me.
Girl, that’s what I’m trying to do. Get to know you. And you thwart me at every turn.
Thwart? Who says that?
Smart people. And Norwegians. What is it? Please tell me.
No.
Can I get a hint?
A hint. That wouldn’t be too bad. She could give him something simple. It’s got romance.
You’ve Got Mail?
No.
While You Were Sleeping?
No. Why do you know all these romance movies? Are you a closet romantic?
Three dots appeared for quite a while, showing him typing a long time. When his text finally came through, she laughed.
My mom watches them. And I may or may not have been in the same room while she was watching them. Just because I didn’t run from the room doesn’t mean I have to give up my man card. Sheesh, don’t get judgy.
I’m not judgy. I’m laughing.
At me?
No.
He paused. Tell me. Please? I swear I won’t be judgy back.
She drew her knees to her chest, a weird sensation in her belly. She suddenly wanted him to know, for some odd reason.
It’s a stupid Hallmark movie. You probably don’t know it.
I love stupid Hallmark movies.
You do not.
You don’t know that.
She sent him a laughing emoji.
Come on, girl. Give me the title. I’m dying here.
Destiny smiled as she texted him back. She didn’t have much to lose. Might as well tell him.
It’s called How to Fall in Love.
Finally! I have world domination! Or just the title of your favorite movie. You choose.
She laughed again. He was witty. And he made her feel things even Jack had never evoked. Destiny sobered. What was she thinking? She couldn’t allow herself to feel things like that for Eli. Not when she was still working on her relationship with Jack. She owed it to Jack.
Guilt over accusing Jack of cheating on her surged in her. He was planning a surprise for her. How could she have gotten it so wrong? And now he was acting strange. She was sure it was her fault.
And here she was, liking Eli just a bit too much. She quickly sent off her last text to him.
Gotta go. See you later.
Maybe she shouldn’t have told him she’d see him later. She shouldn’t be seeing him at all.
Chapter 6
Eli stared at the abrupt end to their conversation. Did he upset her somehow? He thought he was being clever and charming. Maybe he’d said something wrong.
He opened up the web browser on his phone and searched for the movie title Destiny had given him. It looked like a typical romantic comedy. But he was curious why it was her favorite movie. He called it up on the Hallmark subscription his mom had and settled into the love seat to watch it.
The door handle rattled, and his mother walked in, a sack of groceries in each arm. He paused his movie and rushed to help her. “Let me take those,” he said.
She gave him a weary smile. “Thanks.”
He walked the five steps into the kitchen and placed the grocery sacks on the counter. “How was your day?”
“Fine.”
There was a layer of something behind her words. “Just fine?”
She sighed and wiped the back of her wrist over her forehead. “Working with your uncle is going to prove…interesting.”
His mother’s side of the family didn’t get on too well, but when his father kicked them out of the house, they had nowhere else to go. His mother had to take a job working at the cheese factory his uncle owned. She had no formal education past high school. She’d quit college to work and put his father through med school. It was a fact he heard quite often during their arguments.
“You aren’t getting along?”
She shook her head. “We’re all right, honey. You shouldn’t worry.”
Shouldn’t worry. Right. They were just living in the
middle of hick-town USA with barely anything, thanks to his father. He took the house. Took everything, including his dog. And soon, he was going to have to park his car because they couldn’t afford the insurance on it, and he had no luck getting a job in this town.
Anger surged in him once again. He hated his father, and what he’d done. Because of him, he’d lost everything he loved. Surfing. Hanging with his friends. And Simba.
He pulled a can of peas out of a sack and placed it in the cupboard, maybe a little too hard, as it made a loud thunk. His mother cringed. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry.” He helped his mother put away the rest of the groceries, shoving aside his emotions. Life was what it was. Getting angry at his father wouldn’t change anything. He was a slime-ball, but wasting his anger on him would only make Eli a bitter person.
“How about a movie night?” His mother pulled a box of microwave popcorn from the now empty sack. “I bought the kind with extra butter.”
“Perfect. I actually have a movie I wanted to watch. It’s a sappy rom com, so you’ll love it.”
His mother laughed and gave him a weird look but didn’t comment on his movie choice. “Okay. I’m up for it. I’ll make us some dinner and then we can pig out on popcorn.”
He folded the paper back and shoved it into the recycling bin. “Sounds good.”
His mother kissed him on his forehead. “Thanks for the help.”
“You’re welcome.”
Eli couldn’t find Destiny before the school bell rang, so by the time lunch came around, he was anxious to see her. He grabbed a lunch tray, filled it, then walked to her table. Amanda and Cole were already sitting beside her. Jack was nowhere to be seen.
“Hey,” he said. “Mind if I join you guys?”
Destiny’s face was passive. Like she was trying not to pay attention to him. Amanda motioned, her long hair falling over her shoulder. “Sure. Sit.”
Eli slid his tray onto the table and took a seat.
“Hey, Eli.” Amanda set her sandwich down on her plate. “Do you care about historic buildings?”
A Young Adult Romance Collection Page 29