“What did you do to your hair? It’s adorable!”
Izzy struck a pose. “You like it?”
“I love it.”
“Beth dyed her hair, and it made me want to do it too.” She turned toward Lane, her gaze traveling over him.
Trudy almost forgot her manners. “Oh, Izzy, this is Lane. Lane, Izzy, my best friend since we were kids.”
Izzy turned back, her eyes wide. She mouthed, “He’s hot!” Then she took him by the arm. “Hello, Lane. Trudy has told me absolutely nothing about you. You must come inside and give me the scoop because I’m dying to know everything. How you met. How long you’ve been dating. Everything.”
Lane seemed to enjoy the attention, given the grin on his face. “All right.”
Trudy tugged on her sleeves. Izzy didn’t know about what had happened over the summer, and she wanted to keep it that way.
“So, tell me how you met. Wait!” She grabbed Trudy’s arm and looped it so she was in the middle of them. “I’m getting a vibe. It was at school, wasn’t it?”
Izzy thought she was clairvoyant. Really, she just liked to make guesses and half the time, she guessed right. Trudy played along and gasped. “You’re right. How do you do that?”
“It’s a gift.” Izzy flashed them a smile.
Lane raised one eyebrow but didn’t say anything about Izzy’s vibe.
She led them down a set of stairs to what Izzy called their game room. It looked more like a bar or a lounge with a pool table on one side, several tables surrounded by stools, and a bar in the corner. A gigantic television screen hung on one wall, with a couch and a couple of lazy boys surrounding it. Izzy pulled out a stool and motioned for Lane to take it.
“We have calculus together,” he said as he sat.
“Ah, I could sense that. Do you guys want anything to drink? We have soda or sparkling water.”
“I’ll take a Coke,” Lane said.
Trudy nodded. “Me too, only diet if you have it.”
“Sure thing.” She walked to the mini fridge behind the bar and produced two cans of soda. Then grabbed a La Croix for herself and brought them back to the table. “Have you been dating long?”
Lane shook his head as he grabbed his Coke. “No. Just since last Friday. In fact, Trudy said no when I first asked her out.”
“Really?” Izzy slid onto a stool. “Why’s that?”
“I don’t know.” His gaze connected with Trudy’s, and her stomach dropped. “Maybe because I’m so handsome she was intimidated.” He winked at her.
Trudy rolled her eyes. “Or, because you were friends with Gabe and he calls me Prudy.”
Lane winced. “He was just teasing.”
“Or, he’s a bully, and should be stopped.” Trudy shot him a glare.
Lane didn’t seem to notice, or he ignored her irritation. “Actually, how we started dating is kind of a funny story.”
“Do tell,” Izzy said, leaning forward.
Lane got a weird look on his face. “Trudy doesn’t know this, but Gabe made a bet that I couldn’t get her to go out with me.”
Trudy’s mouth went dry, and all the blood drained from her face. What was he doing? She gripped her can so tight, she dented it in and a little soda spilled out.
“What?” Izzy shrieked as she jumped up to get a napkin. “Why would he do that?” She tossed the napkin at Trudy and sat back down.
“Because when Trudy moved to town, Gabe thought she was cute. He made a pass at her, and she completely ignored him. The guys have been making fun of him ever since. Saying he crashed and burned with the new girl. He’s been mad about it ever since.”
Izzy crossed her legs. “Ouch, girl. Why did you shoot him down?”
What? Trudy had no idea what he was talking about. “When did that happen?”
“Just outside the gym. Last fall. You were on your phone and he sidled up to you, said some line that usually gets the girls to swoon, and you just turned and walked away.”
The memory suddenly surfaced, and bile burned her throat. “That was the day my sister had that huge infection. Things got really bad. I don’t remember him talking to me, but I remember getting the message that she was not doing well. I was standing by the gym. We thought we were going to lose her. My mom texted and told me to call her right away. I didn’t want to break down in front of anyone, so I left to call her outside.”
Lane swallowed and reached his hand out and took hers. The touch of his skin warmed her. “I’m so sorry.”
She blinked. “It’s okay. She got better. But I probably wasn’t even aware Gabe was there.”
“Dang. He’s been holding a grudge against you ever since.” Lane squeezed her hand.
Izzy waved her hand. “Wait, go back to the bet. I don’t understand. Why would he bet you couldn’t get her to go out with you?”
“Because he thought she’d shoot me down.” He grinned at Izzy. “Which she did. Over and over. Until we got to know each other.” His smile faded and he turned to Trudy, leaning closer. “And I’m so glad we did because Trudy is an amazing person. I feel like I could share my whole self with her, and she’d overlook all the flaws. She’s just like that, you know? She makes me feel like I’m worth something.”
Izzy said something, but Trudy couldn’t hear her response because her heart was beating too loudly in her ears.
Lane slid his hand up to her shoulder and stared into her eyes. “I don’t care about the stupid bet. I’m just glad Gabe thought of it because it brought you into my life.” He kissed the tip of her nose in a sweet gesture.
“Aw, you two are adorable,” Izzy said.
Trudy struggled to breathe as emotions swelled in her throat. Lane couldn’t be acting. Why would he tell her about the bet if this was all just to get her to go to Homecoming with him? He had to be telling the truth. And that made her heart soar.
Trudy’s phone buzzed and she pulled it out, grateful for the chance to get her emotions under control. A text from Jessica showed on the screen. How’s it going? She set her phone upside down on the table.
Izzy glanced at it. “Do you need to answer that?”
“No, not right now. I can answer later.”
“Is it important?” Lane asked.
Trudy shrugged. “Just my friend Jessica.”
“Then answer her. I’ll give Lane a tour of the house,” Izzy said.
Lane jumped off his stool. “I’d love that.”
Before Trudy could protest, they’d left her alone to talk to Jessica. She sat back in her seat and picked up her phone. I can’t go through with the plan. It’s all off.
What??? Why? What do you mean? What happened?
Trudy twisted in her chair to make sure Lane wasn’t in the room. Then she answered back.
Lane confessed. He told me everything about the bet. He isn’t in this just to get me to go to Homecoming with him. He really cares about me.
She held her breath while she waited for Jessica to answer.
Are you serious? He TOLD you??
Yes.
Oh, my freakin’ heck. I can’t believe it. You think he really is telling the truth then? That he likes you?
Trudy tapped her phone case, trying to decide how to answer. Was she being dumb? But then she thought about all the things Lane and she had shared. How sincere he looked as they talked about deep things.
Yes, I do.
So, you’re going to Homecoming then?
Yes.
Alright, girl. You go for it then. Just be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt.
I’ll be careful.
She hit send, but then she realized she didn’t know exactly what that meant. Careful with her heart? Because she was pretty sure she’d already given that to Lane.
Gabe took his helmet off, the heat unbearable. He bent and rested his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. He’d been running almost non-stop this entire practice. Luckily, they were finishing up.
He walked toward the bleachers, taki
ng in gulps of air. If they didn’t win the Homecoming game, it would be Lane’s fault. How stupid of him to get caught cheating. Yeah, he’d told him to do it, but he didn’t tell him to get caught.
He climbed up a few steps before he caught his breath enough to sit down. One of the band members had left their hat sitting on the bench and he picked it up, playing with the feather. Under the hat sat a cell phone with a green sparkly phone case. He picked it up, curious as to who would leave their cell phone lying around.
The phone came to life, and a string of text messages showed up on the screen. He probably wouldn’t have cared about it except Trudy’s name showed. And then he saw the word bet.
His palms grew sweaty as he read the messages back and forth. He wasn’t sure what all of it meant, but he realized two things. Lane had told Trudy about the bet, and it had made her believe he really liked her. The snake was playing dirty.
He was going to lose and have to shave his head.
He swore under his breath and set the phone back down, placing the hat on top. He sprinted down the stadium steps. No way was he going to let this happen. If Lane was going to play dirty, he would have to up his game. He was going to have to think of something good to split them up.
Chapter 22
Lane glanced over at Trudy sitting in the passenger seat. “You look tired.”
She smiled and slowly nodded, her eyelids drooping. “I am.”
“At least we’re almost to your house.” They hadn’t talked much on the way home, but it had been a comfortable silence. Trudy kept looking at him with an expression he couldn’t quite read, but she had a smile, so he figured it was a good thing. “Did you enjoy your time with Izzy?”
She touched his arm. “I had a wonderful day. Thank you so much for doing this for me.”
“No sweat.” He grinned at her. “It was great to meet your friend. She’s something else.”
Trudy laughed. “You do have to meet her to really understand her personality.”
“I agree with that.” He pressed the brakes as he came to a stoplight. “What was up with her and all that psychic stuff? Is she really psychic?”
She gave him a sideways glance. “Do you think she’s psychic?”
He almost laughed out loud, but he wasn’t sure if she thought Izzy was psychic or not and he didn’t want to offend her. “She did get it right that we met at school.”
“Yeah, that was stunning.”
He grinned as he turned on her block. “Is that sarcasm I hear?”
Trudy sat up in her seat and stared out the window. “Both my parents’ cars are home. I wonder what’s up.”
Lane pulled up in front of her house and put his car into park. “Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know.”
Worry lines on her forehead made him apprehensive. “Do you want me to come in?”
“Yeah.” They walked up to her door and she opened it and stepped inside. Lane followed behind her.
Her parents were standing in the living room, talking. Mrs. Ward turned when they entered the room. “Oh, good. You’re home. I was just going to call you.”
“What’s going on?”
Mr. Ward stood rigid, his face impassive. Mrs. Ward looked like she was tired and emotionally spent. She took a step toward Trudy. “Honey, they’re releasing your sister from the hospital. She’s coming home tonight.”
Trudy gasped. “Are you serious? That’s incredible. Is she better?” She glanced between her parents, neither one answering right away.
Lane’s stomach clenched and he put his hand on Trudy’s shoulder. Mrs. Ward shook her head. “No,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes.
Mr. Ward cleared his throat. “She’s being sent home because…there’s nothing more they can do.”
Trudy’s smile faded as understanding filled her gaze. “Oh.”
“Hospice will be coming to the house twice a day to help with things,” her father said.
Trudy blinked and a tear slid down her cheek. “So, that’s it? They can’t do anything else? Can we take her to another doctor? Get another opinion?”
Mrs. Ward shook her head. “No, honey. I’m sorry. That’s not possible.”
Trudy fisted her hands and her face flushed. “Why not? Why aren’t you guys doing anything?” Her voice rose in pitch. “Are you just going to let her die?”
Her parents looked stunned, but before either could respond, Trudy turned and ran out of the house, leaving an uncomfortable silence behind.
“I’ll go talk to her,” Lane said.
“Okay.” Mr. Ward crossed his arms. “She might need some time to deal with this.”
“You’re right, she probably will.” Lane pushed through the screen door and out into the dark night. He spotted Trudy sprinting down the sidewalk, a streetlight reflecting off her hair. He ran after her.
“Trudy, wait.”
She didn’t slow, her footfalls slamming the sidewalk. Her hair swung as she ran, and he could see little puffs of her breath on the cool night air.
Lane pushed harder and caught up to her. “Trudy,” he said as he grabbed her shoulder. “Stop.”
She whirled around. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Let me go.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” As soon as the words were out, he knew they weren’t true. It wasn’t going to be okay. Allison was dying and there wasn’t anything anyone could do.
“It’s not okay,” Trudy shouted, her voice breaking. “You heard them. They’re not doing what they should. They need to fight this. They’re not being responsible parents.” She angrily wiped the tears from her cheeks.
Lane wanted to take away her pain. He wanted to promise he would find a doctor who could cure her sister, but he knew no such person existed. He felt helpless. “Trudy,” he said quietly.
“They are just giving up. How can they do that? She’s their daughter.” She dissolved into more tears.
Lane pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. He had no words to say, so he didn’t say anything. His throat was tight anyway. She clung to him, sobbing. “They can’t do this to her.”
“Hush, now. It’s all right.” Lamest words ever.
Trudy shook her head. “No. It’s not.”
He kissed her forehead. “You’re right. It’s not all right. And I’m sorry. I wish—” The rest of the words wouldn’t come out. He swallowed, but the lump in his throat only grew bigger.
She trembled and he couldn’t think of anything to do except hold her while they stood in the middle of the sidewalk. When her sobs finally subsided, she pulled back from him and wiped at her eyes. “Why did she have to get sick? She was the one with all the friends. Everything going for her. It should have been me.”
Her heartbroken words stabbed through him, and he sucked in a breath. “Don’t say that.”
“Why not? It’s true. I could disappear and no one would miss me.”
Lane took her shoulders, and when she wouldn’t look at him, he hooked his finger under her chin to lift her gaze. “I would miss you, woman. Don’t you know I love you?”
He hadn’t meant to say those words, but now they were out there, hanging in the air. And Trudy just stared at him with wide eyes. Two seconds ticked by. Then three. She didn’t react. Didn’t say a word. He wished he could suck the words back in his mouth.
She blinked. “What did you say?”
Oh, no. That wasn’t the response he was hoping for. That wasn’t at all what he wanted her to say. And now what was he supposed to do? Repeat those words? He hadn’t even meant to say them in the first place. But, if he were being honest, he couldn’t deny it. He was in love with Trudy. He swallowed. “I love you,” he said deliberately, his voice low, almost a growl.
“I don’t know what to say.”
Dang, she was killing him. He squeezed her shoulders. “Then don’t say anything. I don’t need you to say it back. I just want you to know, when you’re feeling worthless…” He picked up her hand, his gaze traveling down to
her wrist. “And you don’t know if life is worth living…you are loved.”
Tears sprung to her eyes and she threw her arms around his neck. As she snuggled into his chest, she sniffled. “Why did I ever doubt you? You are the most amazing man I know. I’m so glad you’re here for me.” Then her voice grew quiet. “I’m going to need you.”
“I’ll be here for you, Trudy. No matter when you need me, just call. Okay?”
She nodded, her face still pressed to his chest. “I’m so sorry I yelled at you. It’s just too much. Jasper hasn’t come back, and now this. I can’t handle it.”
“I know.” He rested his cheek on the top of her head. “It’s okay.”
He held her as time stretched, and his heart ached for her. For what she was going to have to go through.
“I love you too,” she said quietly.
The words filled him and he closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of her. “You didn’t have to say it.”
“I wanted to.”
Lane sighed into her hair, content to simply stand there and hold Trudy. He didn’t care that the night air had grown cold. He was filled with warmth.
Chapter 23
Trudy slung her backpack over her shoulder and entered her house. The change in atmosphere was striking. Instead of the empty feeling she was used to, the house was alive. Her mother stood in the living room talking with Mrs. Gable from New Haven. A nurse walked by and she could hear loud chatting coming from the back of the house.
She approached her mother. “What’s going on?”
Her mother motioned to Mrs. Gable. “Trudy, you remember Mrs. Gable, right? She brought Heather and a few other friends to visit with Allison.”
A sinking feeling started in her gut. They were coming to say goodbye to her. “Yes,” she heard herself say. “Nice to see you, Mrs. Gable.”
“Why don’t you see if your sister needs anything?” Her mother turned back to Mrs. Gable, a clear dismissal.
Trudy sighed and walked into Allison’s bedroom. Heather, Maranda and Amy were in the room, chatting with her sister. Allison’s face was pale, but her bright smile made her look ten times better than she had in the last few months. “Hey, sis,” Trudy said. “Mom wants to know if you need anything.”
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