Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(48)

“You know?” he says, regaining my attention.

“Did I what?”

“Ask your texting-buddy? About going tonight? I wanted to see how it went.”

I frown but not because of the answer Baller gave me. I'm not nervous or scared or apprehensive. I'm annoyed because I don't want to think about that guy.

Staring down at the sidewalk, we walk to the parking lot where the bus is waiting for him. I can’t believe my thoughts. I’m not thinking about Baller at all. And I don’t want to think about him. I want to be thinking about Carter. My shoulders tense and I try to remain calm as the revelation hits me.

"Oh, wow," I whisper, keeping my eyes on the ground.

“What?”

“Sorry.” I let out a nervous laugh. “I, uh, I did ask him. He said he couldn’t make it.”

“That sucks.” Carter’s confidence seems to return. “He say why? Lots of homework, or something? Job?”

“No,” I feel my confidence return also, annoyed with Baller all over again. “He just said he couldn’t make it. I asked if he had a lot of school work, and he said, ‘something like that’. What does that even mean?”

“That’s lame,” he says, giving me a worried look. “Sorry.”

"No, it's okay. It is lame. Anyway, I told him whenever he wants to meet it's up to him now. I'm done chasing him."

"Good. You shouldn't chase anyone, Emma. Any guy worth anything should be the one chasing you."

There it is again. The assuredness. Only this time, as we stop near the fence of the parking lot, I stare at him. I want to really see him. The golden flakes that bounce off his light brown eyes. The same gold I added to my painting this week. I feel my cheeks get hot, but I can’t look away. I didn’t do it consciously, but looking at him now, I realize I’m adding bits of brightness to Heartbreak from my interactions with Carter. I can feel my breath quickening as I stare at him.

“Yeah, right.” I try to play off his compliment.

He stares back, and I realize how close we're standing. My feet know what I want before my mind does, as I take a step closer to him. He welcomes the closeness, and I feel his hand under my chin, holding my gaze to his as if he's afraid I'll look away. The angst inside should force me to, but I don't want to. His hand reaches higher, as his thumb caresses my cheek.

“It’s the truth, Emma.” He whispers, leaning closer. “I’d chase after you.”

I feel the warmth of his breath on my lips. And then his meet mine. It’s soft. Timid. Like he isn’t sure if I want him to kiss me. But I do. I really do. My hand grabs the sleeve of his jacket, pulling him closer. I feel the pressure of his lips, harder against mine.

Returning the fervor, his tongue slides across my bottom lip. My body tells my brain to step aside, and my arms instinctively reach up and wrap around his neck. My tongue meets his, and the electricity shoots through me. Then, like a bolt of lightning, a car horn shakes us both awake. Or rather, a bus horn.

Carter snaps his head to the side as someone yells out, “We don’t have all day, Dixon!”

I blush and put my face into his chest, peaking over his shoulder to see what looks like his coach standing on the steps of the bus.

“You can kiss your girlfriend after we win tonight!”

Carter lets out a nervous laugh. “Sorry about that.” I give him a confused look, unsure what he’s sorry for. Reading my expression or my mind—maybe both—his hands grab mine. “About the interruption. Not the kiss. Are you?”

I shake my head, a smile curling on the edge of my lips. “No.”

He takes a step towards the bus but still holds my hand. "I'll talk to you later. After the game."

“Okay,” I nod again, the smile still on my face. It may be permanently attached.

Turning around, he walks to the bus. I can see some of his teammates scowling at him. Whatever happened, they must not all be over it. But from others, I can hear teases being shouted. As he takes a step on the bus, he turns around, giving me a small wave. I return the gesture and watch as the bus drives away.

It's only then that my brain finally catches up. A million questions race through my head, but two keep floating to the top. His coach said 'girlfriend'. Is that what I am now? Is Carter my boyfriend? The other question I wish I can forget. What am I going to do about Baller?





Chapter 33





Carter





There’s no removing the smile from my face. Not during the bus ride to our game, in which Jeremy and others make stupid comments about me finally ‘getting some’. Not as we pull into the parking lot of Northwood High and exit the bus, with all of Northwood’s students giving us the evil eye. Not even during half-time, when we’re getting chewed out by our coach, for being down by fourteen points.

Don't get me wrong; it sucks trying to do everything we can to beat Northwood, only to keep getting knocked back down. They're stronger and faster, one of the main reasons they have already secured a place in the playoffs. And as much as I want to win, I can't get the kiss out of my head. I can't keep the way Emma's lips tasted, or her intoxicating smell off my mind. It was everything I thought it would be and more and there's no way in hell I'm letting her go now. Now all I have to do is finish the plan, finally confess I'm Baller and hope she still wants me.