More Than Her (3 page)

The girls got in Micky's car and drove off.

I looked around for my car. I wasn't parked on this side of the lot. I started making my way to the other side, and saw Amanda sitting at a bus stop, on her phone. I was at a stand still for a moment, wondering if I should try and talk to her, or if I should just leave her alone.

She glanced up when she heard footsteps, but her expression falling the instant she realized it was me. "I got to go, Lexi. I'll call you later...yeah...uh-huh...bye."

She regarded me, her eyebrows raised.

"Hey." I motioned my head to the spot on the bench next to her.

She bit her lip and looked away. "It's a free country, Matthews. You can do what you want."

I hated that she called me Matthews. Like she didn't even know my name. Or she just didn't care. "So you
do
remember me? That's not what you said to-"

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" Her whole body spun to face me. "I'm not the one that
—
" She stopped herself abruptly and closed her eyes, forcing her breathing to steady.

I watched her, confused.

"
You know what, Matthews? Just leave it alone, okay? No one needs to know that we have history
—
or whatever. Just leave it. Please." Her eyes were cast downwards, picking at her jeans.

I didn't know what to say. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I tried to reach for her hand, but she jerked it away.

"Amanda," I sighed. "I'm sorry." I meant it.

Her whole body tensed before she raised her eyes to mine.

"You're too late, Logan." She shook her head slowly. "You're just too fucking late."

A car pulled up, interrupting me from saying anything more. She rushed to stand, putting her backpack on. "I'd say it was nice seeing you, Matthews. But it really,
really
wasn't." I stayed silent as she got into that same piece of shit old jeep from her graduation day.

And I was left sitting there, watching her leave.

Again.

The assist.

Start of summer, pre College

A week had passed since I'd met her at Jakes house, but she still lingered on my mind. I'd forgotten that she went to Micky's school, so I didn't expect to see her at their graduation. But I was so fucking glad that I did.

***

She stood on the sidewalk across from me talking to another girl, both of them wearing their gowns. I crossed the road and stood behind her. Whatever her friend was saying died in the air when she saw me.

"What is it?" Amanda asked her.

I interrupted. "Well, well. I bet you never thought you'd see me again?"

She slowly turned around; a scowl had already formed on her face. "What do you want, Matthews?"

I chuckled.

Her eye twitched.

It made me laugh harder. "I don't know why you're pissed at me," I said, trying to hide my amusement. "I'm just standing here, asking you question. It's not a big deal." I shrugged, my hands going in my pockets.

She raised her eyebrows, waiting for me to answer her.

So I did. "Your number. For real this time."

"No. Again. For real this time."

The fact that she didn't want me made me want her more. Just when I about to tell her that I wasn't going to take no for an answer, a piece of shit old jeep pulled up beside us. The kid driving had the top down, with two other guys in the back seat. They all wore their gowns.

"Hey," Amanda's friend cooed.

The kid driving gave her a quick head nod before he looked at me, eyes narrowed. He didn't say shit, just glared.

I glared back.

"I'll call you later," Amanda said to her friend, hugging her quickly before brushing past me and into the front seat of the car. I watched as they drove off. She never once looked back.

"So you want her number?" her friend asked.

I turned back to face her, rubbing my palm on my jaw. I eyed her up and down, confused. "Why?" I asked. "You gonna to give it to me?"

"I'm Alexis, just FYI. And yes, I am." Her hand was out waiting. I handed her my phone.

"And her boyfriend?" I jerked my head to the spot where the car had just left.

She looked up at me, mid type. "Not her boyfriend."

She handed it back and I made sure it was in there this time, and she wasn't just fucking with me like Amanda did.

I thanked her before walking to my car. Once I was seated, I pulled out my phone and texted her;

Logan: So, I'm thinking dinner for our first date. Any requests?

Amanda: Fucking Alexis.

"Come to the house," Jake said after practice. "We'll grab a few beers and order a pizza." He ran his hands through his hair. "The only thing is
—
we kind of have to eat out back."

"What?" I laughed.

"Yeah. The girls have book club or something. They hate when I'm around."

I raise my eyebrows in disbelief.

He rolled his eyes. "It's not
that
bad, asshole. I'm still allowed to be home. Just not...
inside
the house."

"You're so
—
wait. Did you say book club?"

He nodded, eyebrows bunched in confusion.

I feigned disinterest. "So uh
—
who attends this so called book club?"

"Just Kayla, Luce and their friend Amanda."

I ignored the pounding in my chest. "Hey, when she's done whipping you, do you have to carry it back to its place with your mouth?"

"Fuck off."

***

She was all I could think about the entire drive to his house.

When we got there, the girls were all sitting around the coffee table, e-readers in hands.

There were glasses of wine or champagne, or whatever it is chick's drink, on the coffee table, along with some boxes of tissues and a bag of chocolates.

Their heads all whipped up when they heard us walk in.

Jake went to Micky, kissed her on the cheek, and then headed to his room.

They all went back to reading, like I wasn't even here. Amanda glanced up, but looked straight back down when she saw it was me.

No smile. No frown. Nothing.

I went to sit on the sofa while I waited for Jake. "So... what are you guys doing?"

"Hoovering," Micky said through a sob.

I looked around.

They were sitting on their asses, not a single cleaning product in sight.

I must have misheard them. "What?" I asked again.

"Hoovering," Lucy replied, wiping at her face.

What the hell was going on? My eyebrows bunched together in confusion. Their eyes were red and puffy from crying.

And then it hit me
—
what was wrong with them all.

"You guys want me to get you like, ice cream or more chocolate...something for your cramps?" I asked cautiously.

"What?" Micky chuckled, still not looking up from her book.

"You guys have that thing
—
you know
—
when girls are together all the time and they get their periods at the same time or some shit."

"Naw, Logan. I
live
you." Lucy smiled at me, then went back to reading, "Now go away!"

Amanda hadn't looked up once since I sat down. Her eyes were glued to her book.

I was bored, and wanted to be an asshole, so I got comfortable on the sofa. "So, did you guys hear about that Lit. Professor and his student?"

"Shh!" Both Micky and Lucy snapped.

I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped. Then continued to be an asshole. "Apparently they'd be doing it for a whi-"

"SHUT UP!" Lucy yelled, coming to a stand. Her face was red, jaw clenched. "Go away!" She started swatting my head and shoulders with her hands. I tried ducking and blocking her hits but she was too quick. "You. Are. Ruining DEAN HOLDER!" Her voice got louder with every word.

She pulled me by my hands until I was on my feet, turned me to face the front door, put her hands on my back and started pushing me towards it.

I tried digging my feet into the floor but the girl had some power.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and started dialing Cam. By the time the phone was to my ear, she'd pushed me out the front door, slamming it shut behind me.

"Yo," Cam answered.

"Dude, your girlfriend's fucking bat-shit crazy."

"What?" He sounded pissed.
 

I was about to tell him what happened when he chuckled. "Dude, it
is
Tuesday... and they
are
Hoovering."

What the hell does that even mean?

***

Cam ended up coming over, putting an end to the girl's book club. Heidi and Dylan joined us and we made a night of it.

Amanda hadn't said shit to me, or even glanced in my direction. She wasn't openly avoiding me, but I could definitely tell it was an effort for her. I tried to subtly watch her, but her eyes were glued to her phone.

When the pizza arrived, we all move to the back deck.

"We should all do something for spring break," Heidi said.

Everyone made a sound of agreement through mouthfuls of food.

"We should go to Mexico!" I said. Dylan nodded his head, fist bumping me. His mouth was too full to speak.

"NO!" Lucy gasped, her head shaking frantically. "Nu-uh! Not Mexico!"

All eyes were on her.

Cam swallowed his food, and then spoke through a smile. "Lucy here..." he pointed his thumb at her, "...thinks that if she goes to Mexico, they'll kidnap her and sell her as a sex slave."

We all laughed.

She still had that panicked look on her face. "It's not funny you guys, it happens."

"Lucy, we read that book three months ago. Get it out of your head." Micky said through a laugh. She was sitting sideways on Jake's lap while his arm rested on her legs.

"No," Lucy defended. "It's true. It happens all the time."

"Lucy," Amanda said. It was the first time she'd spoken since I got here. "I'm pretty sure you have to be virgin to be sold as a sex slave. And you
—
most definitely are
not
a virgin!"

Everyone cracked up.

"Yeah, she's not!" Cam high-fived Amanda.

Lucy's face turned to shock, but only for a second before she looked down at the floor, smiling to herself.

"You got family there right?" Cam asked Amanda.

How does he know that?

"Yeah. You guys would be welcome to stay there. They love having guests."

"You'd obviously be coming with us."

Obviously? What the actual fuck is going on? How long has Amanda been living here? And how the hell has she managed to get to know my friends without me knowing it?

"Maybe." She shrugged. "But if not, you guys could definitely stay there. Just let me know." She pulled her phone out of her pocket and excused herself, walking back into the house.

I watched her every move.

A few minutes later, she came back, but stood at the back door. "I gotta go. E's coming to get me."

"No. Don't leave yet." Micky was on her feet. "We wouldn't have even finished book club yet. Why are you going so soon?"

"Logan can give you a ride later," Lucy chimed in. I could
hear
her smiling; she was so damn obvious.

"Yeah. For sure. I'll give you a ride. No problem," I rushed out.

Smooth.

Then I just stared, waiting for her to say something. She never even looked in my direction.

"It's fine. He's on his way already." She waved to everyone before quickly making her way into the house and out the front door.

***

I was in the kitchen, throwing away some beer bottles, when Cam came in. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest, smug smile on his face. "So...Amanda..." he trailed off, expecting me to finish his sentence.

I didn't look at him. I didn't say shit.

"You know, when I first saw her with Lucy, she looked kind of familiar. But I couldn't place her. But now
—
I think I remember her
—
she's that girl from the diner right?"

I froze mid movement and glared at him.