I shoved the remaining granola bar into my mouth and shrugged. After I swallowed, I took out my books and set them on the table. “It was the normal behavior mixed with some moments where he was nice.” Ugh, just saying the words made me sound crazy.
“Nice? Cade?”
I couldn’t tell if she was truly surprised or just mocking me. “Yeah. It was weird and highly unsettling. I was surprised.”
Crista began to stack her garbage on her disposable salad bowl—including my granola bar wrapper—and shrugged. “I’m not. I’ve said it before, he likes you.”
“Not that again,” I groaned, a bitter taste filling my mouth. The same thing happened every time she brought her “theory” up. Something about how boys tease the girls they like. I never bought it. Mostly because I’m the exact opposite of the girls that Cade likes to date. He wouldn’t be attracted to me. I was plain.
Crista glanced over at me as she stood. “Just saying,” she said.
I flipped open my chemistry book and brushed the crisp, clean paper of my notebook. I needed to stop focusing on Cade and get these last few problems solved before class.
I couldn’t let my grades slip because of him. I was stronger than that.
After school, I swung by Principal Connell’s office and gave him my word that I would help turn Cade Kelley around. He thanked me and truly looked relieved. I wanted to ask who else he’d considered asking but decided against it. Now out in the hall, I turned on my phone and searched for Cade’s number.
Kennedy High had an inclusion program that consisted of a school directory. That way, there was no excuse that you didn’t know how to contact someone. It was strange, but I appreciated what they were trying to do.
Once I located his number, I hit the message icon.
Me: Hey, we are a go. Where do you want to meet?
I pressed the power button on my phone and the screen went to black. For a moment, the thought to wait and agonize over whether or not he was writing me back entered my mind. But, for my sanity, I resisted the urge.
My phone dinged a few seconds later. Faster than I’d expected.
I took a breath and turned my screen on.
Cade: Who is this, and how do I know you aren’t a serial killer?
Ugh. Even his text messages sounded like him.
Me: This is Penny. You know that.
Cade: Penny… Hmm, don’t know a Penny. I know a Chocolate Milk
This was going to be torture.
Me: I thought we’d moved on from all of that.
Cade: You may have. I have not.
I had half a mind to march back into Principal Connell’s office and retract my earlier statement. Cade was hopeless. There was no way I could help him.
I must have waited too long to response, because he texted again.
Cade: It’s a joke, Pen. Lighten up. I can meet you at The Jittery Bean at seven
I glanced at the time. That was actually perfect. I had time to get to cross country and then home for dinner. Mom and Dad couldn’t get angry if I had to leave to tutor.
Me: Perfect. See you then
I slipped my phone into my pocket and headed toward the locker room
Two hours later, I left practice feeling refreshed. There was something so nice about running off all of your frustration.
My wet hair hung down around me and shifted in the wind. I pulled it back into a braid as I walked to the Sienna. Once inside, I started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. Two hours before my meeting with Cade. All the anxiety that I had worked off came flooding back to me.
Confusion filled my mind as I thought back to Crista and what she’d said. Could it be true that he liked me? Maybe back in junior high, but now? I snorted. Even thinking those thoughts made me feel like an idiot.
Nope. There was no way Cade Kelley felt anything for me. Ever.
I pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. Grabbing my backpack and my cross-country clothes, I climbed out of the van. The screen door slammed behind me as I entered the kitchen. Everything was quiet. I dropped my backpack on the floor and hung the keys on their hook.
A quiet sob broke through the silence.
“Mom?” I called out, slipping off my shoes and walking into the dining room. No one was in there.
I entered the living room, I saw Mom wipe her nose with a tissue and pat her cheeks, like she was trying to hide the fact that she had just been crying.
“Hey, honey,” she said, turning to smile at me.
I studied her bloodshot eyes and red nose. “What’s wrong?”
Mom pulled a confused expression. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I’m fine.”
“Really? Then why are you crying?”
She stood, straightening her shirt. “Just stressed I guess.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Mom…” I mustered my most unconvinced tone.
She dabbed at her eyes and smiled. I could tell it was forced. “I’m fine, Penny. I’m just overwhelmed at work. You know, sometimes you just need a good cry.”
Even though I did know what that was like, I wasn’t buying it. Things had been strained around our house and every time I tried to bring it up, Mom would write it off as emotions or stress.
Movement by the stairs drew my attention over. Dad appeared, carrying a small suitcase. His eyes widened when he saw me.
“Penny, what are you doing home already?”
Mom sniffed behind me. Something was going on. Was Dad leaving?
“Where are you going?” I asked, nodding toward his bag.
He glanced down. “I’m… I’m going on a work trip.” He glanced up at me. He looked as if he hoped I would believe the lie. I didn’t.
“Where’s your work trip?” He owned a car dealership and had never been on a work trip before.
“Atlanta. They have a big car convention down there.”
I eyed him. “Mom? That true?”
She scoffed. “Why would your father lie to you?” Mom would have sounded convincing if her voice hadn’t broken halfway through.
I glanced back and forth between them. They were lying. But, if I were honest with myself, I really didn’t want to know what the truth was. I just needed to leave. Get out of there.
Instead of answering them, I just turned and headed toward the kitchen, where I grabbed my backpack and keys. Right now, home was the last place I wanted to be.
Chapter Six
I spent the next two hours driving around. I wasn’t really sure where I was going, and the randomness of turning down side streets seemed to help calm me down.
Eventually, I ended up in the Jittery Bean parking lot, where I turned off the engine and grabbed my phone. There were still fifteen minutes before Cade and I were supposed to meet. I opened my Netflix app and picked a random show.
With the way my mind was swimming, there was no way I was going to focus on homework. Instead, some mindless dialogue with the occasional laugh track seemed like a better idea.
I got lost in the show, so when a hand knocked on my window, I jumped, throwing my phone into the passenger seat. I clutched my chest and glanced over to see Cade peering in.
I shook my head as I leaned over, grabbed my phone, and pulled on the door handle. “Geez, you almost gave me a heart attack.”
He smirked back at me. “I didn’t take you for a Friends fan,” he said, nodding at my phone.
“I was just trying…” I let my voice trail off. There was no way I wanted Cade to know what I was trying to run from. That my parents just might be headed toward divorce. I didn’t need to give him anymore ammo than he already had. I cleared my throat and shrugged. “What? Chandler is funny.”
I grabbed my backpack and straightened. I needed to push out all the thoughts about my parents and how much it hurt to think that they were breaking up. I needed to focus. The last thing I wanted to do was start blubbering and crying while I was with Cade.
He eyed me as I stepped out of the van and shut the door. “You okay?” he
asked.
I flipped my braid over my shoulder and nodded. “Yeah,” I said, hoping it came across as nonchalant, even though it sounded squeaky and forced. I moved past him and over to the front door of the Jittery Bean.
“Okay,” he said, but his tone told me otherwise. He knew something was up, and, if I knew Cade, he was going to sniff it out of me. He was like a bomb-smelling dog.
Once inside, the smell of coffee beans and scones filled my senses. I took a deep breath, ready for some caffeine goodness to make all my worries fade away. Or at least numb me from the pain that squeezed my chest.
I stepped up to the barista, who wore a name tag that said Jessica. She was standing in front of the register, with a peppy smile and curly blonde hair, which she kept flipping over her shoulder. “Welcome to the Jittery Bean, what can I get you?” she asked. Her voice was high-pitched, and I wondered if she had consumed one too many espressos.
“I’ll get a short iced coffee.” I dug around in my purse and pulled out my debit card.
“Of course.” She tapped the computer screen in front of her and then turned back to me. “That’s $5.37.”
I handed over my card, which she took and swiped.
Cade was hanging back. His gaze kept making its way up to the board and then back down again. When he caught me staring, he shot me his half smile.
“Are you going to order?” I asked, taking my card and receipt from Jessica.
Cade shoved his hands into his front pockets and shrugged. “Nah, not a huge coffee drinker.”
I studied him. “Then why suggest that we come here?”
He smiled over at me. Just then, the door behind the counter swung open and a girl with thick curly hair walked in. She glanced around the room, and when her gaze landed on Cade, her bright red lips tipped up into a smile. Bile rose in my throat as I took her in. Who was she? Had Cade brought me here to help him pick up a girl?
“Hey, Cade,” she said.
I moved my gaze back and forth between them. Suddenly, I felt like I was interrupting something, and all I wanted to do was get out of there. Like, run out the door and never look back. But I felt frozen to the spot. This was a train wreck, and there was nothing I could do but stand there and watch it all go down.
Cade nodded toward her and smiled. It wasn’t his normal, flirty smile. It was soft and sort of understanding. Which was weird for me to even think about.
She walked over just as Jessica moved away from the counter to start my drink. Mysterious Girl leaned her elbows on the counter as if she wanted to get closer to him. I really wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew whatever it was made me feel sick. And stupid. How the heck had I thought that Cade liked me? He was using me as a wingman to help him pick up chicks. I was so dumb.
I bit back the hurt as Jessica called my name and I went to the other end of the counter to get my drink. After picking it up, all I could think about was getting out of here. The last thing I wanted to do was stand there and watch these two make out. I turned and headed toward the empty table in the far corner—next to the guy who was playing some shooting game while he nursed a grande-sized drink. When I sat, I deliberately made sure that my back was to Cade.
After I set my iced coffee down, I unzipped my backpack and took out my Calculus homework, thankful I had that as a distraction. A few minutes later, Cade came into view. He was carrying a glass of water and looking pretty smug. When he settled down on the chair in front of me, he rested his elbows on the table.
I could feel his gaze on me, but I didn’t want to look up. I didn’t want to see what his plan had been in bringing me here or how effective it had been. Did she agree to go on a date with him? Were they planning on meeting after our session to make out behind the coffee shop?
Gah! Why was I even thinking about that? This was seriously the last thing I needed to have happen after what my parents were going through. But I should have known better. Cade wasn’t good for me. In fact, every time I allowed myself to get close to him, I just got hurt. I needed to file that away in my mind in big neon letters that said CADE KELLEY WILL BREAK YOUR HEART.
Well, not anymore.
I forced a smile and nodded toward my Calculus book. “If you’re finished flirting, please open your book to page 104, and we can get started,” I said as I started to break down the next word problem.
He snorted. “Flirting? With who?”
I stared at him. Was he serious? “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I leaned forward. “Why else would you bring me here?”
He quirked an eyebrow. I was almost convinced that he didn’t know what I was talking about. Oh. He was good.
When he didn’t respond right away, I glanced up to see that his gaze had not left my face. He was watching me with his arms folded and a contemplative look on his face.
And he looked good.
I stifled a groan as I dropped my gaze. Why did he have to look so amazing all the time? And why did I have to think that, all the time?
“Mr. Kelley? Can we just get this over with?” I tried again, keeping my focus on the words in front of me.
He chuckled as he leaned over and unzipped his backpack. “Always business with you isn’t it.” He set his books down in front of him with a thud. “I doubt you even know how to have fun.”
I met his gaze as my lips parted and my jaw dropped. “I know how to have fun,” I said.
He laughed. It was loud and genuine—and it made my blood boil.
After the evening I’d had, this was the last thing I needed. I didn’t want to sit here and be mocked by the one guy I’d sworn never to get involved with. I grabbed my books and shoved them into my bag.
“Obviously, this was a huge mistake. I’m going to talk to Principal Connell tomorrow and have him get you another life coach,” I said the last two words sarcastically. I doubted anyone would touch Cade with a ten-foot pole. He didn’t care about his life or his future. This had been one horrible decision, and I was going to get as far away from him as possible.
“Pen, wait,” he said, calling after me as I swung my backpack over my shoulder, grabbed my drink, and sprinted toward the door.
I needed to get out of this place. It felt as if the walls were closing in on me. Fresh air and the freedom of the outside world were all I could think about.
I kept my tears at bay as I pushed through the door and stepped outside. Seconds later, I was at my van and pulling open the driver’s door. Right before I slammed it shut, an arm reached out to stop me.
“Penny, wait.”
The earnestness in Cade’s voice made me pause. It was involuntary, and I cursed myself for reacting that way. I kept my gaze forward, worried that if I looked at him, I’d break down.
“If this was just to humiliate me, I think you won,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.
I could see him lean closer as he studied me. Like he was trying to figure out what I was talking about. How could he even pretend to be naive about what he was doing. I knew it and I was pretty sure he knew it.
“It was just kind of low. Especially today.” I spun a keychain around and around. Anything to keep me distracted and help me push my emotions down deep, where they couldn’t spill over.
“What are you talking about?” he asked. There was a hint of frustration in his voice.
I scoffed and looked over at him. His eyes were wide and the look of confusion on his face was almost laughable. “Seriously?” I turned so I could face him head on. “Why did you bring me here? Did you need me as an excuse to pick up a girl?”
“Pick up…girl…” His drew his eyebrows together. “Does anything you say ever make sense? I came here to meet you. And I’m definitely not trying to pick you up.”
“So the girl at the counter was what? A happy coincidence?”
The first look of recognition passed over his face.
“You mean Cora?” His teasing smile was back. “You thought I was using you to get to her?”
I folded my arms. For som
e reason, it felt as if my conclusion was slipping from my grasp. Had I read this all wrong? “Yeah,” I said, but the confidence in my voice was gone.
He leaned against the inner door panel and studied me. “Wow. That really bothered you.” He leaned closer to me and his cologne—or whatever he wore that made him smell delicious—wafted around me.
Abort. Abort.
How had I not thought this whole thing through? I got mad at him because he was flirting with another girl? This was not good. I forced a laugh. “It didn’t bother me.” But my racing heart and agitated emotions said otherwise.
He shook his head. “You can’t fool me. You were really bothered by Cora.” He pushed his hands through his hair as he winked at me.
He winked at me! This kid knew no bounds. Here I was, sitting in my car, completely humiliated, and he winked at me. I needed to get out of here.
“I think I should go,” I said as I started the engine. I was tired of playing this game with him.
He reached out and wrapped his hand around mine. I tried to ignore the zap of electricity that raced up my skin or how my heart doubled in speed. I attributed all of those reactions to how upset I was with him—not to the fact that he was touching me.
“Penny, I’m sorry,” he said. For the first time, he sounded genuine. Like he meant it.
Braving the pain, I glanced over at him. His expression was serious as he peered back at me.
“There is nothing going on between Cora and I,” he said.
Oh, he was good. I was beginning to believe him.
“Then why did we come here?”
He laughed, and I tried to ignore the fact that he was still holding my hand. Did it mean something? Did I want it to?
“I like the Jittery Bean,” he said and then he peered over at me. “And maybe I heard you say something in Calc one time about how iced coffee is your favorite.”
The butterflies were back and assaulting my stomach. “Oh.” My gaze fell back to our entwined hands.
He pulled back as if he had been shocked by lightning. He pushed his hands through his hair, trying to play it off. “Cora is my half-sister. I was bringing her something from our dad. I figured that I could kill two birds with one stone.” He shoved his hands into his front pockets and shrugged. “I had no idea that you would react this way.”
Rule #2: You Can't Crush on Your Sworn Enemy (The Rules of Love) Page 4