The Way to Game the Walk of Shame(73)



A spark of energy hit me, and I sat up. So … she wasn’t with Brian. Yet. “Before it’s too late. Does Carly mean before she starts dating Brian?”

“Actually I don’t think she intends to date him. Ever,” Mom spoke up from the doorway.

“What do you mean?”

Her wide gray eyes were the picture of innocence. Fake innocence. “I’m not sure, but I think I heard that Brian turned down that scholarship to NYU. Now, I’m not positive, but wouldn’t it make sense for him to go to NYU if they were going to date later on?”

“Where did you hear that from?”

“Just … around.”

“But…” I stared down at the necklace in my hands. I didn’t doubt Mom’s sources—whoever they were—for a second. But if Taylor wasn’t going to be with Brian, then why was she giving me back my necklace? Why didn’t she stay to talk to me? What was she thinking?

Unless … she thought she was doing this for me.

Everything clicked into place. I saw everything through her logical, practical eyes. This was all for me. She probably thought she was being noble by stepping back. Letting me do whatever I wanted to do without being a burden. That noble idiot. I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for her. Have this chance. I needed her by my side, cheering me on and nagging me to be better.

The problem was, how would I change her mind? “What should I do now?”

With an irritated sigh, Mom marched over to sit on the edge of the bed. “You do whatever you have to and get her back! Why would you want to lose a girl who’s so sweet, smart, beautiful, polite—”

“Stubborn, rude, nagging, and snarky,” I finished.

Aaron snorted. “You two are so perfect for each other.”

Mom had a smug grin plastered on her face. “You love her, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” There was no denying it. I loved her smile. I loved her sitting next to me, fidgeting with Rudy’s stereo buttons. Heck, I even loved her complaining to me about my schoolwork. It was a Friday, and all my homework was finished because doing it made me feel closer to her.

And to think she was worried about her reputation before. My reputation was shot to hell because of her. See what I meant about Taylor screwing up my life?

Mom patted the top of my head like I was a kid again. “You’re not too bad, either. You have my genes, so you’re pretty handsome. And you’re smart, even if you don’t like to show it. Really lazy, though. Don’t really think with your head much. Impulsive. And stubborn. God, you remember when you broke your arm on the jungle gym when you were eight? Or the second time two months later, because you wanted to show me your arm was fine when the doctor told you it wasn’t?”

“Uh, are these insults supposed to help me feel better?”

She shook her head. “What I’m trying to say is that you’re stubborn. And it was obvious earlier that she loves you, too. I could see it written all over her face. Now go get her back.”

Mom was right. “So should I go over to her house? Get her flowers? Candy?” Pizza and blue cotton candy would probably be better.

Aaron cleared his throat. “Carly said you need to bring your A game. I mean, you really need to romance the crap out of her.”

I snorted. Yeah, that sounded like her. “Then did she have something in mind?”

“Dunno. Something really big and grand to show her that you’re not afraid of what anyone else thinks as long as she’s with you. But still something that’s personal and sweet so that she knows that you’re thinking of her. How about skywriting over the school! Or a picnic in a hot-air balloon!”

“Taylor gets scared when we’re on a bridge. I’m pretty sure she would die before getting in a hot-air balloon. A dead girlfriend really isn’t what I’m aiming for right now.” I felt a little dazed. I had no idea what to do. Big and grand but personal and sweet? Dude, what was I supposed to do with that?

His face fell, and he spun around in my chair. “Okay, maybe not that, then.”

Mom leaned back on her elbows. “You know, when your dad asked me out, he took me to this fair in the next town. Or tried to. His truck broke down halfway there, and it started raining when he was fixing it, so we were both soaking wet. He had a blanket in the back, and—”

Oh god. I leaped to my feet. My arms crossed in an X in front of my face to try to make her stop. “Please don’t finish that sentence.” I didn’t want to think about my parents in the back of any truck. I paced over to my desk. My fist lightly smacked against the back of the chair as I turned toward Aaron. “I’m surprised you had the guts to call Carly in the first place. Aren’t you scared of her?”

Aaron snorted again. “Hell no. I’m on the football team. She’s barely half my weight and—and I actually didn’t call her. I texted her.”

“Yeah, you sound really tough now.” I held the necklace up in front of my face and watched it spin around. It caught the light and reflected like a real star. “Thanks, man. You, too, Mom. I really appreciate your help.”

Mom beamed and reached out to give Aaron a high five. “Anything you need, sweetie. We’re here for you.”

He nodded. “You know we got your back.”

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