Holding On To Heaven (Allendale Four 2)

“Yeah, I am. We’re going to meet up when he comes into town for the game in a few weeks.”

“Are you going to introduce him to Ginger?”

Another small smile ghosted over her lips. “If everything keeps progressing, then yep, definitely.”

“And then?”

“We’ll see, I guess. I’ve never been in a relationship like this. Juggling two people seems hard.”

I rolled my eyes. “Tell me about it. Try four.”

“Oh, about that. I heard the news about Oliver.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “What news?”

“About him switching to the other team?”

I stared at her for a minute. “Oh, crap. You talked to Samantha.”

She threw her hands over her chest. “She was heartbroken.”

“I panicked,” I admitted. “Then to make it worse, I got super territorial over Anderson today with Ruthie.”

“She made a move on Anderson? Girl is lucky to still have her hair.”

We both burst into giggles. “I’m not really good at this ‘down-low’ stuff or you know, making new friends.”

“Yes, you are, but you need to go about it a little different,” she said. “Since I can’t go tonight why don’t you invite Samantha, as a consolation for bursting her dreams about Oliver. Maybe she’ll meet someone new.”

“I’ll ask.” I glanced at my closet and frowned. “Now I have to figure out what to wear to this party. Church social isn’t really my style.”

“Ha! Nope, that’s not your bread and butter.”

“My dad told me to get attention like I did to become Winter Princess. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I had to fake sleep with the whole school to get that title.”

“Stop. That’s not why you won and you know it.”

I sighed. “I know he’ll check up on this, so I need to play the part. I knew there would be strings—this is one of them.”

She didn’t look happy. At all. “What’s the theme?”

“Team spirit—for the game this weekend.”

“That’s not so bad. Jersey and jeans?”

I twisted my bedspread between my fingers. “I hate letting him win, you know? Hiding myself for my father’s beliefs that I don’t agree with.”

“Something in the middle. Chaste but cute?”

“That may work. I don’t want to lead this guy on, even if I have to play nice.”

“And the guys? Do they know about this?”

I gave her a face—one that said, hell fucking no, they don’t know.

Amber sighed and then stood, walking to the closet we shared. “Girl, you’re playing with fire.”

“What else is new?”