Persuaded (5 page)

Once in the ladies’ restroom, I moved past a couple of women chatting near the doorway and walked around the fancy stalls to an excluded spot for women who wished to nurse their infants, or rest a moment. The area was vacant. Gratefully, I sank into one of the lavish plum- and gold-colored settees. For a moment I held my trembling hands together and attempted to suppress my emotions.

Okay, okay, okay. I need to stop stressing out. My life is not over just because Greg has moved on. Sure, the chance to see him again and be with him again has only been my biggest wish for the last three years, but it’s time to get over that. I know he must hate me. The best thing I can hope for is that I can be his friend. Or maybe I can help him find a perfect girl to be with.

See? Now that’s an idea, right?
I quickly wiped a tear off my cheek and forced myself to accept the situation.
Right? Just think, there are a ton of girls who could use Greg—I mean Gregory—in their lives. He can build their self-confidence and love and cherish them and make them feel like they are actually worth something. Everyone needs to feel loved and beautiful. Helping girls feel that way is what Gregory does best. There are hundreds right here in Farmington who’d even treat him good. They’d treat him better than I did and actually deserve him. I had my chance, and it’s pointless to hope for another one. The best I can do is help him find someone who will never hurt him.

There. That’s the plan, got it? I’m going to head out of here and smile and think of ways to help Gregory Wentworth find the girl of his dreams. And under no circumstances am I going to cry when he does—even if he chooses Sydney.

After taking a deep breath, I walked over to the sink and put some cold water in my palm. I smoothed it on the back of my neck and felt the tension ease a bit. I glanced in the mirror and splashed a couple of drops of water on my tense features. Then I quickly grabbed some paper towels and blotted myself dry before tossing them in the trash can. I pasted on a smile, hurried out of the restroom, and ran straight into Gregory’s hard chest. Instinctively his arms wrapped around me to keep me from falling.

Four: Heart Attack

“Oh! Sorry.” Shocked, I stepped away from him and stared up at his face. We were all alone in the little foyer that separated the men’s and the women’s restrooms.

“I—uh, are you all right?” Gregory’s eyes searched mine.

My heart began to race. “Y–yes.” I managed a weak smile. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

“Did I hurt you just now?”

“H–hurt me? No.”

“You’re sure?”

I smiled. “Yes, I’m sure. Thank you, I—”

“Excuse me.” He nodded and walked into the men’s restroom.

Oh. He left.

It wasn’t until I sat down at the table that I realized he probably didn’t want to be seen with me when I returned.

The rest of the night went as well as could be expected. Dinner was delicious, the company was polite, and the conversation was free of awkwardness.

Later however, in my room, I replayed that scene in the foyer over and over again as I attempted to make more out of it than there was. But as many times as I tried to replay those brief words to my advantage, my mind always wandered to the smiles Gregory gave my stepsister. And more importantly the arm that was wrapped around her shoulders during the dessert course.

It was a hopeless cause, and one I would have to learn to be grateful for.

“Come on! You have to say you’ll come with us!” Kylie pleaded over the phone.

“Kylie, four-wheeling is not my thing. Plus I’m not sure if I have to work yet or not.” The game my little cheerleading squad was performing at looked like it’d be cancelled, thanks to the other team getting hit hard with some sort of summer flu. I was still waiting for the official call that said if we were cheering or not.

“You are the weirdest girl, seriously. I’m not sure why I even bother. It’s just a little tour of Farmington.” Kylie laughed. “Besides, can’t you call in sick?”

“A tour? When do we have four-wheeling tours here in Farmington?”

“Ever since Carson Franklin started up his own business last week. We’re his first big group.”

I vaguely remembered the Franklin brothers. Carson was a year or two older than Ethan, Farmington’s four-wheeling champ. Ethan had graduated this year, and Carson had graduated a couple years before that. Not only were they the best drivers Farmington had ever seen—thanks to their dad teaching them everything he knew—their vehicles were constantly featured in sporting magazines worldwide.

“Wow! That’s really cool that Carson got his business license. I bet he’s pretty excited right now.”

“Are you kidding? He’s totally stoked! Everyone knows he’s going to be a huge hit. Come on, with as many awards as that guy has, who wouldn’t want to ride with him? You have to come. We’re gonna have a picnic and everything.”

Picnic? Darn, I love picnics.
“Well, who’s all going?”
Perhaps the team will cancel after all.

“I’m not sure, but as of right now I think it’s the new guy, Gregory . . .” As soon as Kylie said his name, I blanked out everyone else’s.

Gregory will be there. Yes, Gregory will be there! Ack! Wait. I don’t know if I want Gregory to be there.
I didn’t realize Kylie had stopped talking until it was too late. I tried to cover the pause. “Uh—wow! That’s a big group. Are you sure there’s room for me?”

“There’s just nine of us.”

“Yeah, but how are we all going to fit?”

“Amanda, ugh. Stop worrying about everything. Carson totally owns a Land Rover with twelve seats now.”

“Twelve seats? Is there something that big that can take us all off road?”

“So are you coming or what?”

“Uh . . .” I stalled.

“Come on and say you’ll come, okay?” Kylie said, now using her whiny voice. “Everyone’s going to be there, and I don’t want to go without you. Please? Please, please, please, please?”

“All right, fine. I’ll call and see if my junior cheerleaders have a game—if not, then I’ll go.”

“Thank you. I’m going to let everyone know. I’ll be there at 3:00 to pick you up since Sydney is riding with Gregory. Make sure you’re wearing stuff to hike in, in case we have to.”

“But Kylie, wait—”

“Bye!” I heard her laugh as she hung up the phone.

Great. What in the world have I gotten myself into? Four-wheeling with Gregory and Sydney—I don’t think I’m ready for it. Please let there be a game. Please, oh please, let there be a game.

There wasn’t. As soon as I hung up the phone, a text came in from Lacey, the head coach, saying the game had been cancelled. Resigned to my fate, I dug out my tennis shoes from the box I’d already packed. Then I grabbed a book to read while I waited for Kylie to pick me up, since I knew there was no way she’d let me say no now.

That’s how it had always been with Kylie and me. She could talk me into anything, and she knew it. We were so different that sometimes I wondered why we were friends. Of course, since her mom and my stepmom were friends in high school, it just was one of those things that happened. Kylie was the same age as Sydney and me. The only problem was Sydney never shared her stuff when we were little and I always did, so Kylie naturally hung out with me more.

I sighed as I flipped the page to a new chapter. Then I glanced at my watch—2:45. I had better get downstairs and let Veronica know where I was going. At least she’d be happy Sydney and I were spending quality time together.

When we arrived, a guy was standing near the fence, talking on his cell phone.

“That’s Carson,” stated Kylie as she drove past.

That’s Carson?
I looked again and really noticed him this time. He was cute. He waved toward our car and smiled, a friendly, easygoing grin that lit up his tan features.

We parked and stepped out of the car, and I was drawn to him again. At this angle with his back toward us, I admired the way his bright red shirt stretched across his shoulders and fell slightly over his khaki cargo shorts. His right foot was resting on a concrete parking median near the fence, and his left hand was fiddling with the chain links. For a moment I just stood there and watched him talk on his cell. After a few more seconds, he turned and rested his shoulder against the fence. His profile lit up as he laughed again and removed his dark army green hat to reveal short-cropped blond hair. Carson paused a few seconds and then chuckled into the phone while he rubbed his hand briefly over his hair—spiking it every which way—before setting his cap back on. His pink wristband caught my attention as he lowered his free hand and rested it in his pocket.

“Isn’t he hot?” Kylie’s voice at my right surprised me.

“Yeah, he’s cute.”

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s not Gregory-Wentworth hot—”

“No, definitely not.”

“—but he can still hold his own. I’m sure there are girls who would totally flip over that rugged outdoors look.” She grinned. “But I’m Team Gregory all the way.”

Me too.

“Oh, look! There’s Madison and Collin.”

I followed the direction her finger had pointed to and watched a sleek, silver sports car enter the parking lot.

Madison had graduated this year. I had seen her around a few times, but I had never really met her or her boyfriend Collin. I wasn’t surprised to see how good-looking he was when he stepped out of the car.

“Hey!” Madison cheerfully called out as she approached.

“Hello,” Kylie and I chorused together.

I watched Collin smile vaguely in response.

“So are you ready to go four-wheeling?” Madison smiled and rubbed her hands together. “I am so excited—you have no idea.”

“I’m ready,” Kylie answered.

Madison grinned more, and when no one else said anything, she asked me, “You’re Amanda, right?”

“Yeah.” I smiled back at her. Her peppy grin was irresistible.

“Have you ever been four-wheeling?”

“No.” My smile faltered a bit.

“Don’t mind her.” Kylie rolled her eyes. “Amanda’s afraid of everything.”

“Not everything.”

“Okay, so almost everything.” Kylie laughed, flipping her short, stylish brown hair before asking, “So, Collin, that’s a nice car. What is it?”