Be the Girl(67)

“I see that. How are your nails doing?”

She holds them up with a sheepish grin to show me the bits of silver polish left. “I picked them.”

“Oh, Cassie.” I shake my head but laugh and she joins in.

“Are you coming over to watch a movie with us tonight?”

“I … uh … I have plans?”

Her eyes grow curious. “What are you doing?”

“Uh …” I don’t want to lie to her, but I remember what happened the last time she found out we were going to a party. Upsetting her might be worse.

“Hey, AJ! You’re coming to Mower’s house tonight?” Zach bellows.

And I guess that makes my decision easy.

“Is there a party?” Cassie asks and, in the next breath, “Can I come?”

Shit. “I think we have to ask your brother?”

“Emmett!” she hollers, unbothered that there’s a hockey game in progress. “Can I come to the party?”

Emmett makes a time-out gesture with his hands and trots over, throwing Zach a dirty look. He stops next to me, out of breath, his forehead glistening with a sheen of sweat. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

His hand settles on the small of my back, but he doesn’t lean in to kiss me and I can’t decide if I’m disappointed or relieved.

His eyes roam the back seat. “Did your mom’s card start smoking?”

I laugh. “Almost.”

“Emmett, can I come with you and AJ to the party tonight?” Cassie pushes.

He sighs heavily. “You wouldn’t like it …”

“Please?” she pleads, and I can hear the raw emotion in her voice. “Please, can I go? I never get to go.”

His throat bobs with a hard swallow, his brown eyes darting to mine, begging for a way out of his guilt.

I can’t help him much, because I’m feeling guilty now, too. “It’s within walking distance …” I say low, more to him. “It’d be easy enough to walk her back if she wanted to come home. She could stick with us.”

He nods slowly, as if deciding something. “Okay, fine. If Mom is okay with it, then—”

“Mom!” Cassie’s already gone, galloping up the path toward the house.

Emmett groans. “She’s going to kill me for putting that on her.”

“I don’t see what the big deal is. We’ll keep an eye on her. It’s one night and you can’t keep her in a bubble forever. It’s not fair to her.”

“I know. It’s just …”

“How much trouble can she really get into? She’s, like, the most predictable person I’ve ever met in my life.”

“Until she’s not.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know why I’m so worried.”

“Because you’re a good brother and you care about her? But she’ll be with us and all your friends who know her and wouldn’t let anything happen to her, right?”

“Yeah, of course.” He leans down to kiss me.

“Ticktock!” Zach shouts. “And nice friend, by the way, moving in on the girl as soon as you find out I like her.”

My cheeks burn as eyes all around the cul-du-sac—including Mark’s—land on me.

Emmett snorts, stepping away with a grin. “You never had a chance, Farmer.”





A knock sounds on the front door as I’m finishing up the last coat of mascara.

“Hey, guys!” I hear my mom say. “Cassie, I didn’t know you were going, too.”

“Yeah, my mom let me. She said I have to stay with AJ and Emmett.”

“That sounds like a good idea. I’m sure they’ll take good care of you.”

I can hear it in her voice—the relief. If Heather and Mark are allowing Cassie to come out, they must feel comfortable with the people we’ll be with, and that means my mom can relax a bit.

I pull my bedroom door shut behind me and ease down the stairs.

Mom nods with approval at the fitted black jeans and periwinkle off-the-shoulder knit sweater we picked out today.

“Your hair is wavy,” Cassie announces, her inquisitive blue eyes roaming my long locks as if memorizing each curve. She’s wearing a pair of black leggings and a flattering striped shirt. It’s a simple but more mature, coordinated outfit than she usually wears to school, with no animal prints or logos. Bracelets adorn her wrist and her hair has been straightened and styled. I’m guessing Heather helped her dress for tonight.

I shrug. “I felt like something different today.” Something special, to ring in my sixteenth year.

Emmett stands beside her, wearing dark-wash jeans and a wool jacket, the collar flipped up, and looking more like a magazine cover model than a high school kid.

“And you’re wearing more makeup.” Cassie squints as I approach. “You have eyeliner … mascara … eyeshadow …”

“Okay, enough analyzing her.” Emmett chuckles and shakes his head. He leans in to whisper something to her.

“Yeah.” Cassie nods, grinning. “You look pretty, AJ. For your birthday.”

“Thank you.” I bend to zip up my camel-colored boots, but also to hide my blush.