Shattered Ties(19)

“Take it with you tonight, and listen to it over the weekend. I bet you’ll be singing along by the time Monday rolls around.”

“You’d trust me with your precious music?” I asked.

“Surprisingly, yes. And if you scratch it, I’ll just make you buy me a new one.”

I laughed. “Way to abuse the rich girl.”

“Might as well put Daddy’s money to good use,” he said as he glanced over at me.

I knew he was teasing, but there was a darkness behind his eyes that I couldn’t ignore.

“Listen, while we’re out, I’m not the rich girl, okay? I’m just a girl you’re taking out for dinner. I hate how you categorize us. We’re just people, regardless of what our parents have in their bank accounts.”

“Wow, you sound all wise and shit,” he joked, and I felt the tension in the car ease.

“I am wise, believe it or not.”

I hadn’t been paying attention to where he was taking us, and I was surprised when he suddenly stopped the car. We were sitting in the parking lot of a restaurant on his side of town. The building looked surprisingly clean for being in the bad part of town.

“Welcome to Joe’s. They have the best burgers in town,” Jesse said as he got out of the car.

I followed closely as we walked across the lot to the entrance.

There was no hostess to seat us, and Jesse walked straight in and took a seat in one of the booths in the back. I sat down across from him and picked up a menu that was already on the table.

“So, you said they have good burgers?” I asked.

“Yep. Anything they make is good, but their burgers are amazing. I would commit murder for one.”

“Then, I guess I’ll have a burger,” I said as I glanced down at the menu. I looked through their burgers, trying to find the cheapest one. I felt bad for doing so, but I knew Jesse didn’t have a lot of money, and I didn’t want him to waste it on me.

“Hello, are you ready to order?” a young girl asked as she stopped beside our table.

Jesse glanced at me. “You ready?”

“Yeah, can I have just a regular burger and fries with a water, please?”

“I’ll have the same, except I want a Coke,” Jesse said as he closed his menu.

“Sure. Give me just a few minutes.”

“Thanks, Lisa,” Jesse said as the girl turned and walked away.

“Come here often?” I asked, noting that he knew the waitress’s name.

“Usually once a week if I have any cash to spare.”

“If I have any cash to spare.” I felt horrible. Here I was, driving around a brand-new car that probably cost more than his house, and he could barely afford to eat at a hole-in-the-wall burger joint. The more I was around him, the more I realized just how different we were.

“What has you in such deep thought over there?” Jesse asked.

“Nothing. Just wondering if you’re telling the truth about these so-called amazing burgers,” I lied.

“You don’t trust me? I’m insulted.”

I laughed. “I’m sure you are.”

We sat in an uneasy silence as I tried to think of something to say. I wanted to get to know him, but I wasn’t sure how. We were so different.

“So, what do you like to do when you’re not working or in school?” I asked.

“I like to surf.”

I raised a brow. Jesse was full of surprises. I’d pegged him as a surfer when we first met, but this was the first time he’d mentioned surfing to me.

“Really?”

“Yep. I’ve been doing it since I was ten, so I’m actually pretty good at it.”

“I’m impressed. I’ve always wanted to try it, but I’m too scared of falling or something.”

“It’s not that hard once you get the hang of it. You’d probably be pretty good since you’re in great shape from cheerleading.”

“You think I’m in great shape?” I asked, half-teasing and half-fishing for compliments.

“You know you are, so don’t act all surprised.”

“You’re such a charmer, you know that? If you think you’re so good at it, why don’t you teach me?”

“To surf or charm people?”

“To surf, smart-ass. I’d love to give it a try.”

The waitress appeared just then, and she set our food and drinks in front of us. “Here you go. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

“Thank you.” I picked up my burger and took a bite. Sweet mother of God, he wasn’t kidding. It was like a mouthgasm—yes, a mouthgasm. It was so good that it needed a new word to describe it.

I moaned a little bit, and he grinned.

“Good?”

“Um, yes! How did I not know about this place before now?”

“Because you’ve never been to this side of town before?” “Oh, right,” I said sheepishly.

“Anyway, were you serious about learning to surf?”

“Absolutely. I think I could kick your butt if I knew what I was doing.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but I wouldn’t mind seeing you get knocked off the board a few times. Might bring you down to my level.”