Jake was grinning again. “I like where this is headed.”
“We need to get you out in public with a cute girl like Lilly.” I knocked my BFF in the ribs with my elbow, and she nodded vigorously. “If she hangs on you and goes heavy on the flirting, other girls are bound to notice. No better way to draw attention than to show everyone what they don’t have.” I hesitated before making my next suggestion. I didn’t want to offend him. “Maybe you should ditch the baseball cap and get a haircut? I mean, there’s nothing wrong with the way you look now, but it’s definitely hard for anyone to see how cute you are when you’re all covered up.”
“Woman, if you can get him to ditch the ball cap, I’ll buy you lunch for a week. I’ve been trying for years. I think he glued it to his head or something.” Jake slapped Andy on the back as he spoke.
“I agree, Andy,” Lilly piped up. “That’s the whole reason we came over here. I was trying to check you out from the lunch line, and I couldn’t get a good look at your face because it was hidden under the hat and glasses.”
Andy was quiet, and his cheeks were pink. I was guessing that all the attention and compliments were going to be overkill in a minute if we didn’t cool it. I tried one more time to reassure him. “We won’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with, and I promise we won’t put you on display. I’m only saying that if you’re worried about not getting bid on, then I think we can help fix that.”
Andy stared at me for a long time, and I pulled out the pouty lips and puppy dog eyes again. I felt like I’d been using those a lot in the last twenty-four hours, but it always seemed to work, so why not? He took in another big breath and looked at Lilly, then Jake. As hard as I was trying to convince Andy with my begging, Jake’s pleading look was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Fine.” Andy finally gave in, and he was met with a round of applause.
“I’d hug you if we weren’t in front of all these people.” Jake grinned at Andy.
“Yes, please spare me.” Andy leaned away just a bit, but he was obviously joking.
Then Jake spoke to Andy, as sincerely as one guy can to another, without looking like two chicks. “I promise you won’t be disappointed or embarrassed.” Then Jake turned to Lilly and me, rubbing his hands together, calculating expression on his face. “This is going to be fun.”
I made it to art class seconds before the bell rang. By the time I got myself situated, Andy was already heavily focused on his project. I sat down quietly and began on my own. After a couple of minutes, he kicked me in the foot.
“What’s up, Ivy? No hello? You got what you needed from me, so now you can skip the social pleasantries?” Andy didn’t look up as he spoke, but I could see the smile on his profile.
“Andrew Walker, I haven’t even begun to get everything I want from you.” I said the words without thinking. Andy was still looking down at his portrait, fingers furiously blending the charcoal, but for the second time today, I’d managed to turn his cheeks a bright shade of pink. I replayed the comment in my head. Huh, I guess that could’ve sounded suggestive. Potentially dirty, even, depending on who I’d said it to. Can’t undo it now. Probably better to ignore it and move on. I had a feeling that Andy wasn’t the type to think I was hitting on him. Time for a drastic topic change.
“Your picture is looking really good,” I said.
He stopped for a moment to examine it. “Yeah, I guess it’s ok.”
“Only ok?” I scoffed. “Look at mine.” I held up my picture, which looked like amateur hour compared to his. “You want to trade? I’ll turn in yours and you turn in mine?” This made him smile.
“I’m not sure how we’d explain to Ms. Price why you’re drawing a picture of my mom.”
“We could tell her we recently found out that we’re twins, separated at birth,” I suggested.
Andy laughed this time. I felt strangely proud that I’d gotten him to blush, smile, and laugh all in a matter of ten minutes. He always came across so quiet and pensive. It made me excited to know that I was getting a reaction out of him. He was cute when he smiled or laughed, and downright adorable when he blushed.
“I’m not unhappy with my project. But we have early release tomorrow, so we won’t get a ton of time to work on it. And it’s due on Thursday. For some reason, I don’t feel like I’m capturing the right emotion in her eyes.” Andy studied his mother’s portrait. “Her eyes look too sad. They need to look kind of sad but mostly happy, all at the same time. I don’t even know if I can do that.”
“I’ve seen your work. I’m sure you can make that happen,” I assured with a smile.
Andy finally met my eyes for the first time since I’d come into the classroom. He studied me intently. I was resisting the urge to talk just because there was silence. That was a bad habit of mine. But luckily, Andy spoke before I could. “You know what I like about you, Ivy?” he asked. “It’s obvious that you mean what you say. You give compliments and praise freely, but not to kiss up to people, you mean it. You’re one of the sincerest people I know.”
Now it was my turn to blush. I felt my cheeks heat up. I wasn’t shy by any means, and I didn’t usually get embarrassed very easily. But the compliment, coming from Andy, felt strangely intimate and I wasn’t sure how to respond. “Thanks,” was all I said. I started back on my drawing. We sat in companionable silence for a while, working on our projects when a thought occurred to me.
“Hey. Speaking of early dismissal tomorrow…” I trailed off.
“Why do I have the feeling I might not like where this is headed?”
“Well,” I started, and he looked up at me, waiting expectantly for me to drop the bomb, “I thought that since it’s a short day, maybe we could go together and get your hair cut after class?”
“Wow. A little anxious, aren’t you? Do I need it that bad?” Andy asked as he pulled off his baseball cap and ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. He had a great complexion, which was easier to see minus the hat. Not a single blemish on his olive skin. His eyebrows could use some work, though. They were a little bushy and dangerously close to becoming one.
I bit my bottom lip. I didn’t want him to feel bad, but I didn’t want to lie. He really did need a haircut. I wordlessly nodded my head yes. Andy laughed again, and I got warm and fuzzy on the inside. His laugh was like a drug, and making him laugh was becoming addicting. No girl he met would be able to resist his laugh.
“That’s another thing I like about you, Ivy. You tell it like it is. What you say isn’t rude, only the truth. I guess if my hair is that bad, I’d better get it cut.”
“Ooh, goodie!” I clapped. “Where do you get it cut?”
“Umm…at home…by my mom…” His face contorted, as if he knew this was the wrong answer.
“Nope. No mom cuts this time. My cousin Kim is a hair stylist. She’s super good and has a booth at this posh salon and day spa over on Park Avenue. Let me see if she has time tomorrow.” I shot off a quick text, and less than three minutes later I got a response. “She can take you at one thirty. Will that work? We could go straight over after school gets out.”
“Yeah, I think that should be good,” Andy confirmed.
“Yay.” I clapped again. “I’m super excited. You’re going to look like a rock star.”
Andy grunted, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
. . . . .
The next day I was useless in art class. It was a reduced class time anyway, and half an hour wasn’t really that much time to work. I didn’t think my project was going to get much better no matter how much effort I put in, so I didn’t try too hard. Instead, I kept sneaking peeks at Andy, who was studiously working on his picture. I didn’t bother him because I knew he was stressed out about finishing on time, but I had a hard time containing my excitement. I can’t believe how giddy I was getting over a stupid haircut. Of course, I had more than a haircut planned at the salon, but I was pretty sure that Andy would put the kibosh on my other plans, if he knew about
them. I was saving the extra treatments as a surprise.
The dismissal bell finally rang, and I popped up off my stool. “Time to go,” I sang out.
“You’re really going to make me do this, aren’t you?”
“Yep.” I nodded eagerly.
“All right, then.” He sighed as he put his art stuff away and packed up his bag.
“Don’t be such a Gloomy Gus. It’ll be fun. And Kim is amazing. You’ll look fantastic when it’s all over.”
“If it looks stupid, you’re paying for the cut.” Andy smirked.
“You’ll love it, I promise.” I really did think he’d appreciate a new look for his hair. Getting his glasses off was probably going to be trickier. Maybe he already had contacts. “Do you want to drive, or do you want me to?”
“Can you?” Andy asked. “I rode here with Jake today but told him I had to stay after to work on my project and that I’d find a ride home.”
“What’s wrong? You didn’t want to admit to him that you were getting a mini makeover after school?”
“Mini makeover? I thought I was only getting a haircut?” Andy looked suspicious.
“Yeah, yeah…haircut, makeover, same difference.” I waved him off.
“And to answer your question,” Andy said, “no, I wasn’t ashamed to admit to the salon trip. I was worried that Jake would want to tag along. He’s way into that girly stuff. He’s been trying to get me to have a pedicure done for, like, two years. He always goes with his mom, says they’re awesome. I didn’t need him hanging over me and making suggestions like my personal style consultant. It’s bad enough I’m letting you do it. I assume you’re going to make me get something metrosexual looking?” He grinned at me when he said that, and I winked at him. No point in lying when he was right.
“My car it is.” I pushed him out the art room door and toward the parking lot. I drove a black Jeep Wrangler. It was nice outside, even though it was the middle of winter, so I’d taken the top off this morning.
“Nice ride,” Andy complimented when we got to my car, and I gave him a huge smile. I was proud of my baby. “You have great taste in cars,” he said.
“Thanks, I’d like to think so. Andy, meet Penelope.” I patted the hood of my Jeep. “Penny, this is my friend Andy.”
“You named your car Penelope?” Andy was suppressing his smile by biting his bottom lip. I watched the gesture, then looked away quickly when I realized I was staring at his mouth.
“Yes. What’s wrong with that?” I pretended to be offended.
“Nothing. Just kind of an oldish name to give a Jeep.”
“Hmmph. I think it’s cute,” I argued as I hopped in the driver’s seat and he slid in across from me. “Buckle up, Buttercup.” My singsong voice was back. Nothing was going to get me out of my good mood. I turned on my car, and the radio blasted. Unfortunately, I’d left it on my lame radio station. I like seventies folk rock. Strange, I know, given my age, but my parents turned me on to it from the time I was little.
“You can change the station if you want,” I offered, slightly embarrassed.
“Nah, this is cool,” Andy said. He buckled his seat belt and made himself comfortable, resting his arm on the edge of the door and pulling on some sunglasses. “I like James Taylor.” His admission left me mildly flabbergasted. Not many guys my age even knew who James Taylor was, let alone knew his music. Andy noticed my surprise.
“What?” he asked, sounding amused. “Is it weird that I like James Taylor? I’ll let you in on a little secret. I like Cat Stevens, too, and Bob Dylan. But Simon and Garfunkel, they’re my absolute favorite from the seventies. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone.”
I grinned. “Your secret is safe with me,” I said, pulling the zipper shut over my lips. I guess Andy and I had a few things in common. I drove out of the parking lot and headed toward my cousin’s salon.
“So, Andrew. Tell me something else I don’t know.” I was fishing now. Hopefully he’d bite. “What’s the deal with you and Jake? First, I find out that you know Rob, and then you’re eating lunch with Jake? I’ve known both of those guys since the beginning of high school. Rob and I went out for most of freshman year, and I’ve never seen you with either of them. I don’t mean this in a bad way, but you don’t strike me as their type of person.”
“You mean rich and superficial?” he asked. His mood turned instantly sour.
“Hey, you said it, not me,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood. “Plus, it seems like that description only fits Rob. Jake is pretty cool.”
“Jake and Rob and I were best friends all through elementary and middle school. Stuff happened freshman year. Jake and I stayed friends, Rob and I didn’t. Believe it or not, I spend a lot of time with Jake. We’re on the golf team together, plus our parents are still pretty close. Our families even vacation together every spring break.”
“You’re on the golf team?” My jaw dropped. I needed to stop being so mystified at everything he said. “Well, what do you know? I’d never have guessed. I’m not sure which one surprises me more, the fact that you participate on a school team or that you vacation with the upper crust.” After I said it, I realized how judgmental that sounded. “Sorry,” I amended quickly. “I didn’t mean that as rude as it sounded.”
“It’s fine. It’s true. The golf team is the only extracurricular school activity that I do. And it’s not exactly high profile. The reason you can’t wrap your head around Jake and me is because Jake is a socialite and I’m not. I’m sure you’ve seen him hanging out with Rob and Sophia at parties and football games and stuff. Jake does the social events with them and their crew, and the rest of his time he hangs out with me.” Andy shrugged.
“It’s amazing that I dated Rob for a whole year and we never even crossed paths,” I mused.
“That’s not exactly true.” He smiled, like he had a secret.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean, we did meet once, before we had our first art class together last year.”
“We did?” I was truly baffled. I’m usually pretty good at remembering names and faces. It’s part of why I got elected to student government. I’m acquaintances, if not friends, with a lot of people.
“Yes, we did” was the only explanation he gave me.
“Are you going to elaborate?” I waited.
“Nope.” Andy grinned and I frowned. He was obviously enjoying having this small bit of info to hold over my head.
“Why not?”
“Consider it penance for not remembering our first meeting.” His grin turned wicked.
“Are you serious? You mean we had a whole conversation, and I don’t remember any of it? You’re lying, aren’t you?”
“No.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I’m not lying. We really did meet before our first class together last year, only once. I don’t know if I’d call it a conversation, but the encounter was definitely memorable. At least, for me it was.”
I stared at him, brows knit together in concentration. Andy was so cute. I was sure I’d have remembered meeting him before. I put on my grumpy pouty face and stared at him.
“Keep your eyes on the road, Ivy.” He was laughing at me. “I’ll tell you what. You can try to guess when we met, and I’ll either confirm or deny it. Deal?”
“Sounds like a good deal for you and a lame deal for me. How about you tell me when we met, or I’m going to instruct Kim to give you an especially feminine haircut.” I wasn’t beyond playing dirty.
“I think I’m going to call your bluff on that one. If I end up looking like Miley Cyrus, then I’ll never give up the info. I’ll take it with me to the grave.”
I huffed and pouted a little more, and he responded by chuckling a little more, until I gave in and turned up the music. About five minutes later, we pulled up in front of the salon. I parked the car and I hopped out. Andy sat still, eyes glued to the front door and butt glued to his seat. I rolled my eyes and stomped to his side of the car, then opened his door for him
.
“In order for this to work, you have to actually get out of the car,” I scolded.
“I think I’m having second thoughts.”
“Oh no. You are not wimping out on me, mister.” I leaned across him to unbuckle his seat belt. He stiffened almost imperceptibly. I hadn’t meant to make him uncomfortable, but I knew I was encroaching on his personal space. I decided to be bold, hoping that if I made a show of it, he’d relax. With my hand still on the seat belt buckle and my body draped across his, I leaned into his chest and inhaled deeply.
“Mmmm.” I moaned dramatically. “How about this, I’ll give you two options. You can either get out of the car, or I can sit on your lap and sniff your cologne all afternoon instead. Your choice.” My voice was teasing, but the more I inhaled his yummy clean scent, the more I was thinking of blowing off my cousin and making good on my threat.
Surprise registered across his face as well as that blush that I was getting accustomed to. Andy pulled it together and put on a mask of composure, though his voice hitched when he answered. I guess I was still a little too close for his comfort. “It would be rude to leave Kim hanging, so I guess I’ll come in.”
I pulled my head away from his chest and caught his eyes momentarily, our faces inches apart. He was looking at me differently than he usually did, but I couldn’t decipher what his expression was saying. I broke the stare and made a kissy face, then straightened and patted his head. “Good call,” I said.
Andy slid out of his seat, closed the door, and followed me into the salon.
“Hello, cousin.” Kim greeted me with a hug. It’d been a while since I’d seen her. She pulled away from me and trained her eyes on Andy. “And would this be my canvas?” she asked me while looking at him.
Perfectly You (The Perfect Series Book 2) Page 4