Be the Girl(58)

Cassie pushes the door open. “Murphy!”

The old black dog’s tail wags as he hobbles toward us, giving Cassie’s hand a quick lick before coming to me, his tail’s wag quickening.

I scratch the top of his head. “How was your day with Uncle Merv? As exciting as usual?”

“Aria! I need you to peel the potatoes,” my mom calls out, throwing a casual wave toward Heather, who’s heading up the porch steps with two bags of groceries.

“You, too, Cassie. Carrots,” Heather calls—earning Cassie’s exaggerated groan—as Emmett steps out the front door.

“Hey, you.” Heather angles her cheek up, prompting a kiss from her son.

He appeases her with a quick peck. “Is there more in the car?”

“Three more bags. What time are you leaving tonight?”

“Practice is at eight.” Our eyes meet and his face splits into a smile as he saunters down the stairs, heading toward me.

My stomach flips with anticipation. Is he going to kiss me again, like he did this morning? In front of our mothers and Cassie? Oh God, I hope not. I don’t want to deal with those questions yet. It’s bad enough everyone in school knows already. As quickly as news of Emmett and Holly’s breakup spread, by fourth period I felt eyes from every angle, and whispers of “That’s her” trailing me. People asking who the new girl is and what Emmett sees in her, likely.

But seriously, doesn’t anyone have anything else going on in their lives? The only person who seems to have no clue yet is Cassie.

I scoop up Murphy’s leash and take steps backward, toward the sidewalk. “Hey, Mom, I’m gonna walk Murphy around the block and then I’ll be in to help. Five minutes.”

“Yeah. I’ll bring the rest of the groceries in as soon as I’m back,” Emmett echoes, for Heather’s sake. “We need to go over a few things. About our project.”

“I’m coming, too!” Cassie declares, tossing the bag of groceries to the grass, and marching toward me.

I school my expression to hide my frustration. If she knew her brother and I were together, would she still insist? Definitely.

“Mom.” Emmett gives Heather a pleading look.

Heather presses her fingertips against her forehead, as if the task of mediating between her kids causes her pain. “Cassie, you’ve been with Aria for the past hour. Let’s give them five minutes to talk about their project.”

Cassie scowls and keeps walking toward me, ignoring her mother’s request.

“Cassandra Jayne Hartford, get in this house now,” Heather demands, her typically serene tone sharp and leaving no room for argument.

Cassie’s face hardens as she whips around and stomps her feet.

“On your way by, please pick up that bag you threw,” Heather calls out, tempering her tone again. I can hear the weariness in it. How exhausting must it be dealing with Cassie’s childish outbursts?

Cassie bends down to grab the bag’s handle and then runs in her off-balanced way up the path, letting the contents of the bag bear the brunt of her anger, smashing against the stair rails as she clomps up the steps, mumbling something at her mother that I can’t decipher but that can’t be good.

Emmett sighs deeply, as if to shake off his frustration with his sister, and then throws a hand in the air. “Hey, Ms. J.”

“Hello, Emmett.” She watches him curiously as he closes the distance toward me.

“Be back in fifteen.” I walk ahead but slow enough for him to catch up.

My mom folds her arms over her chest. “Fifteen now …” But the small, knowing smirk touching her lips tells me she’s not bothered.

“Hey.” He nudges my arm with his.

My heart skitters. I’ve been waiting for this moment all day. “Hey.”

“They still watching?”

Ever so casually, I glance over my shoulder to see Mom’s gaze following us. “Still watching.”

“Have you told her yet?”

“About what? Oh.” That Emmett and I are now a thing. Are we officially a thing? “No.” I’m not sure if I believe it yet. “Does your mom know?”

He shrugs. “She’ll figure it out soon enough. She’ll be happy. She loves you.”

I feel the conflicting swell and tightness in my chest. Would she want her son with me, if she knew everything there was to know? Would she want Cassie as my friend?

“What’s wrong?” Emmett asks.

I swallow my anxiety. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Emmett for more than five seconds since first period. A few passing words in the hall before fifth period. Now’s as good a time as any to fill him in. “I ran into Holly in the bathroom today. She figured out that I’m the one who recorded her conversation. I denied it but I don’t think she believed me.”

He waves a hand dismissively. “Whatever. Ignore her. It’s not like she’s gonna do anything.”

“Are you sure about that?” Because girls like the one Jen described don’t just roll over and move on. “She thinks I stole you from her.”

He snorts. “We broke up because I found out she’s a bitch.”

“And she told me I’m going to regret it.” I kick at a loose stone on the sidewalk. “I’m kind of hoping to avoid being a target here. Been there, done that. It’s not fun.”