Boarded by Love (21 page)

I take a step forward, my blood pressure rising a bit. Oh, the desire to flip the girl the bird and start my own dance team is so tempting, but I’m going to keep my cool. I’m going to make this team better. For what? I have no clue. I don’t even know why I care, but I feel like I need to do this. “For one, I’m not asking to be spoiled, and two, no one said anything about hiring anyone. I am an award-winning choreographer. I can come up with kick-ass dances that will make us look spectacular. We’re all so beautiful, with amazing bodies and talent that is being wasted on crap-ass video dances. This dance team can be more.”

I can see on everyone’s faces that they are all for it, but Rachael’s is twisted in disgust. “So you want to take over my team.”

I shake my head. “No, that’s not what I want. I’m too busy with work and school to do your job, but coming up with dances is second nature to me. I can do it.”

“How surprising since it seems all your time is spent on your boyfriend?”

I glare as everyone looks down at the ground. “I have no clue what that has to do with anything. I want to help make the team better, not talk about my personal life.”

I don’t even think she heard me, because she says, “Do you know how stupid you look with him? We all know it’s a joke. He’s a player. He’s slept with all of us, and he’s probably screwing some dumb freshman behind your back while you stand here right now.”

Taking in a deep breath, I try to count to three as I hear Skylar say, “I told you to shut up.”

Looking back at Rachael, I let out the breath and ask, “Is this the part where I get mad and break up with Jude ’cause of what you’ve said? Because apparently I look so stupid to be with such a player, when in reality, he has been the sweetest, most amazing person I’ve even met. He changed his phone number so people like you can’t get ahold of him. When he looks at me, he’s looking at me and only me. So I should throw that away because you said so? Have you slept with him in the last week? Have any of you?”

No one will meet my quizzical gaze; even Rachael looks away.

“No? Okay, now let’s get one thing straight,” I say as her gaze meets mine. “When we’re in this room, don’t come at me with anything but dance. My personal life is my business, not yours. If Jude hurts me then it’s my fault ’cause everyone told me over and over again what a player he is, but it’s not your concern.” Rachael doesn’t say anything and I continue, “Now, as I was saying, can I please choreograph us some kick-ass dances because I do not want to look like an idiot in front of my man and the whole campus, not to mention my family. So are there any objections to that?”

Littler Bro: I think something’s up with Mom.

Instead of replying back to Jace’s text, I decide to call him. He answers on the second ring.

“The whole reason I texted it was ’cause I didn’t want to say it out loud, asshole.”

“Shut up, go outside. What’s going on?”

I hear him shuffling through the house and then my mom yell, “Stop shuffling your ever-loving feet, Jace Ryan!”

I smile as he apologizes before I hear the door shut. “Okay, so I heard her crying, like, all morning.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, Jude, or I would be telling you why she was crying.”

Duh. As my heart speeds up in my chest, I ask, “Did you ask her?”

“No, as soon as I came in, she dried her face and left the kitchen. I asked Lucy and she doesn’t know either. She said she would ask her, but when she did, Mom started fussing over Angie and completely ignored her.”

Something inside me twists. My mom only cries when she’s stressed or if my dad has done something to her. I know that Lucy, Angie, and Jace are good; Jayden and I are golden, so I know she isn’t stressed about us. I talked to her yesterday too, and she said everything was fine, so I don’t know what’s going on. Spinning my chair around, I think as I spin and then ask, “Was Dad supposed to come home?”

“Not from what I know.”

“Yeah, I don’t know either. Hmm, okay, I’ll call her.”

“Don’t tell her I said anything!”

“I won’t, promise. Thanks, Jace.”

“Thanks, Jude.”

Nothing else is said and I hang up. Stopping my chair, I lean on my legs trying to figure out what I’m going to say to her. I’m not sure, but I have to speak to her. I’m even tempted to drive out to the house to see her face-to-face, but I have a date with Claire in a bit, and I don’t want to miss that if nothing is wrong. If I’m not happy with the phone call, then I’ll drive out there.

I dial her number and she answers right away. “Hey, honey!”

“Hey, Mom,” I say. “What’s up?”

“Nothing much, just making some dinner. You?”

“Nothing, just checking in. I was thinking about you.”

“Always so caring and thoughtful. I love you so much, Jude.”

I smile, my chest warming a bit. My mom is the best thing in my life. “I love you too, Mom. Everything okay?”

“Yes, honey, why wouldn’t it be? I am blessed with four beautiful, smart children and a gorgeous granddaughter.”

So my dad pissed her off; she usually includes him in that blessing, even though he doesn’t deserve it. “I think Jayden got all the smarts, but we all are beautiful.”

That makes her laugh and I ask, “When is Dad coming home?”

“I don’t know,” she basically snaps and then quickly says, “Excuse me, honey, that was rude. I’m really tired.”

Whoa, yeah, something is really wrong. “Are you sure? Did Dad do something?”

“Honey, I don’t want to talk about your father right now.”

“Okay,” I say, and I’m not sure what to say after that. Suddenly the words leave my mouth before I can stop them. “Can I fix whatever it is?”

When I hear her take in a deep breath, I know she is fighting back tears. “My Jude, always the fixer.”

“Mom, what is it?”

“Don’t worry, honey, it’s all okay.”

“Can I fix it?” I ask again.

“No, honey, but don’t worry, okay? I’m going to be fine.”

“I’m coming out there,” I say, standing up to get my keys.

“No, Jude, I promise I’m fine.”

“I don’t believe you, Mom.”

“I know, but I promise, everything is going to work out fine. No worries. How are you? How is the girl I keep hearing about? What’s her name?”

“Claire,” I say even though I know she’s just trying to change the subject. Maybe I need to let it go for today, but I’ll call again tomorrow and the next day just to make sure my mom is okay. I might even call my dad, but the thought of doing that makes my stomach hurt.

“You should bring her to dinner. How about next week sometime?”

“Yeah, Mom, sure, I’ll ask her,” I say, and I’m not sure why I said that. Maybe because I know she’s upset and I want to make her happy. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll find out and then I’ll fix it.

“Great, baby. I’ll talk to you tomorrow okay?”

“All right, Mom,” I say and then I hang up, telling her I love her. I know that she said everything is going to work out, but a feeling in my stomach tells me that something is really wrong.

Thoughts of my mom have played heavy on my heart all evening, but when I see Claire coming toward me, I welcome the distraction. She looks unbelievable. Her legs are encased in black tights with boots coming up to her knees, and she wears a large green sweater that goes to mid-thigh. Her hair is in a braid down her shoulder, and she’s wearing makeup along with the geeky glasses from when I first met her. Stopping in front of me, she grins, her lips so glossy and sexy.

“Hi, I’m looking for this über hot guy named Jude. Do you know him? We have a battle to get to,” she says in a high-pitched, Valley-girl voice.

I smile as my arm snakes around her, my gaze meeting hers. “I’m right here, baby. Come here, let me mess up that lip gloss.”

And then I kiss her. Hard. All the stress in my body just releases the moment our lips touch, and when her tongue moves along mine, everything inside me is hard. Moving my hands down her hips and then over her sweet ass, I pull her closer to me, deepening the kiss, not able to get enough. Parting only to breathe, I go in for another kiss, but she stops me, pressing her finger into my lips.

“What’s wrong?”

Confused, I ask, “Huh? Nothing, I’m kissing you.”

“Yeah, I know, but something is off. Are you okay?”

How does she know this? “Yeah,” I lie.

“Don’t lie to me. What’s wrong?”

“How do you know I’m lying?” I ask incredulously.

“I don’t know, but I know you are. What’s wrong?”

“Just worried about my mom. It’s nothing.”

She eyes me for a second and then asks, “Anything I can do to help?”

I shrug. “I don’t even know what’s going on, but when I know, I’ll tell you.”

“Okay,” she says and then she goes up on her toes, kissing my lips softly. Wrapping my arms so tight around her, I take over the kiss, lacing my fingers behind her back, holding her as close as I can.

When she smiles against my lips, I smile too, pulling away to say, “It’s so good to see you.”

“You too,” she whispers against my lips. But then she backs away quickly, her eyes bright as she says, “Guess what!”

“You look superhot in those leggings? I know. Come here, I’m not done kissing you.”

She giggles as she tries to stop me, but soon she’s kissing me, taking over the kiss I initiated. Moving her fingers through my hair, she cups my chin before pulling her mouth away. I try to chase her for another kiss, but she presses her finger to my lips again. After she sets me with a look that tells me I better listen, I smile and say, “Sorry, I can’t get enough of those lips.”

“You’re lucky you’re cute.”

I shoot her a cheeky grin and she rolls her eyes. “But really, guess what!”

“What, baby?” I ask, pulling her into my arms, cupping her ass as I meet her gaze.

“I’m going to choreograph for the dance team!”

Pride explodes in my chest as hug her closer, my face breaking into a grin. “I’m so proud of you!”

“Thanks,” she says before pressing her lips to mine for a quick kiss.

“That’s amazing. How did that happen?”

She shakes her head. “Wasn’t easy. Rachael called me dumb for trusting you, and then I told her that what I do outside of dance team is none of her business, and then I said that I can make this team better. The team was on board and voted my way. Rachael was the only one who didn’t vote for me – even her minions voted for me.”

“Wow,” I say, surprised that Ally and Mia went against Rachael. They have all been best friends since birth. “That’s ’cause they know you’re the best.”

“Aw thanks,” she says, leaning into me playfully. “I’m pretty excited.”

“I am too,” I say, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “I can’t wait for my baby to blow people away.”

She grins up at me, her cheeks flushing with color. It leaves me breathless when she looks at me like that. Like I’m the most amazing guy in the world, as if I’m worth it, when I know I’m not. I know I haven’t led the life a girl like Claire deserves, but for some reason she believes in me and trusts me. When I look in her eyes, I feel like I am the guy she deserves.

Clearing my throat, I say, “I know you’re used to winning, but I’m about to murder you in this karaoke war.”

She looks up at me, a gleam in her eyes that tells me to watch out. “We will see.”

I don’t say anything back because it’s too loud once we’re in the bar. It’s a little college pub called The Gilroy. The owner knows the team and usually lets the underage kids drink when we bring in our fake IDs. He doesn’t question us, which means we come only here to spend all our money. When I see some of the guys from the team, including my brother, I head toward them, pulling Claire with me. When I glance back, she’s looking around, taking it in, and I wonder if she’s ever been here.

Once we reach the group, I lean in and ask her just that. She shakes her head and says, “Nope, first time.”

I smile as I nod, and then thankfully, there’s a break in the music. Pointing the guys, I say, “Claire, this is my brother Jayden, Bryan, Matt, Caleb, and his girlfriend, Hannah. Everyone, this is Claire.”

Claire gives an awkward wave while everyone just grins at her as she says, “Nice to meet you guys.”