Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(51)

Jen spends the night at my house after the art show, and then we hang out with Lana over the weekend, since her parents are out of town.

“I still can’t believe I missed it.” Lana groans while we lay out next to her pool. “Twice.”

“It’s not like we scheduled it to happen,” I say. “Hey, was Micah mad you weren’t at the show?”

Micah and I were both excited about the art show, and Lana was planning on going, but I guess she texted him last minute and told him she couldn't make it. He seemed upset the entire night. He even left the show early, only staying for half of it.

“Yes.” She lets out a frustrated sigh that seems more angry than apologetic.

“You guys good?” Jen asks.

“I don’t know. He’s just so … serious. Always painting or working on his graphic novel.” Lana keeps her eyes closed as Jen and I stare at each other. “I mean, I knew he was really into his art before we started dating, but he just seemed like the quiet and mysterious type, you know?"

“Not to mention, he is hot,” Jen says playfully.

“Jen,” I groan. Being friends with him since the beginning of high school, we’ve always had a brother/sister relationship.

“Oh, come on, Emma.” Jen swats my arm as she sits up and grabs her drink. “I know you always say he’s like a brother, and yeah, I do too. But now that you’ve got Carter Dixon’s tongue to play with, you can’t tell me Micah’s not hot.”

I scrunch my lips together. “Okay, he is attractive. In a totally platonic, sibling, kind of way.”

“Wow, Emma.” Jen wiggles her eyebrows. “I never knew you were into incest. You kinky girl, you.”

My brow furrows and my jaw drops because even for Jen, that's too much. Before I can say anything, Lana gets up from her seat and dives into the pool. Swimming over to the ledge, she reaches over for her sunglasses, crossing her arms over the ledge.

"Anyways, it's getting to be a little much now. We're eighteen—"

"Almost." I raise a finger.

"We're all almost eighteen. We only have a few months of high school left before we start college, but it's like he's already in college mode, and it's always work, work, work."

She lets out a sigh as Jen and I exchange another look. I don't think either of us has ever heard Lana say something negative about Micah, and we both know Micah adores her. Thankfully, she either doesn't feel the awkwardness or ignores it, and changes the subject.

"Enough about Micah. I want the gossip.” Lana looks over at me, as I lay back down on the pool chair. “So, you guys are, like, a couple now?”

“I don’t know.” I try not to sound confused, even though I am.

Yes, he kissed me. He's been honest and sweet with me, and he even made an effort to go to the art show, which I didn't know at the time, but I'm sure it couldn't have been easy. People were talking about their basketball loss on Facebook and Twitter the next day, and I found out that since they lost the game, they weren't making the playoffs. That has to suck. He could've just went home and tried to forget about it, but he didn't. He came and saw me. He told me I'm beautiful. It's all things a boyfriend would do, isn't it? But we didn't talk about what we are. We just … are.

“You got his number, right?” Lana asks, breaking me from my train of thought.

“No,” I grumble, more in disappointment at myself for not thinking of it.

“I’m telling you,” Jen laments, “let me just text one of his friends. I’ve been dying for a reason to get Franco’s number.”

“No!” I scold her. “I told you, I’ll just get it Monday. I don’t want to come off as clingy or needy.”

“You guys kissed. Twice. You should have his number.”

"And I will, on Monday. Which is tomorrow by the way. It's not that big of a deal."

Jen's eyes widen with anticipation. "Does this mean he's going to be sitting with us during lunch? Can you ask him to bring over some of his friends?"

I'm about to chide her again when my phone goes off. Reaching for it, I gasp as I see the notification. The only other thing that's been on my mind, other than the amazing kisses I've shared with Carter, is Baller. And not in a good way. He seems like a nice guy even if he did stand me up. But since then, he's been distant. And now with Carter, I have no idea what to tell him. But I know I have to end it. I can't keep up a secret conversation with someone I don't know if I'm going out with Carter.

BigBaller27: How’s ur weekend?

Emerald22: Good





One word answers. That's what I'll do. Just keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Hopefully, he'll get the message and just fade away. Yes, not mature at all, but I don't want to have to tell him not to text me anymore. It just seems mean.

BigBaller27: Just good? No big plans? No fun parties?

Emerald22: Nope





“Who is that?” Jen scowls at me. From her look, I know she knows.

“No one.”

“Right.”

“What? Who is it?” Lana asks.

“It’s no one.” I hold my phone tighter, hoping she gets the message.