by Pamela Wells
“I will.” Raven said good-bye and left.
“Hey, Ray,” Zac said, running a hand through his unruly blond hair. Zac was a good-looking guy. He had a model’s face: strong jawline, prominent nose bridge, and deep green eyes. Raven had always been attracted to him.
Gorsh, the small restaurant where he worked, was packed. Conversation hung in the air, mixing with the crisp sound of fifties jazz playing from the jukebox.
Zac wove his arm around Raven’s shoulders and gave her a friendly hug. He smelled like French fries and cologne. Suddenly, her stomach was growling.
“So what do you want to do?” he asked.
Shrugging, she ran the options through her head. “Well, I’m kind of hungry.”
“You want to sit? We can get something to eat.”
“Really? I figured you’d want to leave as soon as possible, since you work here.”
He waved the argument away. “I love this place. Besides, the food would be free.” He led her to a booth. “Sit. Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Coke?”
“Coming right up.”
She slipped out of her jacket and tucked her hands in her lap. The restaurant had an inviting temperature, but her hands were still cold. She rubbed them together and heat spread through her fingers.
Zac came back with two Cokes and a menu. “Here you go.”
“What about you?”
“I don’t need a menu. I have it memorized.” He smiled, ripping the wrapper off his straw.
Flipping the menu open, she scanned the food. Burgers, French fries, spaghetti. She’d never eaten at Gorsh. “What do you recommend?”
“The chicken wrap. Melted cheese, lettuce, bacon. It’s amazing.”
“I’ll have that, with French fries.”
“Good choice. I’ll go put our order in the kitchen.”
As he wove through the tables toward the swinging kitchen door, Raven watched him. His jeans—a pair of baggy Abercrombie’s—barely hugged his butt. And his shoulders looked broad in his vintage sporty T-shirt.
She started thinking about him in boyfriend terms. Would he open doors for her? Would he buy her gifts? Would he respect her? Would he try to push her into having sex? He didn’t seem like that kind of guy and all the relationships in his past—there were only two if Raven remembered right—had been serious, long-term relationships.
It felt good to be out with a guy, even if it was just a friendly dinner. There was something about hanging with a guy that was satisfying. Girlfriends couldn’t elicit butterflies with simple conversation or a smile. And butterflies to Raven were like an adrenaline rush to a risk taker. Raven just couldn’t get enough of that feeling.
Zac came out of the kitchen and she smiled at him again. His mouth quirked into a grin, too, but it abruptly slipped away when he looked toward the front door. Raven followed his gaze.
Caleb.
Damn.
Caleb walked over to Zac and they did that guy handshake of theirs. Caleb said something about a party and Zac shook his head.
Raven heard Caleb say, “Why? You got something better to do?”
And Zac said, “Yeah,” and gave an awkward nod toward Raven in the booth along the wall.
Raven wished she could disappear into the booth. Suddenly, hanging out with Zac didn’t seem so innocent. Caleb didn’t rule her life and she wasn’t going to do anything with Zac, but one of Alexia’s stupid rules ran through Raven’s head.
Do not date an Ex’s friend.
Raven was so busted.
Caleb looked over and anger, then maybe jealousy, flashed across his face. His jaw clenched. “Are you serious, man?” Raven heard that clearly because Caleb raised his voice an octave and a few people turned to look at him.
The memory of their breakup flashed in her mind. Déjà vu. He was freaking out in a public setting because of his temper and more importantly, because of her.
Double damn.
Raven grabbed her jacket and slid out of the booth, the red vinyl making that obnoxious smudging noise. She stalked up to Caleb. “We were just hanging out,” she explained. Not that she owed him that much. She didn’t owe him anything actually.
“Yeah, but with my friend?” he challenged.
“Shhh.” She scowled. “You don’t have to tell the whole restaurant our business.”
“What, that you’re a serial dater?”
Zac stepped up. “We were just hanging out, like she said. We’re allowed to be friends, aren’t we?”
Caleb shook his head, jaw tensing more. “Whatever.” He swiveled on his feet and left.
A breath of relief whizzed past Raven’s dry lips. Tonight had not gone as planned. Whatever happened to just having fun? Guys were so complicated.
“I’m gonna go.” She put her coat on. “Thanks for what was supposed to be a fun night, Zac. We’ll hang out some other night.”
“We can still hang out tonight,” he said, sounding hurt that she’d leave so soon.
“I know, but I just don’t feel like it now.”
She should have figured this was a mistake as soon as she considered going out with a guy. That’s what The Breakup Code was for: Follow the rules, avoid mistakes.
On tiptoes, she planted a kiss on Zac’s warm cheek. “Call me sometime,” she said and left.
In the car, she cranked the music up as she headed home. Early. Lame.
If there was anything good about tonight, it was that Caleb saw her out with Zac, instead of Horace. That probably would have been ten times worse, and Raven wasn’t sure she could stand to hear Caleb harass Horace again. If he did, she might just punch him in the face.
SEVENTEEN
Rule 9: Don’t allow The Ex to talk to you for longer than two minutes during the initial three-month cooling-off period. You must not be his friend.
Usually, Kelly slept in on weekends. There was nothing like waking up, looking over at the alarm clock to see a bright red 8:00 A.M. on the screen, then snuggling back beneath the blanket when she remembered it was Saturday: the warm blanket covering every inch of skin; the pillow welcoming her back down; closing her eyes.
It was like chocolate-chip cookie-dough ice cream that was calorie-free. Perfect. Blissful.
Until someone dove on top of the bed and started jumping and yelling.
“Wake up! You going to sleep all day?”
“Quit!” she muttered. “Mom!”
“You’re wasting the day,” Todd said.
Another voice laughed; someone who was not her brother. She pulled the covers back, coherence creeping in now. Drew sat in her computer chair, twirling in a half circle.
This wasn’t the first time she woke up to find Drew in her house, though usually not in her room.
“What do you want?” she said, her voice hoarse with sleep.
“We don’t want you to waste your life sleeping,” Todd said, pinching her cheek.
She swatted at his hand but she was too slow and too tired. “I’d rather sleep.”
“We’ll make you breakfast,” Todd sang.
Thinking about it, she rubbed the haze from her eyes. “What will you make?”
Todd glanced over at Drew. “What are you going to make?”
“Me?” Drew raised a brow. “Like I can cook.”
“Seriously, why do you care if I sleep?”
Drew stopped twirling in the computer chair. “He wants you to play football with us today.”
Now it was her turn to raise her brow. “Football?”
“We’re short a player,” Todd said.
“Todd, I don’t even know how to play football!”
“Well,” Drew said, “neither does Todd. So no big deal.”
Todd threw something at Drew, which Drew caught. Kelly’s face went fire hot when she realized what it was. Her Victoria’s Secret bra! She jumped out of bed and snatched it from Drew’s hands, his face blank as he stared at it. She shoved it in the hamper, out of sight.
“Good, you’re
up,” Todd said. “Let’s make breakfast and hit the field!” He wove his arm around her shoulders and shoved her out the bedroom door.
“I hate you,” she muttered under her breath.
Todd put her in a headlock and ran his knuckles through her hair. “Well, I love you!”
“Mom!”
Their mother poked her head out down the hall. “Todd, let your sister go.”
Todd laughed, lightening his grip. “Fine.”
They headed into the kitchen. Their dad was there finishing up a cup of coffee. He set the empty cup in the sink and turned to them. “Todd, what did I tell you about annoying your sisters?
Todd rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I get it.”
Mr. Waters gave Kelly a kiss on the forehead.
“Thanks, Dad,” she whispered. He winked and disappeared into the living room.
Kelly sat at the table in the corner of the kitchen. “Now, what are you making me?”
Todd opened various cupboards, then the refrigerator. “If I make you breakfast, you’ll play football?”
She groaned. “Do I have to do anything?” She did need the exercise. Last night when she put her jeans on, she’d had an awful time trying to get them buttoned and zipped. Since the breakup, she’d been eating more than she probably should have.
“Just look tough,” he said.
“Fine.” She sighed. “Cheese omelet.”
“Drew, grab a bowl and a spoon,” Todd instructed as he disappeared into the pantry.
Drew went to the cupboard and pulled a red plastic bowl out, then slid the silverware drawer open. He sat down across from Kelly at the table. “I don’t know what he’s doing,” he said apologetically, then slid the bowl in front of her.
Todd came out with a box of Cookie Crisps in his hand. He grabbed the milk on the way to the table. He filled her bowl with cereal, then drowned it in milk. He gestured to it with a flourish of his hand. “Your cheese omelet, milady.”
“This? This is my cheese omelet?”
“As close as I can get.” He gave her a rough pat on the back. “Eat up. We have armies to conquer. I’m going to suit up.” He left the kitchen.
Kelly took a bite of Cookie Crisp thinking probably the cereal had less calories than the omelet, anyway, so she shouldn’t complain. “How can you voluntarily spend time with him?” she said to Drew.
He shrugged. “He’s a moron, so I look cool standing next to him.”
Kelly laughed, forgetting her mouth full of food. She covered it quickly with her hand. After swallowing she said, “That’s a good one.”
He smiled, clearly flattered and maybe a little surprised with his quick wit. “Well, thanks.”
For a minute there, she’d almost forgotten he’d broken Sydney’s heart. Was it wrong to talk to him? Did that make her a traitor? Yeah, but how could she not talk to him? He was over all the time.
Still, she couldn’t help but feel a little pinch of guilt sitting here with him right now when Sydney was probably crying at home by herself. As strong as her happy front was, they all knew she was hurting more than she was showing.
Was Drew hurting, too?
Kelly watched him inconspicuously. His neon blue eyes were staring out the window at the backyard. He propped his chin in his hand. He looked tired.
“Ready?” Todd walked in, zipped up his fleece, and then rubbed his hands together anxiously. “You’re not done with your omelet yet?”
She scowled. “Very funny.”
Alexia was not a football player. She did not do sports, period, but here she was, on a football field at nine on a Saturday morning. Just what was she thinking when she agreed to come to this thing?
Answer: She hadn’t been thinking.
No, Ben Daniels had the ability to stop her synapses from firing, which was why she was standing on a football field in the freezing cold. Well, five degrees above freezing, if you wanted to be technical.
As soon as she noticed Will Daniels’s black BMW pull into the park, her brain did that funny stop-start thing again and the cold air was forgotten. She could see Ben sitting in the passenger seat through the windshield.
They parked right next to Drew’s truck as Kelly and Drew and Todd piled out.
Alexia ran up to the fence and waited for Ben as he walked over, his breath puffing out in front of him. He was actually wearing a coat for once, a pair of black track pants, and a worn gray sweatshirt. There were holes in the kangaroo pocket, tears in the cuffs. His hair stuck out at odd angles as if he’d just rolled out of bed and didn’t bother with a comb.
“Hey,” he said, unlatching the gate on the fence. “You came.”
She smiled. “You sound surprised.”
“I am.” He paused, glancing to the right. “Hey, give me a second? I have to go tell Tanner how dumb he looks in blue.”
Brett Tanner strolled up the field with a few other guys.
“All right. I’ll wait here.”
“Cool. Just two seconds.” He walked off.
Feeling self-conscious standing by herself on a football field, Alexia went through the still-open gate hoping to catch Kelly. Was she going to play today? Alexia hoped so, since, by the looks of it, she was the only other girl there.
Following the sidewalk, Alexia headed down to the parking lot and noticed Kelly talking to Will. Kelly frowned, then shook her head. She crossed her arms over her chest. Even from this distance, Alexia could see Kelly’s lower lip shivering from the chill air.
Thankfully, the snow had melted yesterday; the ground was still a bit damp from it. Probably it’d snow again soon, but at least the worst of the winter seemed to be over. March was right around the corner, and Alexia always thought of it as the signal spring was soon to follow.
Before reaching the cars, Alexia glanced at her watch. Kelly had to have been talking to Will for more than two minutes. She walked over. “Will, you wouldn’t mind if I stole Kelly, would you?”
Will shook his head. “I’ll call you later,” he said to Kelly. Kelly didn’t say anything. When Will drove off, Alexia turned to her friend. “You just broke rule nine.”
Kelly looked apologetic. “It’s hard to get away from him when he starts talking.”
“Well, you have to try harder, otherwise The Code won’t work. What did he want anyway?”
“To ask me if I’ve seen his pen.”
Alexia suppressed a laugh. “A…pen?”
“Yes.” Kelly rolled her eyes. “I know. It’s so lame. But it’s his favorite pen and I guess it was expensive. He hasn’t seen it in a few weeks and thought maybe he’d left it at my house or something.”
“You broke a rule to talk to The Ex because of a pen?”
“Well, technically I’ve already broken that rule, since I had to talk to him at the shelter, but…”
“Kelly!”
She shrugged. “What?”
Alexia sighed. “You should be docked like a bazillion points for that.”
“I didn’t know we were keeping points!”
“Well, if we were, you’d be in last place.”
They both burst out laughing.
“I never was good at competitions,” Kelly mused. “So are we both playing football?”
Alexia sighed. “I guess.”
“I don’t get geometry,” Kelly said.
Alexia nodded at all the right intervals. She was trying to focus on what Kelly was saying, but it was hard to listen to her and watch Ben at the same time. He was a class clown in school, but here, on the football field, he was all business and it was kind of attractive, the way he commanded the game and poked fun at the other team when they fumbled.
Someone threw the ball to him. He scooped it out of the air effortlessly and started running toward her. Was she supposed to be doing something? Defending the goal? The rules were still kind of fuzzy. She put her hands up, since that seemed like a logical thing to do.
And then…
Wham!
Something barreled into her and sh
e went down, her foot catching in a depression in the ground. Pain started in her ankle and shot up her leg. She winced, rolling over, trying to bite her lip so she didn’t scream and cry like a little baby. The first five seconds were the most brutal, but the longer she bit her lip, the more the pain in her ankle subsided until it was a dull, throbbing ache. Her whole back was sopping and muddy from the wet grass. She sat up.
“Alexia!” Kelly shouted.
Feet pounded on the ground as everyone ran over to her.
“I’m okay,” she managed to squeak out. At least she was hoping she was okay.
“Can you get up?” Ben asked.
She nodded, tears stinging her eyes. He wrapped his arm around her waist and hoisted her up. She put weight on that foot and the pressure produced a soft throb in her ankle, but she was otherwise okay.
“Tanner,” Ben said, “what in the hell were you doing?”
Brett Tanner stood off to the side, hands on his hips. “I didn’t see her,” he said. “Sorry.”
He must have been the one who slammed into Alexia. She nodded. “It’s okay.”
“I’ll take you to the hospital,” Ben said. “Where are your keys?”
“No.” Alexia shook her head. “I’m fine. Look, I can move it.” She wiggled her foot. “It’s not broken or anything. Probably just some ice would make it feel better.”
Ben pursed his lips and seemed to think this over, then, “All right. I’ll drive you home.”
She pulled her car keys out of her pocket and handed them over. He wove an arm around her waist and let her lean into him. He smelled like cool winter air and some sort of musky sweet cologne.
“Do you need me for anything?” Kelly said, following them as Alexia hobbled off the field with Ben’s help.
“No. I’ll be okay.”
“Call me later then, when you feel up to it.”
Ben led Alexia to her car. He held the passenger door for her and helped her settle into the seat. He went around to the driver’s side and started the car up.
“I’m going to hang out for a while to make sure you’re okay. Looks like you’re stuck with me for the next couple of hours,” he said, grinning.
Alexia felt herself smile despite the stiffness of her ankle. Being stuck with him didn’t sound all that bad.