The Stand-In Boyfriend (Grove Valley High #1)(20)

“Livy?”

I glance toward Chase and see the waitress is at the end of the table. She’s already finished writing down Chase’s order, and I can see the remains of food in front of the rest of the table. We really are pretty late. “Oh, sorry,” I say, sliding my phone back into my pocket. “Can I please have a chocolate milkshake, a cheeseburger with the works, and a side of chili fries?” She nods and walks away.

I turn back to the table and Jennifer Dawson, one of Abigail’s best friends, is staring at me in horror.

“What?” I ask nervously.

“You’re not seriously going to eat all of that?”

Oh. I guess it is a lot, but I’m hungry. “I probably won’t eat dinner later, and I have soccer practice tomorrow so I’ll just burn it off then.”

Sophie snorts. “Like it would stop you from eating if you didn’t have soccer practice.” She glances over at Jennifer. “She eats like a pig and never gains an ounce.”

Jennifer sighs wistfully. “I’m jealous,” she declares. “I look at a burger and gain five pounds.”

Sophie chuckles and sends me a wink. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. I feel Chase’s arm brush against mine and for a minute I think he’s going to try to grab my hand again. Although I definitely stiffen in my seat, I force my expression not to change on my face and manage not to shift away from him as he settles in closer to me. I glance over at Aaron and immediately look away. He’s clamped his hand over his mouth and looks like it’s taking all his self-control not to burst out laughing.

“You know Mitchell doesn’t usually bring his dates here, Livy. You must be special,” Brendon tells me.

“Uh, well…” I mutter back before giving up on a response and trying to muster a smile. Seriously? He doesn’t bring his actual dates here and yet he’s making me live through this?

“Oh, sure,” Aaron agrees, an evil look in his eye. “You’ve got him whipped already—must be the real deal.” I bite my lip to stop my frown. All I’ve focused on with this whole thing is that it might get Jessie to notice me. I forgot to think about Abigail and what her reaction would be, and now Aaron’s saying this. Does he really have to antagonize her? She doesn’t need any more ammunition than she already has.

“Hey, when you know, you know,” Chase chimes in, and it takes everything in me not to elbow him in the chest. I said we’d just do this—only this!—and while I might not be Abigail’s biggest fan, it’s a bit thoughtless to be rubbing a new girl in her face to this extent.

“You don’t actually expect me to buy this, do you?” Abigail suddenly breaks her silence, her voice ice cold.

“Buy what?” Chase asks, lifting his recently arrived drink to his lips and taking a sip of soda.

“You know what,” she hisses at him.

Chase shrugs his shoulder. “Think what you want.”

I don’t dare look at Abigail. Her temper is legendary, and I really should have considered that when I agreed to come here. Luckily, Sasha, someone I’ve always thought was pretty sweet, changes the subject and starts asking the boys about their next soccer match. I manage to relax somewhat, but Abigail doesn’t let the conversation stray for long.

“So this is actually happening?” she demands, not letting the subject drop. She waves a hand in my direction, making my stomach drop through the floor. She’s never liked me, and now she’ll positively despise me. “Because you never talk, not throughout all of high school, and then someone starts a rumor saying you hooked up last week, you kiss her in the cafeteria like you’d kiss your grandma, and then you haven’t looked twice at each other since. Now you expect me to buy that you’re here on a date?”

“It’s not a date, Abbie,” Chase tells her, leaning farther back in his seat and looking bored. “I’ve got more class than to bring her here on our first date.”

“So when is your first date?”

Chase shrugs easily and glances over at me. “I’m taking her out tomorrow night.”

I manage not to spit out my refusal and force myself to remember he’s just saying this for her benefit. He isn’t actually planning on taking me out.

“So you’re dating?”

“Yes, we’re dating.”

“You’re not just hanging out?”

Chase sighs. “We’re hanging out and dating.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

He rolls his eyes. “I don’t really care what you believe.”

“She jumps every time you touch her, Chase.”

I bite my lip. She’s talking about me like I’m not even here, and I’m letting her.

“Oh, I’ve seen them getting pretty hot and heavy,” Aaron jumps in from where he sits next to Abigail. “Had to tell them to go get a room last night.” My face turns bright red as Aaron winks at me, and Brendon and Jackson hold their arms out for fist bumps from Chase. Chase makes a face and waves them off.

“I’m not buying it,” Abigail repeats.

“Oh, you should,” Sophie tells her, smiling sweetly. “I thought I was gonna need a cold shower just watching them. It was hot.” She sends me a wicked look, and I sink farther down in my seat as she turns back to Abigail. “Maybe you should ask Liv for some tips—might help you keep a boyfriend.”