I let out the fakest laugh that’s ever been heard and shift uncomfortably.
“Having a good day, Chapman?” Brendon asks from across the table. He has his eyebrows raised and asks the question haltingly, like he’s not sure if it’s the right thing to do, but it’s sweet of him to try to help me out.
I nod my head quickly and when I glance behind him, my gaze settles on my lunch table in the background. Sophie has a huge smirk on her face, clearly seeing and being entertained by this train wreck of a situation, but right beside her is Jessie, who is staring straight at me. He has a strange look on his face, somewhere between confused and irritated. Either way, he definitely looks interested. Courtney must see too, because her smarmy hands reach under the table, and suddenly Jessie’s focus is all on her as she leans in and attaches her mouth to his.
Chase clears his throat next to me and I realize I’ve zoned out while they all watch me watch Jessie. He’s not looking at me now, completely wrapped up in Courtney. Chase raises an eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips and a challenge in his eye.
Right. RIGHT.
I turn to face him completely. “So yeah,” I say, completely at a loss for how to do this. “Um, hi,” I say for the millionth time.
He chuckles. “Hi, Liv.”
Oh fuck it.
I reach out, grab his shoulders, and turn him so he’s fully facing me, and then before I completely lose my nerve, I raise my hands to his face, take a deep breath, tilt his chin down toward me, and kiss him.
I kiss Chase Mitchell.
In the school cafeteria. On a Wednesday at lunchtime. In front of everyone.
It takes all of two seconds for him to respond—all of two seconds until he wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his side, kissing me back so hard the force makes me lean backward into Aaron…all of two seconds for me to lose my train of thought and almost forget why I’m doing this in the first place.
It definitely takes less than two seconds for the whistles and catcalls around us to start, for me to register that people are definitely noticing this and nothing about it is subtle and discreet. But, at that very second, as Chase tugs me even closer to him, I don’t even care, and it’s not until I hear Sophie’s voice shouting out a proud, “That’s my girl,” louder than anyone else that I return to reality and pull away.
Oh my God.
I bite my lip and immediately turn away, looking around the table of kids who are now either grinning at me or have their mouths hanging open in shock. I can feel my face burning with embarrassment.
“Okay, so, yeah,” I mumble at them. I turn to Chase and quickly say, “Thanks for that,” like the world’s biggest douche before I look away. He starts to laugh, and I do not want to deal with the smug look on his face right now. I stand up and step over the bench while everyone still just stares at me. “Um, bye then,” I say and hightail it away from them as quickly as I can, trying not to die of embarrassment as I walk back to my table, especially as the entire girls’ soccer team gives me a standing ovation as I walk past them and several hands clap me on the back before I’m finally able to sink back into my seat.
The grin on Sophie’s face is the biggest I think I’ve ever seen.
“Don’t,” I warn her, silently begging her not to say anything that will make me even more mortified.
“That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” she tells me. “I’ve never been prouder of you.”
My eyes stray to her left and I see that I definitely have Jessie’s attention now. Courtney has actually scooted back from him, her gaze fixed on me and her mouth hanging open. Jessie just glares at me, his brown eyes stormy as his jaw clenches and his lips press together in a thin line.
I shift nervously in my seat but don’t break eye contact with him, and it’s Courtney who finally says something after at least a minute of silence.
“You,” she starts slowly, punctuating every word, “just went up to Chase Mitchell—the hottest guy in this school—and made out with him in front of the whole cafeteria?”
“Uh huh,” I confirm nervously. It sounds crazy. It’s the most unlikely thing I’ve ever done.
Her face breaks out in a massive grin. “That is so awesome.”
“What the fuck, Liv?”
I swear I almost jump in my seat at Jessie’s tone. “What?” I ask, trying to make my own tone confident but failing miserably.
“I thought you said nothing was going on between you and Mitchell?!”
“Uh, well, I never actually said—”
“And seriously, going at it like that in the middle of the cafeteria?” He throws down his fork in disgust. “Don’t you think that’s a little—”
“Hot?” Sophie fills in for him.
“Tacky,” he finishes.
Now it’s my turn to narrow my eyes at him. “Excuse me?”
Courtney lets out a laugh. “Babe, you’re being a hypocrite. We were just doing the same thing.”
“That’s different!”
“Why?” I ask sharply.
“Because…” He pauses, waving his hands between him and Courtney. “We’re, you know, we’re—”
“You’re what?” I ask, my eyes locked on his. Don’t say she’s your girlfriend. Do not say she’s your girlfriend.
He sighs and lets out a growl of irritation. “You know what I mean.”
“Actually,” I tell him, picking up my fork and stabbing a green bean with it, “I don’t.”
“We’ve dated before.”
“So? I don’t know why you’re making—hey!”
My head whips around to see Chase with my fork in his hand—the one he just grabbed out of my grasp—before he reaches over and dumps it on my tray.
“What are you doing?” I ask, looking around, confused.
“You’re coming with me,” he declares, reaching for my hand.
My eyes widen as I pull away from him. He’s actually trying to hold my hand? In front of people? I know I sound crazy after what I just did, but that was different. That was on my terms. “Oh, no. I eat lunch over here. This is my table.”
He lets out a chuckle. “Yeah, we’re not staying in here.”
“What are you talking about?”
He looks me dead in the eye. “You do not get to kiss me like that and then come sit back down over here.”
My jaw falls open as I hear Sophie giggle behind me. I stare back at him but he doesn’t even blink. He’s being serious. I swallow back a gulp. “Chase, go away.”
He just grins wickedly at me. “Get your stuff.”
I swivel back around and pick up my fork. “I need to eat.”
“I’ll get you any food you want, but you are getting your ass off that seat right now.”
My face burns red. “Chase,” I hiss, glancing around at the nearby tables. People are starting to look at us again.
He reaches down and grabs my bag, throws it over his shoulder, and grabs my hand again. “Come on.”
“Wait! We have class in like fifteen minutes.”
“We’re ditching.”
“What? No! I don’t ditch.” He completely ignores me and tugs my hand so hard it actually turns me away from the table. “Chase,” I hiss, reluctantly standing. “You’re making a scene.”
He just shrugs, like he doesn’t notice the eyes on us. “Just finishing what you started, Chapman.”
If possible, my face gets even redder. He has a point. I did just go up and attack his mouth in front of everyone, but that was to get Jessie’s attention. I have that now—I can’t leave!
Chase must get tired of me staring at him in disbelief because he tugs me over to his side, throws his arm around me, and turns us. “Let’s go.”
“Wait, Livy!” I freeze at the sound of Jessie’s voice and turn back to them. Chase levels him with a stare too, his expression unreadable, and Jessie quickly looks away, turning to me. “We have Sollomon next. You’re really gonna skip?” he asks in disbelief.
I shrug like I’
m not concerned although the hammering heart in my chest is definitely telling a different story.
“I mean, where are you even gonna go?”
Sophie decides to jump in at this point. “Probably somewhere dark where they can be alone.” She winks over at Chase. “Am I right, Mitchell?”
“But you were gonna go over the homework with me before class…”
I feel Chase stand up straighter at this but I don’t look away from Jessie’s pleading eyes. I did say I’d help him with it earlier this week, and now I’m helping him with math too. Thing is, lately my “help” has felt a lot more like just doing it for him.
“Let’s go, Chapman,” Chase says.
“Get out of here, Liv,” Sophie instructs, sending me an encouraging look but then ruining it by raising her eyebrows suggestively and telling me, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” So that rules out nothing then.
“But—”
“Forget it, Stephenson,” Chase says sternly. “She’s mine for the afternoon.”
Jessie’s jaw locks, and this time he doesn’t hold back his glare when facing Chase. He’s pissed—really pissed. I go to open my mouth to say I’ll stay and help him, but Chase pulls me away, and that’s when I glance around and notice that all eyes are fixed on us. Fuck. When Chase pulls me toward the exit again, I don’t resist, because honestly, I want to just stop making a scene and get out of here. I turn away from Jessie’s eyes; somehow I feel like I’m betraying him as I let Chase walk me out.
“Get it, Chapman!”
My eyes widen in horror and I just know that came from one of my soccer teammates. Sure enough, when I look over, they’re all grinning at me, raising their eyebrows suggestively. Yup, everyone can see me leaving with Chase Mitchell.
Get it, Chapman. Oh Jesus.
I glance back at Chase’s table, and their eyes are on us too. Aaron and Brendon and the rest of the guys are grinning, the girls have their mouths hanging open in shock, and Abigail is glaring at me with a look so full of disgust I have to turn away and quicken my pace, desperate to get out of the cafeteria and away from all the scrutiny as quickly as humanly possible.
Chase still has his arm around me as he leads us to his car, and I stand there completely immobile as he throws our bags into his trunk while I relive the last twenty minutes and try not to have a panic attack over what just occurred. All I had to do was sit there and not get wound up by Courtney and Jessie. It’s not as if I haven’t done it before—I’ve had months of practice—but no, not today. Today I had to react, and now I’ve gone and kissed Chase Mitchell and encouraged him and his stupid idea.
“You need to stop freaking out.”
“What?” I ask distractedly. He’s by the passenger door now, staring over at me. He doesn’t say anything else, simply opens the door and jerks his head toward the seat, indicating that I should get in.
I stare for a couple of seconds, contemplating what to do, and then step forward and climb in with a sigh since there’s really not any other option at this point. Chase rounds the car, climbs in, and starts the engine.
“Wait, stop.”
He dutifully lowers his hands from the steering wheel. I can see him looking over at me out of the corner of my eye while I keep my gaze fixed on the school building ahead of us. I should be thinking about heading to class right now.
“We’re not actually going to ditch are we?”
“Why not?”
“Because we could get caught?”
Chase quirks an eyebrow.
I rush on. “Sollomon could report my absence to the principal, who could then speak to any future scouts who come to my games, and then they could decide I’m not a good enough student to deserve a scholarship and I could wind up not going to college and then my whole future falls down the drain.”
There’s a couple of seconds of complete silence…and then he bursts out laughing.
“What?” I demand. “I’m being serious.”
He shakes his head, the widest grin on his face. “I know you are, that’s why it’s so funny. Haven’t you ever ditched before?”
“No!”
His jaw falls open. “Seriously? It’s senior year and you’ve never skipped a class?”
Of course I haven’t. I shake my head.
“Well, I’ll tell you what will happen: nothing. Exactly nothing.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do—I ditch at least once a week.”
My eyes widen in horror. “What? Do you know how bad that is for your education?”
He rolls his eyes. “You need to relax.” I stare straight ahead and nearly jump out of my skin when he suddenly places a hand on my hands to stop me twisting them together. It’s my nervous habit; whenever I’m worried or anxious, I end up wringing my hands together and picking at my fingers. “I promise nothing will happen.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re a real worrier, huh?
I shrug, trying to act nonchalant, but it’s a complete lie. I worry about everything. I can’t help it.
“Honestly, Livy, nothing will happen.”
I nod. I guess he’d know.
“I can’t believe I did that in there,” I admit.
He grins. “Kinda surprised me too, but I’m not complaining.”
I blush. “I guess you got your way.”
“It seemed to be working to your benefit too when I came over.”
My heart slams. Jessie was pissed. He was definitely pissed. He wouldn’t react like that unless he cared, right?
“You wanna get some food?” Chase asks. “We can go to a drive-thru and take it back to my house. No one will be there.”
His house?! I’m shaking my head before I even realize it. I can’t go back to Chase Mitchell’s house.
“I guess you can just drop me off at home.” I pause. “Or, wait—my car’s right here. I’ll drive myself home.”
I reach for the door handle but he hits the internal locks. “No way. We need to talk about our arrangement, figure out a few things.”
“Chase, come on, I’m a terrible actress. I really don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Well you seemed to think it was back there.”
I blush even redder because there’s no arguing with that. I certainly instigated what just happened, but I hate—HATE—that everyone was so interested.
“You didn’t have to drag me out of there. I think they got the point. Now the whole damn school is gonna think we’re off having sex somewhere.”
He raises an eyebrow.
I’m mortified. “I am not having sex with you!”
He laughs again, which is all he ever seems to do—laugh at me. “Give me some credit, Chapman. I’m not an animal. We can just hang out.”
Oh fuck, fuck, fuck. What have I gotten myself into? “Everyone’s gonna think we’re doing stuff,” I say quietly.
“Livy, I promise you no one will care. They won’t even be talking about it.”
I scoff. He’s delusional if he thinks that. Grove Valley High School is centered around gossip, especially if it involves Chase Mitchell.
He must see the look on my face. “Okay, some people might care, but most people will already have forgotten about it, and they definitely won’t care by tomorrow.”
I sigh. “Yeah?”
He nods before a wicked grin takes over his face. “Although I know two people who definitely cared and definitely won’t have forgotten about it by tomorrow.” When I don’t say anything in return, he continues. “Abigail was fuming when you walked away.” This information makes my stomach flip. She’s not someone you want to cross. “She definitely doesn’t think there’s nothing going on anymore, and Stephenson? He looked like he wanted to kill me.”
My heart hammers at this. “Really?” I ask, even though part of me knows it’s true. I saw his face, but I want the reassurance.
“Definitely,” he confirms.
I turn back toward the front, looking out t
he windshield. That’s what I wanted, wasn’t it? To get Jessie’s attention and make him jealous?
“So, should we get some food?”
I sigh and nod my agreement. It’s not like I want to walk back into school and face any questions there. I might as well see how it goes, but as Chase maneuvers his car out of the lot, I can’t help but have a bad feeling about this.
AN HOUR LATER, I’M STILL twisting my hands together and tapping my toes against the floor. The TV’s on and I’m sitting on the sofa in Chase’s game room (yup, his house actually has a game room), but I couldn’t tell you what we’re watching even if you paid me a million bucks. My mind is still on school and that scene in the cafeteria.
Chase has been glancing over at me periodically, trying to make conversation and telling me to eat some of the food piled on the table in front of us. I’ve barely looked at it, and nothing is helping. I keep picturing all those eyes on me and the look on Jessie’s face when I left with Chase.
“Geez, Livy—you’re making me nervous!”
I jump in my seat, startled out of my thoughts, and turn to see Chase staring at me.
“Sorry,” I mumble. “I…um…”
“You’re really stressing, aren’t you?” He doesn’t sound annoyed, more interested.
I nod miserably. “I know it’s stupid. I can’t help it.”
“It won’t help if I tell you again that it’s not a big deal, huh?”
I shake my head. Him saying that will just reiterate how stupid I already feel about getting this worked up and will only add to my anxiety. This is why Sophie is so good in these situations. She just knows me. She gets me and doesn’t try to make me feel any different than I already do. She just accepts me for how I am until I manage to finally snap out of it.
“So, what do you usually do when you get stressed like this?”
I shrug. “Sophie’s usually around and I just listen to her until I relax.”
He grins. “Well I’m not sure I have Sophie’s conversation skills—I mean, I’m not sure anyone does.” I smile at this. He’s right—Sophie could talk to a brick wall; she’s never without something to say. “What do you do when it’s just you and you’re feeling like this?”
The Stand-In Boyfriend Page 8