Second Down (Moving the Chains Book 2) (20 page)

              “Several new scavenger hunt items have been submitted by your fellow students. You’ve been summoned here this morning to complete one of the tasks,” she glares at the beaming face of the lead Homecoming sponsor, Mrs. Anderson. “In an effort to keep these submissions from getting out of hand, most of them have been discarded. However, this particular item was brought up multiple times by students, and your Homecoming sponsors have deemed it acceptable.”

              Alex crosses his arms over his chest, his face full of suspicion. “What are we doing today? Teaching freshmen how to drive? Babysitting preschoolers?”

              He’s clearly not over Rob and me cling wrapping his car.

              Mrs. Anderson steps forward, her usual grin spreading to epic proportions. “A partner switch-up!”

              Everyone exchanges glances while Rob visibly stiffens next to me.

              “For the rest of the day, you’re going to switch escorts.” She holds out two baskets full of slips of paper. “Everyone choose another name!”

             
Of course
Mrs. Anderson would be all over this. The woman is maniacal, truly. Like she doesn’t get enough kicks out her bio experiment.

              Rob grips my hand to the point of pain. “Don’t pick Eddie.”

              “It’s not like I have much choice. He won’t do anything stupid at school anyway.” My voice sounds more confident than I feel. The thought of being partnered up with him for the day absolutely makes my skin crawl. At least we only share one class together, so the most we’ll have to do is eat lunch at the same table. I’ll be skipping a meal due to lack of appetite, but…it could be worse.

              Rob thrusts his hand into the basket that Mrs. Anderson proffers and reads the name aloud like everyone else before him did. “Kerri Peters.”

              The look of absolute glee on her face churns my stomach. She immediately sidles up to him and plasters herself to his side like a starfish.

              “Trevor Barnes,” I read from my chosen slip. Not a bad choice, except now every time I see Trevor I think of him warning his little brother to stay away from me. I suppose that means I won’t have to worry about Trevor getting too handsy.

              By the time we’re all paired up, Mrs. Anderson redirects our attention. “For the rest of the day, any scavenger hunt items you planned to complete such as the escort carrying the female partner between classes or dancing in the halls will be completed with your new partner. You’re also expected to eat lunch together and be seen as much as possible in the halls together. If you are able, try to do something together after school. Have fun!”

              From the corner of my eye I watch as Kerri tries to convince Rob to hoist her into his arms. Too bad everyone knows her and Eddie did that on Monday.

              “How’s it goin’, Evie?” Trevor stands at my side, a broad grin painted across his face. “I was planning on carrying Ana today, but I guess you’re her stand in.”

              So much for not being manhandled. He’s telling the truth, though. Trevor and Ana still haven’t completed this task, and that’s further reinforced when Ana climbs on Alex’s back. They go racing up the stairwell at top speed.

              “So, what’ll it be? Piggy-back or bridal style?” Trevor bounces on the balls of his feet, seemingly anxious to get the day started.

              I’m not sure how this is going to work since Trevor and I don’t share nearly as many classes as I do with Rob, but any potential answer I have for his question is stolen away.

              “Keep your hands off my girl, Barnes. You can carry Ana tomorrow,” Rob growls.

              He steps up beside me, dragging Kerri along with him as she clutches his hand in her talons. Her evil smile snaps something in me.

              In my experience, this play comes with a heavy penalty, but Rob’s hypocrisy and distaste for me wearing his name seals my fate for the day.

              I tap Trevor’s shoulder, motioning for him to bend down so I can climb onto his back. We’ll worry about class schedules later. Giving Rob a taste of his own medicine propels my words and actions. “Don’t be ridiculous, Rob. He has to carry me today. Alex is already carrying Ana.”

              “He doesn’t
have
to do anything.” Rob raises his eyebrows at Trevor, his stance oozing tension.

              Trevor’s gaze volleys between us while Kerri glares at me. “Uh, yeah. No problem. I can always carry Ana tomorrow.”

              “Have her at my place by six.” Rob orders. “We’re camping tonight.”

              “Rob,” Kerri whines. “
Come on
. We’re going to be late!”

              He lets her drag him down the hallway, never once looking back. But Kerri does. She throws a wink my way just before they round the corner into the stairwell.

              My blood pressure soars.

              “She’s such a skank,” Trevor breathes. “No one would blame you if you claw her eyes out later. And I’m pretty sure everyone’s money would be on you in that catfight.”

              Surprise roots my feet to the floor. If Trevor can so easily see Kerri’s intentions, then what blinds Rob to her behavior? Watching her shove her act down Rob’s throat all day seriously makes me consider playing hooky.

Chapter 23

Hate Me

Rob

            
 
Alex shoves an entire s’more into his mouth. “Who isn’t camping tonight?”

              Rachel licks melted marshmallow from her fingers. Predictably, the appearance of her tongue prompts Alex to adjust himself.

              At least he has the decency to be discreet about it in Evie’s presence. It’s not hard to imagine what’s running through his mind. The thought of Rachel potentially fulfilling his fantasies later in their own tent has me grinding my teeth.

              “Jess and Ashton are the only ones as far as I know. I feel so bad.” Rachel sighs. “I never expected the sponsors to agree to Dara’s suggestion. We submitted all the ideas before Homecoming Court elections, so I didn’t know ahead of time who would be involved. Everything on the list was supposed to be stuff that
anyone
could do.”

              We’re all grouped around the fire pit in my backyard, the tent where I’ll be sleeping with Evie only a few yards away. Alex and Rachel are all set up next door. They came over to hang out for a while when they saw the flames.

              I’m not sure if I’m grateful for their distracting presence or pissed off at them for all their meddling. The song Evie and I were assigned to dance to in the halls wasn’t a coincidence. Rachel knows that song is one of my favorites because it’s always reminded me of Evie. The karaoke choice was just as bad. Some duet about falling in love all over again.

              I figured there’d be some sabotaging during this scavenger hunt with a thousand-dollar bet on the line; I just never imagined it would be my dumb-ass friends trying to force things that shouldn’t happen. If I have to hear one more time how I should “Man up and be there for her,” I’m going to lose my shit. They don’t seem to understand that I’m doing exactly that.

              I chance a quick glance at Evie. She has her knees pulled up to her chest, looking as small as possible in the chair. Her gaze is fixed on the fire, and she’s barely responded to anyone this evening. She’s been in a daze since Trevor dropped her off.

              A half hour late.

              It took all my willpower not to lay him out flat when he opened the door of his Charger for her to climb out. All day long, my molars took a beating while I watched him like a hawk, making sure his hands didn’t stray into any inappropriate areas or that his eyes didn’t linger too long anywhere they shouldn’t.

              Rachel and Alex continue their own tally of scavenger hunt scores while I quietly watch Evie. Instead of fiddling with the corner of her notebook, her slender finger traces an aimless path over her knee, drawing attention to the scar I put on her hand the last time we were at a bonfire together.

              I have no clue what’s going through that pretty head of hers. The longer she stays silent, the more my suspicions of Trevor pile up. Add to that the all-consuming fear of spending an entire night together, and my stomach twists in knots.

              How am I supposed to be her safe place when I’m probably going to terrify her with my own nightmares? When I can’t protect her from guys who want to use and abuse her?

              “You two are seriously running out of time to complete the date item.” Rachel’s voice comes into focus, catching both mine and Evie’s attention.

              Evie furrows her brow, glancing between me and Rachel. “What do you mean? We already completed it. We went to the museum on Saturday.”

              “No pics means no proof,” Alex laughs.

              “Evie took a picture of me hugging a stranger at the museum,” I offer.

              Rachel shakes her head. “That counted for the hug a stranger item. Not the date item. You didn’t post any other pictures from that day.”

              “I guess we’re not going to finish the scavenger hunt, then. I have to work tomorrow night.” Evie’s shoulders slump in defeat even as she returns her gaze to the fire without glancing my way.

              Hell no. I agreed to this week-long disaster. The sad, faraway look in Evie’s eyes guts me. I never want to be responsible for her pain ever again.

              “Come on.” I rise from my chair and hold a hand out to her.

              She stands too, offering a pathetic smile to Alex and Rachel. “I guess we’re turning in for the night.”

              She takes my hand, but it’s not until we pass the tent that she finally graces me with her attention. “Um, where are we going?”

              “On a date.”

              “It’s almost ten. You have to be up early for conditioning. We don’t have time.”

              “I’m making time.” The clock’s almost up as it is. Once Homecoming is over, we’ll only be together in biology class. And after the quarter is done, maybe not at all.

              “We’re going swimming? Two problems with this idea, Falls. I don’t have my bathing suit, and it’s way too cold for a dip.”

              I push thoughts of Evie’s naked ocean story out of my mind as I unlock the gate. “We already drained the pool for the season, anyway. That’s not what we’re doing.”

              “What
are
we doing?” She shivers a bit at my side.

              I plop onto a lounge chair, pulling her down with me until she settles between my legs and rests her back against my chest. “Star gazing.”

              “Star gazing. Hmm.”

              “Is this…okay?” It’s certainly not big three material like she explained to me before. There’s nothing fancy or romantic about this at all. It’s not like I have a lot of experience in the dating department.

              “It’s perfect,” she sighs, but her body remains rigid against me.

              We’re silent for what feels like an eternity. Alex and Rachel’s conversation carries across the yards as they make their way to their own tent for the night.

“Oh, wait.” I slip my phone out of my pocket to take a picture of us. “How’s this?”

She looks at the screen with a grimace. It’s terrible, and I know it. I try again with a different angle. This one is better, an image of us just as we are, lying together in the dark.

“That’s fine.” Her voice is flat, monotone.

“I can try again if you don’t like this one. Or you could try, but I’m pretty sure I have longer arms.”

“Whatever.”

Warning bells sound in my head. I may not have a lot of experience, but I know damn well when a girl says “whatever,” that’s not actually what she means. Not at all.

“Did Trevor do something today? Touch you? Say something to you?” My hands ball into fists at the thought of him laying a finger on Evie. My heart gallops in my chest, readying for a fight that isn’t even here.

“No, Trevor was
fine
,” she grits out.

I take a few deep calming breaths, letting my arms relax. My rage and Evie don’t mix. She deserves nothing from me but protection, not anger. “Honey, you can talk to me, you know. If something happened today to upset you, I’ll take care of it.”

She sits up so quickly that my elbow slams against the arm rest of the lounge chair with a painful thud as she breaks free from my embrace. “Really? Just like you took care of Kerri all day? Is there any damsel in distress you won’t bend over backward for? Because after today, it’s clear that I don’t get any special treatment.”

My brain spin cycles in my skull. What the hell?

She rolls her eyes when I don’t reply. “Do you really believe she sprained her ankle today? She wanted you to carry her; you said no; she found another way. How do you not see it?”

“See what?” The only thing visible is an increasingly agitated Evie.

“She. Wants. You.” Evie slices her hand through the air on each word for emphasis.

Kerri and Evie’s animosity toward each other puzzles me as much now as it ever did.

“She doesn’t want me. We’re friends and have been for a very long time because she’s Rachel’s cousin.” I gesture toward the house that sits not ten yards from mine. “And you’re one to talk anyway. You looked pretty cozy with Trevor today.”

Evie’s eyes practically pop out of her skull. “I…I was not! He didn’t even carry me like he was supposed to!”

Her denial might have been believable. Except that Evie very rarely gets flustered enough to stammer through her words.

I stare at her, waiting for her to give me something concrete. It never occurred to me that I’d have to lose her all over again to another guy, even if I did tell her I’d let her go if that’s what she needs from me.

The idea takes root in my brain, spreading through my veins like a weed takes over a garden. Time’s running out. After this week, she’ll just be a painful memory. Selfish bastard that I am, every minute until then needs to count. Needs to last me a lifetime.

“Hey.” My fingers sweep over her fragile jawline as if they could memorize it just by touch. “We’re supposed to be on date. Not fighting.”

“Yeah,” she sighs. “You’re right.”

She settles back onto my chest. I band my arms around her, squeezing my eyes shut, and willing this memory to overtake all the bad ones. She’s here with me now because she wants to be. She’s not in someone else’s arms…yet.

“I hated seeing you with Trevor today,” I admit.

“I hated seeing you with Kerri,” she fires back.

Even if it’s irrational, a jealous Evie sends spikes of satisfaction through me. A smirk tugs at my mouth as I try to placate her anger by petting her hair. “I was not
with
Kerri. There’s not a single girl at school I want to be
with
.”

Her body slowly relaxes against mine as the fight drains out of her. I’d like to think it’s from my “magical hands” as she calls them, but that might be hoping a bit too much.

We sit in silence for a few more minutes until the sound of muffled moans floats to our ears from Rachel’s back yard.

Evie groans. “We’re about to hear more than that, aren’t we?”

Considering they’re a fully functioning and consenting couple, and I know for a fact that line has already been crossed, yeah. I fight down the nausea that builds in my stomach. “Probably. Might be a good time to retreat.”

              We make our way to the tent without any more words exchanged between us. She heads inside while I put out the fire.

              I left her in charge of the sleeping arrangements and was abundantly clear that once again, she’s in full control of our time together. I peek my head inside the tent, expecting to see sleeping bags set up on opposite sides of the space.

              Those hopes are dashed instantly.

              There’s a large pile of blankets and pillows in the center of the floor, but no Evie in sight. Judging by the lump in the middle, she’s already insulated herself against the chilly night air.

              Did I forget to give her the individual sleeping bags? I was banking on those to keep us apart. As much as she likes to snuggle me, sleeping together all night is out of the question. I’ll be lucky if I don’t wake her multiple times as it is.

Using my phone as a flashlight, I crawl my way to an empty spot on the floor and lie down on my back, staring up at the ceiling and contemplating all the ways this could go horribly wrong.

Her sigh cuts like a knife in the silence. “Aren’t you going to be cold?”

“I’ll be okay over here. But if you want me to hold you until you fall asleep, I can do that.”

“Truth or dare, Falls.”

I have no hope of masking the apprehension on my face. The last time we played this little game, we both admitted things we never intended for each other to know.

Her laugh eases me, but not enough to make me choose. “What? You never play games when you go camping?”

I swallow the tension in my throat and fight to keep her happy. “Are you going to stick my hand in a warm cup of water tonight to see if I’ll pee my pants?”

My favorite song makes an appearance. “Depends. Are you going to steal my bra and stick it in the freezer?”

Her bra is laying somewhere in here?

She only laughs harder at the look of shock on my face.

I don’t want her to know how much that repulses me, so I blurt the other question rolling through my mind. “Is that what girls do at sleepovers?”

“Oh, that and shaving cream in the hair, sharpie markers to the face, horror movies, and yeah...cups of water.”

“Okay, then. Truth or dare seems pretty tame. Dare.” I still can’t resist playful Evie, and honestly can’t wait to see what devious little pranks she comes up with. If I’m going to make it through this night, I’ll need as many distractions as possible.

“I dare you to get under the covers before you freeze to death. It’s supposed to get really cold tonight.”

“Mmm, no. I changed my mind. Truth.” As much as sleeping with her terrifies me, throwing her own words back at her eases my anxiety a bit.