Until the End (Sea Breeze #9)(14)

“You can ride with me,” Riley said hopefully.

And leave Krit at home? No way. Not with a new guy hanging around the trailer.

“Can’t tonight,” I replied, wishing she’d drop it.

She sighed. “Fine. Might as well give up my hopes of you and Rock Taylor anyway. I was going to live vicariously through you, but it looks like Noah’s got his attention now.” She snorted. “Not surprising. Look at her hanging all over him.”

Why I turned my head to look, I do not know. Maybe to prove that I had been right about Rock Taylor. For whatever reason, I turned to see Rock sitting at the end of his table like the king of the world, with Noah Miller leaning on him and laughing at whatever he was saying. The other football players also filled that table, with girls much like Noah sitting in their laps or beside them. This was what I expected of Rock Taylor.

He was smiling like he didn’t have a care in the world. He had Noah’s br**sts against his arm and her long legs wrapped around his like she was trying to hold on to a moving target. When he lowered his head to whisper something in her ear, his gaze met mine.

For a brief moment he paused. Something flashed in his eyes, but he blinked it away quickly, then moved his eyes back to Noah and continued to make her giggle.

Yuck. Just yuck.

“That’s his speed. He likes them fast and cheap,” I told Riley, trying not to sound jealous.

Riley didn’t reply at first. I was thankful because I needed a moment to figure out why my chest hurt. Rock had never been mine. It made no sense that I cared he was with Noah.

“Yeah . . . I was just hoping for a moment that he wasn’t like the others,” Riley finally said.

“Me too,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

Riley gently squeezed my arm. “You’re so much prettier than her. And you have class. He missed out.”

My eyes burned and I hated that. But Riley was a good friend, and she was trying to make me feel better. It was sad that any devotion or encouragement I got from someone made me emotional. But it was rare. So when it came at me, I always felt weepy.

“You’re coming tonight,” Davey Marks said as he broke in line to wrap his arm around Riley’s shoulders and grinned at me. “Both of you. I’m not going to this testosterone-filled barbarian thing by myself.”

Davey was one of the only other real friend I had at school. He was short. I’d guess he was five nine, maybe. He wore thick glasses and had freckles all over his body and face. But he was always smiling and happy. He was also brilliant. He’d be the valedictorian our senior year. I had no doubt. The guy was a genius.

“I thought you’d be in the library solving world hunger,” Riley teased him.

He rarely came to the cafeteria for lunch. He really did spend it in the library or doing extra-credit work for one of his advanced classes. Last year we saw each other more, but this past week Davey had been scarce.

“I did that during break. I’m good to go for lunch today. Mrs. Barnaby said I needed to attend more school functions, like football games, and socialize with other students more. I need to be more well rounded.”

Mrs. Barnaby was the counselor. She had to bring Davey off the ledge of being the ultimate overachiever every year . . . several times.

“Trisha can’t go,” Riley said in a pouty voice.

Davey’s eyes went wide. “What? You gotta be kidding me! It’s what this town worships. It is our god, Trisha. Do you not know this? Rock Taylor is a demigod. We should all bow to him in worship.”

This time I laughed. He was joking. When Davey got carried away poking fun at the world around him, it was hilarious.

“Sorry. I hate to not come worship at his altar, but I have to hang out with Krit tonight.”

Davey waved his hands wide like this was no big deal. “The Kritmeister! Bring him too! And that friend of his. Turquoise, is it?”

“His name is Green,” I replied with a laugh.

“Yes, young Mr. Green with the weirdest name in the world except for Krit’s. Bring them both! We will watch the demigod trash the other team and yell like we all give a shit.”

Taking Krit out might be good. Fandora would be thrilled we were out of her hair. She’d probably be happy with me for taking Krit somewhere. Might get me on her good side long enough for my ribs to heal up.

“They’d like that. If you’re sure. We would need a ride,” I told him.

“YES!” Davey punched the air. “My dad is letting me take the minivan. So we will party like rock stars. Might even get some burgers afterward.”

This would be good for Krit and me. Even if it was Rock I’d have to be watching on the field all night. I could deal with it.

That little whatever it was had ended. I could go back to being invisible to Rock Taylor.

Chapter Thirteen

Rock

She didn’t look at me again. Fuck!

I’d had her attention and I’d blown it off. Whispering to Noah had screwed that shit up. Trisha didn’t glance my way one more time. Not even a peek. She had taken a seat with her friends. Instead she kept laughing and talking to Riley and the nerdy guy who had shown up in line and made her smile. I hated him. Didn’t know him, but I hated that she smiled so easily for him.

Noah kept slipping her hand up my thigh, and I had to grab her hand and squeeze to get her to stop trying to cup me right here in the damn lunchroom.