Grown(17)

“They?”

“My label.”

“Oh. Right, sorry,” I mumble. “But this is your space. Thought you could do what you want here.”

Korey has a pensiveness about him that I wouldn’t expect from such a superstar. There’s so much warmth in his eyes under those long lashes.

“Yo, you right,” he says. “Man, I don’t know, Enchanted, there’s something about you. You just . . . different. Real mature.”

He sits behind the keyboard, plays a few notes and sings.

I giggle and join him.

“Turn around, bright eyes.

Every now and then I fall apart.”

When we sing, our voices make love in the air.

“Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time.”





Chapter 19


Cradle Robber




“Thanks again for the ride,” I say, jumping into Gabriela’s car.

“It’s cool,” she says, reversing out of my driveway. “Don’t have to be at work till six today, but check this out!”

Gab passes me her phone, screen on an ad listing—FOR RENT: One-bedroom apartment. $1100/month.

“You’re moving?”

“Yeah! Well, not until graduation. But look at that spot, it’s perfect for me and Jay! And it’s close to Fordham. Jay’s been introducing me to some of the professors in the education department. Think I’m gonna like it there.”

One thing about Gab: she has her life figured out and is fearless about it. I so badly wanted to tell her I had good news of my own. But . . . Korey said it was “our thang.” Not like Gab tells me everything.

Gab raps along to a Bad Bunny song, tapping her steering wheel.

“Hey, why don’t you want to be a singer?” I ask, suddenly curious. “You have a nice voice.”

She shrugs. “I like to sing, but I don’t want to BE a singer. That’s your job.” She snorts to herself. “Except, Jay and I write these goofy-ass songs together. It be so hilarious sometimes! We need our own comedy special on Netflix.”

It’s something like a fairy tale, the way Jay and Gabriela first met. Three years ago, while attending her cousin’s high school graduation party, Gab stepped into her tía’s backyard and noticed a light-brown boy with a dimpled smile. Jay met her eyes, watched her click down the patio steps in a pink Forever 21 dress, hair hanging nearly to her butt . . . and the stars devoured him whole. It was love at first sight.

Gab was fourteen, and Jay had just turned seventeen.

After a year-long friendship, they couldn’t deny it: they were in love, fitting together like peanut butter and jelly. Bonding over reggaeton and sneakers, Jay encouraged Gab to embrace her Latin roots, and Gab encouraged him to apply for college.

But the moment he turned eighteen, everything seemed to change. Folks threw around words like “fresh meat,” called him a cradle robber and a pedophile.

Even though they’d met when they were both still in high school and built off a friendship, the comments made Gab feel dirty. But Jay didn’t care what people had to say, and continues to be the doting, patient, supportive boyfriend of her dreams. I’ve never met him, but the way Gab talks about him, he sounds . . . like everything I’ve ever wanted. Someone to be silly with, to sing with, to share dreams with, to have your own “thang” with. That one person who is really YOURS.

I’d give anything to have that.

“Besides, you got them pipes that’s about to blow these basic bitches out the water,” Gab laughs. “And while you’re off being rich and famous, I’ll be here, with Jay, teaching the babies how to read.”

I shrug. “I don’t want to be rich and famous. I just want to be rich and . . . known.”

Gab smiles. “That sounds just like you.”

“Nice of you to join us, Jones,” Coach grumbles as I sprint across the parking lot.

“Sorry,” I gasp, out of breath, jumping into the van before we peel out for our swim meet.

“Hey, where were you?” Mackenzie asked.

“Left my new suit and Gab gave me a ride home.”

“Who? Wait—ahhh! Hannah, turn that up!”

Hannah grins at the back seat, then turns up the Ariana Grande song on her playlist.

The van shrieks with glee, girls wiggling in their seats.

“OMG! She totally slays.” Mackenzie grins, bumping my shoulder.

“Totally,” Hannah says. “OMG, Enchanted! You HAVE to sing this!”

“Yeah! Next talent competition.”

Do they know ANY other singers besides Beyoncé and Ariana?

I wince a smile as a text buzzes. Korey.

Can’t wait to see that pretty ass smile of yours tomorrow. Wear something that shows them curves





Chapter 20


Your Eyes




“Don’t take off your coat. We’re taking a class trip,” Korey says, slipping on a leather jacket. “Tony’s already in the car downstairs.”

“Where are we going?” I ask, catching up to him. Mom just dropped me off. She’ll have no idea we’re going somewhere . . . alone.

He smirks. “You’ll see.”