“No,” Everly said.
“Yes,” her friend said.
Everly’s eyes darted to mine, and I saw something there but I wasn’t sure what it was. “I mean,” she said slowly, “we can or not…it’s up to you.”
Was that her way of apologizing for being such a bitch at the library? Did I care? I studied her for a few seconds, because I could see this going one of two ways. Either we were gonna be friends or not. Friends made for a much better summer.
The other option wasn’t one I wanted to think about. At least not yet.
“Follow me,” I said with a shrug. “We’re parked at the back.”
I guess I was going to find out.
Chapter Four
Everly
By the time I reached the bottom of my popcorn bag, my cell had pinged at least five times, and my stomach was churning so badly, I thought I might be sick. Not surprising, I’d wolfed down the bag
as if I was starving when I wasn’t hungry at all. Mostly because I wanted to look like I was at least into the movie. Which I wasn’t. At all.
I’d lost my appetite somewhere between the concession booth and here. Trevor hadn’t bothered introducing me to his friends, though I suppose after the way I’d treated him earlier, that shouldn’t be surprising.
What was surprising was the speed with which Hailey ditched me. That stung. Oh, she’d played the “I’ll sit with you if you want me to” card, but I didn’t want to look like a jerk. I’d told her to go ahead and hang with Link. I got it. He was super hot. But still…
So here I sat, on the hood of Link’s truck, pretending to watch a movie, with nothing but an empty bag of popcorn to keep me company. Hailey and Link were in the back of the truck, and last time I glanced back, she was stuck to him like glue.
Traitor.
I get that I wasn’t great company these days, but still, what was up with that? I snuck a peek once more and sighed, swinging my eyes to the screen but not before catching sight of Trevor.
He was leaning against the truck beside us with a group of kids from school, none of whom I knew all that well, and other than a few curious looks from a couple of the guys, they kept their distance. Some blond girl kept poking Trevor in the ribs and giggling like an idiot. She looked ridiculous.
She looked happy.
And I was just plain old pathetic.
I set the empty bag of popcorn down and fished out my cell phone. All of the texts had come from my dad.
Just back now. Where are you?
Nice of him to come home.
Mom must be at prayer group?
Where else would she be? It’s not like he was home, keeping her company.
Call me or text me right now.
Wow. Will do, Captain.
The last ping had been for a missed call. Again my dad.
With a sigh, I texted him back because I knew that he’d keep bugging me until I acknowledged him.
At the movies with Hales.
A few moments went by, and then a text came back.