Perfect for You(12)

“Yeah.” She’s tired and not up for an argument, so this is the perfect time to mention the party. “Hey, um, Ash invited me to a party Saturday night at Jackson’s house.”

“Do I know Jackson?” His name is more of a yawn. She’s fading fast.

“Um, probably. He’s on the football team with Ash.”

“Okay, well that sounds fine.”

“Great. Oh, and it’s an overnight party so I won’t be home until morning.”

“A sleepover?” Mom glares at me like I just told her I want to rob a bank. Suddenly, she’s wide-awake.

“Jackson’s parents will be home, and besides, everyone is sleeping in the downstairs den.” What does she think will happen in a room full of people? Ash and I aren’t the type to go at it with an audience. Good thing she doesn’t know Ash’s parents are almost never home when I go over there.

“I don’t know, Meg. I really don’t like the idea of you staying out all night with your boyfriend of five months.” The true meaning of her words comes screaming through. I’m not giving you permission to have sex with your boyfriend.

“Ew, Mom. Seriously, there’s going to be a ton of people there. Think about what you’re implying for just a second. You know me better than that.”

Mom’s always trusted my judgment in the past, but she knows my relationship with Ash is serious, and that scares her. She stares into my eyes like she’s trying to read my mind. Mom, the human lie detector. “You’re not going to do anything I wouldn’t approve of?”

“I can honestly say having sex with my boyfriend in a room full of people is not something I’d ever do, no matter what.”

“Fine.” She lets go and turns toward the stairs. “But, let’s not tell your father all the details of this party, okay? We’ll tell him you’re going to a party with Grayson. She’ll be there, right?”

Grayson. I haven’t called or texted her back yet. I don’t even know where to begin groveling. “I don’t really know yet.”

She nods. “Well, that’s the story, and we’re sticking to it.” Mom always keeps Dad on a need-to-know basis when it comes to me and boys. She says it’s better that way, and I’m not about to disagree.

“Got it. Night, Mom.”

“Goodnight, sweetie.”

Mom heads upstairs, and I slump down at the kitchen counter, digging my cell out of my pocket. Grayson is definitely still up. She’s a night owl. I have to get this over with. If I wait until tomorrow, it will only be that much harder to win her over. Besides, tryouts begin at eight. Grayson needs to have a clear head when she goes into them. If she blows her shot at making the team because she’s pissed at me, I’ll never be able to make up for it.

I let out a long, deep breath before hitting her number on speed dial. It rings and rings and rings. I can almost see her sitting there on the other end, debating whether or not to pick up. She’s pissed. Finally, on the fifth ring, she answers.

“If you aren’t lying in a ditch on the side of the highway or someone isn’t dead, you might as well hang up now and start looking for a new best friend.” Her voice is shaking, and unfortunately for me, it sounds more like hurt I’m hearing than anger.

“Gray, I can explain.” But that’s all I have because I can’t explain.





Chapter Six


She’s silent for a moment, waiting for me to go on. Damn it, why didn’t I come up with an excuse before I dialed?

“I’m waiting. Tell me what was more important than helping your best friend after you swore you’d help me get ready for tryouts, which are tomorrow morning. If I have to play Tracy in a challenge match and she beats me, I’ll get cut from the team. You know that.”

Wow, she can get a lot out without taking a breath.

“Would you believe I was kidnapped?”

“I’m hanging up now.”

“No! Wait!” I pause to see if she’s still there. “Gray?”

She sighs. “Two minutes and then I’m hanging up. I have an early morning.”

Yeah, I know all about our early morning. “I woke up late to start with, but then…” She isn’t going to like this one bit. “I was sort of kidnapped.”

“If you’re not going to be serious—”

“I am. Noah showed up at my house.”

“What? He came over? Was he there all day?”

“No. He took me…” This so isn’t easy.

“Spit it out already, Meg.” Her annoyance practically reaches through the phone to slap me in the face.

“We went to the water park. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. I meant to call you. I did. But the conversation in the car got weird.”

“Weird, how?” She’s still mad, but Grayson’s curiosity is taking over—luckily for me.

“He started talking about how I don’t really fit in with any groups at school.”

“That’s crazy. You’re part of the tennis team.”

“That’s what I said, but he pointed out that I’m not really friends with any of those girls but you.”

“So what, he doesn’t like me?” She crunches in my ear, and I can only guess she’s snacking on pretzels, her usual nighttime snack.