Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(52)

“It’s the stand-up jerkoff.”

“You’re still texting him?” Lana asks, but it’s not as accusatory as Jen. “Would you consider that cheating?”

"What?" My eyes shoot to her. "No. Absolutely not. For one, I'm not doing anything. I don't even know him. And two, I'm trying to figure out how to end our conversations."

“Just tell him to drop dead,” Jen says.

“Jen, I—”

My phone chimes again.

BigBaller27: Ok

BigBaller27: Hey, so do u like basketball?





I gape at the screen, trying to keep my head from exploding. No, this isn't cheating. It's not. But why do I feel like I'm cheating on Carter when Baller brings up basketball? Because Carter loves basketball and now, talking about it with someone I once liked, feels … weird.

Emerald22: Why would u ask me that?





New worries sprout in my mind. Did he actually show up that day and see Carter? Does he know who I am and that Carter and I are a thing? Oh no, maybe he's one of Carter's friends.

BigBaller27: Just curious. I wanted to meet u finally. I thought we might meet at our basketball team's last game tomorrow?





No. No, this is not happening. I can’t let this happen.

Emerald22: I don’t think that’s a good idea BigBaller27: :(

BigBaller27: Y not?





I just need to tell him. Just put it out there. He’ll understand, right?

Emerald22: Look, I liked u. But…

Emerald22: Recently I’ve been talking to someone else. I don’t think it’s a good idea if we meet anymore BigBaller27: Damn. I guess I blew it, huh?





See? Even in that text, he doesn’t come off as spiteful. He seems cordial. Understanding. It almost freaks me out how well he’s taking it.

BigBaller27: Is he nice?

Emerald22: No





I smile, knowing exactly what I’m typing, but he replies before I can send my next text.

BigBaller27: What???

Emerald22: He’s amazing. He’s great.





A smile cements on my face, remembering Carter's kisses.

BigBaller27: I’d still really love to meet u? Plz Emerald22: No, I’m sorry. I don’t see the point BigBaller27: Just to know who u r. Plz plz plz. U can even bring ur friend who threatened to kick me in the nuts. I'd just really like to meet u finally. Maybe we can just be friends





“Seriously, you need to stop texting that dill-hole.” Jen curls her lip, which makes me smile after seeing the last text he sent.

“He wants to meet.”

“You cannot be serious.”

“Do it.” Lana gives me a mischievous smile.

"No!" Jen yells at her, and I'm a little taken aback. If anything, I'd have thought Jen would be the one egging me on to meet him. "Emma, you will not meet that asshole. You're going out with Carter now."

“Am I though?”

“What?” She scoffs. “Okay, you’re not boyfriend/girlfriend.” She uses air quotes. “You may not be, like, official but I saw you guys Friday night. You’re together.”

I nod. “Yeah, you’re right. What’s wrong with me? This is so stupid.”

“But don’t you want to know who he is at least?” Lana asks.

Jen gives her a warning look, as I stare back at my phone. It's not like I don't want to know. I've wanted to know for nearly a month. But the more time has gone by, the less important it's become. My eyes jump back and forth between Jen and Lana, who seem to be the little angel and devil that sit on your shoulders. Scrolling back through our text conversation, I see my reply about Carter. How he's nice and great. I'd hate for him to find out I'm meeting someone, who I honestly don't really want to meet anymore. Then I get an idea.

Emerald22: Fine. I’ll meet u if the guy I’m talking to is okay with it.

BigBaller27: I’ll take it :)





He immediately replies, and I smile at my phone, thinking how this will be over and done with tomorrow. What guy wants his girl meeting some random guy? Then I melt a little inside, imagining Carter thinking of me as his girl.





Chapter 35





Carter





“You what?”

Emma looks at me like I drowned a bag full of kittens.

"Yeah, I think you should do it," I answer her again, doing everything humanly possible to stay calm when all I want to do is break out in hysterics.

I keep a firm grasp on her hand as we walk because even though this is all part of my plan, I don't want her to feel like I'm saying she should just randomly go off and meet some mysterious guy. I want to come off as confident like I have nothing to worry about. But the way she's looking at me, I know I need to be very careful.

After I finished eating lunch, I walked over to the quad and met up with her. Jen nearly choked on her food as I approached their lunch table. The rumors about me have died a bit, but there’s still a ton out there. The biggest one now is about the numbers of girls I asked to lie about hooking up with me. Whether she believes any of them or not, Jen still looks at me like I’m the biggest player in school, which earns me a smirk when I ask if I can sit with them.