And that was the only thing I could cling to right now.
22
Jimmy
Andy shot me a concerned glance from the desk next to mine as I drummed my fingers on my book. I was so antsy that it was impossible to focus on chem class. What guy wanted to learn about vapors and gasses when the girl he’d fallen hard for was nowhere to be found all day? Not at her locker. Not in the hallways. Nowhere. It was like she’d disappeared off the face of the planet.
It was last period and just minutes away from winter break. I stared at the clock, willing it to move faster, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. Dragging my fingers over my face, I stared down at my half-written notes. What had we been talking about? Oh yeah, no one cared. Especially not with winter break on their minds.
When the last bell finally rang, I was out of there like a shot, ignoring Andy calling my name, and scanning the crowds for any sign of a mass of blonde curls.
I wasn’t expecting Mia to take me back. Not after the way things had ended between us. But I had to apologize. I had to tell her that she was right; it had been self-righteous of me to turn things around on her like that when I’d been the one lying.
I had taken responsibility for my actions. I’d spent half the morning talking to Principal Gentry, explaining to her that I’d burned down the school shed. As agreed, I’d left Andy and Taggish out of the story. It was all on me. She’d been surprisingly calm about the whole thing. I’d fully expected her to call the police and have me escorted off of school property right then and there, but instead, she’d asked me how I was going to make this right.
Thanks to my conversation with Dad last night, I’d already figured that out. I was going to build a brand new shed for the school and spend the summer working to pay for everything that had been lost. She’d agreed to that deal and hadn’t even banned me from baseball. In her words, I was going to learn far more this way than if she’d suspended me.
There had never been a cooler principal.
“Man, stop running away.” Andy appeared at my side, holding his ribs as he struggled to breathe. “Didn’t you hear me calling you?”
“Dude.” I slapped Andy on the back as I ignored his question. “Have you seen Mia anywhere? I wanted to catch her before everyone leaves for the break, but I haven’t seen her anywhere.”
He held a rolled-up copy of the latest Prowler issue that had hit school newsstands just before last period. “You haven’t seen this yet? I tried to tell you about it in chem class, but Ms. Dunderfin wouldn’t stop talking.”
“No. Not yet. I told you, I don’t have time to read it. I need to find Mia.”
Andy shook his head. “I really think you need to take a look at this first. You’ll understand why in a minute.”
Frustration boiled up inside me, but I took the newspaper anyway and flattened it. On the front page, in big, bold words, was “Dear Mia Says Goodbye.” I held it between my hands and quickly scanned the article.
“What the—?” My hands shook as I started reading aloud. “For once, words cannot fully express how I feel. I was wrong. I am truly sorry. Sorry to Lindsey for writing those words about her. Sorry to Jimmy for hurting him. And sorry that I won’t get a chance to say these words in person. I hope you all can forgive me as I say my final goodbye.”
I looked up at Andy and frowned. “What does that mean?”
“Keep reading, man.” He pointed at the article. “Your girl is leaving town. She’s out of Sweet Mountain High. Never coming back.”
The room began to spin around me. It couldn’t be true. When I’d asked Dad last night to stop in and visit Mr. Jackson about his drinking, I never imagined I’d be sending Mia away for good. Everything had happened so fast.
It wasn’t fair. She shouldn’t have to leave because of me. This was her home. I hadn’t meant to rip her whole world apart.
“No, no, no.” The paper fell to the floor as I gripped my skull between my hands. “This can’t be happening. Not now.”
Andy picked up the paper and cocked his eyebrow as he folded it back up. “She’s leaving. What can you do about it?”
I grimaced and stared up at the ceiling. Right now, it didn’t feel like I could do much. I could move on with my life. Head to the gym like I’d planned and pump iron for a few hours. Let the endorphins wash away the hopelessness. Go home and toss around the baseball until it totally sunk into my brain that life without Mia would be incredibly boring and sad.
Or, I could run after her and convince her to stay.
There was pretty much zero chance of that plan working, but I had to try. I had to see her one last time. After all we’d gone through together, it couldn’t end like this.
“I’m not going to make it to the gym today,” I said, punching Andy in the shoulder. “I’ve got something important to do.”
He laughed, rubbing the spot. “Coach isn’t going to be very happy with you.”
“I know,” I said, backing up. “But tell him this can’t wait.”
“No, I think I’ll tell him Jimmy Alston has gone crazy with love,” he shouted. “You’ve lost your mind, man.”
I shook my head and grinned as I began to sprint for the parking lot. Maybe that was true, but until I saw Mia’s face again, I couldn’t be sure this crazy spell would wear off. I had to talk to her.
Even if that still meant losing her.
23
Mia
“Dad, are you sure this is what you want?”
I leaned on the side of his car as he packed his suitcase in the trunk. For the first time in a while, he didn’t look quite so wrinkly. He wore his winter coat over a pressed button-down shirt and jeans. His chin was neatly shaved, and his eyes bright.
“This is what I have to do,” he said, pulling me into a tight hug. For once, he didn’t reek of booze. The only thing I could smell was his aftershave, and I inhaled it gladly. “I have to get clean. For you. For me. For our future.”
My dad had done a complete transformation in a matter of hours. After I’d gotten back from picking up my stuff from school this morning, I’d found him and Mom sitting in the kitchen waiting for me, their eyes both wet with tears. Dad was now determined to go to rehab. It was the only way he could be sure to turn his life around.
He’d even shown me the brochure of the place he’d picked out. It was full of smiling faces and pictures of green lawns and comfy living spaces. It didn’t matter how long it was going to take, he wanted to do it for the both of us. I couldn’t have been prouder of him.
“I’m going to miss you so much.” A single tear ran down my cheek as I squeezed his waist. “I know you have to go, but I’ll miss you.”
He pulled away just enough to put a finger under my chin and lift it up until my gaze met his face. “Mia, my beautiful, sweet daughter. I will miss you more than you can ever know. I’m sorry for what I put you through. I only hope that I can make it up to you one day.”
I shook my head and squeezed him one last time. He didn’t owe me anything. Life with Dad might have been sad at times, but I’d always felt loved. Just like I did now. That would never change. I would hold onto the fact that this time spent apart meant we’d get to share more happy years together down the road. It would all be worth it.
“Now, you be good for your mom,” he said, glancing up at her where she watched us from the porch, her blonde tresses blowing gently in the wind.
It was strange seeing Mom at home again. Almost unnatural. Dad nodded at her in goodbye, and she did the same before turning and walking back into the house.
“Keep chasing after your dream,” he said, looking back at me. “I mean it, kiddo. Don’t follow in your dad’s example. Success isn’t passive. You have to chase it down and keep fighting for it over and over again. Do you hear me? If it’s something you love, the fight will always be worth it.”
I knew he was talking about my writing, but my heart twinged with a little bit of pain as Jimmy’s face appeared in my mind. Even with a
ll of the hurt, my time with Jimmy had been worth it. He was the kind of guy I’d fight to be with over and over. If only I hadn’t messed it up.
“Make sure you thank your friend’s dad for me,” he said, climbing into his car and poking his head out the open window. “Without him, I never would’ve gotten into this place. It’s supposed to be the best of the best.”
I leaned my hand against the door. “What do you mean? What friend?”
“That pastor’s kid.” Dad nudged me gently with his fist. “Pastor Alston came over this morning while you were at school. He was the one who convinced me treatment was the way to go. He’s counseled many people through it. I’ve got to tell you, he’s the most persuasive man I’ve ever met. Would’ve given him the house, if he’d asked for it.”
He laughed at his own joke as my world tilted slightly. Jimmy’s dad had been here? What did that mean? How had he known? I wouldn’t have expected Jimmy to say anything to him. I mean, the last I saw Jimmy, he totally hated me. There was no way he cared enough anymore to get his dad involved.
Was there?
Dad started the car and waved at me. “Goodbye, my beautiful Mia. I’ll call you as often as I can. Be good to your momma.”
I blew him a kiss as he pulled out of the drive. And when he turned the corner, I wrapped my arms around my abdomen and tried not to cry. Things were going to be different from now on. Maybe they’d get better, but I couldn’t be sure. I was going to miss him every single minute of every day.
Yesterday, I’d thought that leaving Sweet Mountain High was going to make everything less painful, but I’d been wrong. I loved this town—the place where my parents had decided to grow a family. Even if I’d screwed everything up here, it still had my heart. That would never change.
I was just about to turn toward the house when a maroon Honda came sailing down the street at break-neck speed. The person driving slammed on the brakes, and the tires squealed across the pavement. I took an involuntary step backward on our front lawn, unsure what I was seeing. That car looked awfully familiar. And the figure sitting in the driver’s seat was definitely someone I knew.
“Mia! Wait!”
Jimmy threw the car door open and hopped out, his winter coat unzipped even in the chilly December air. The sound of my name coming out of his mouth made me tremble a bit. I never thought I’d hear him say it again.
I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, feeling nerves prickle along my skin. “What are you doing here?”
He leaned back inside the car to grab two white, plastic cups and then began to stride toward me. There was hope in his eyes and a soft, nervous smile on his lips. All of the anger and frustration I’d seen in his face the night of the dance was gone. The sight of him nearly made my knees buckle. I’d never expected to see him again, let alone see him looking at me like that. And when he came near, I had to cross my arms to keep my hands from shaking.
“I came to apologize,” he said, stopping with enough distance between us to make it feel like a mile. “I think I messed up.”
I cocked my head to one side, feeling confused. Clearly, I had been the one who messed up. I, one hundred percent, owned up to that fact. “What do you mean?”
“I met this really amazing girl, and then I walked away at the first sign of trouble. I messed up.”
My eyelids closed, and I smiled as hope sprung up inside me. This felt like a dream. It couldn’t be real. Jimmy Alston could not be standing in front of me, telling me that he still had feelings for me.
But when my eyes opened again, he’d moved closer, his expression changing to something much more solemn. He glanced down at the cups in his hands, hurt passing over his face. “And then I might have messed up again. I told my dad about this girl’s problems at home and asked him to help. I didn’t mean to ruin everything for her. I only wanted to help.”
Never in my life had I felt so grateful to anyone. The feeling flowed through every cell in my body, urging me to reach out to him. I couldn’t thank him enough. My dad was going to get treatment because of him. He’d given me the very best gift.
“You didn’t ruin anything.” I bit my bottom lip and held back the tears that had formed in my eyes. “You helped him see that he needed help. Thank you.”
Jimmy cradled both cups with one arm and then reached out tentatively to touch my face. His thumb softly caressed my cheek, making my skin flush. I leaned into his touch, hardly daring to believe what was happening. Jimmy was standing in front of me, looking at me like I was the most precious thing in the world. Touching me like he never wanted to stop.
“But, you’re leaving.” He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “And it’s all my fault.”
I smiled at him, feeling the sadness in his words. “It’s not your fault. After our fight on Saturday, I was the one who called my mom. I was so tired of all of the lying and the hiding. I came clean, just like I did in the article today.”
He shifted slightly, tilting his head to one side. “I saw that.”
“And I meant every word.”
“I know. Thank you.”
“So, you see.” I took a step back, and his hand dropped back to his side. “I figured it was for the best if I cut my losses and transferred to a school near my mom’s work. Everyone at Sweet Mountain High hates me.”
He shook his head, taking a step to claim the distance I’d put between us. “Not everyone.”
Exasperation filled my voice. “But I used you, Jimmy. Manipulated you. How can you ever forgive that?”
“Everyone makes mistakes, but you owned up to it.” He cocked an eyebrow. “And you were right about me. I was lying, too. That’s why I told my dad and Principal Gentry that I burned down the garden shed. They’re still going to let me play baseball, but I’m going to have to put in the work and fix what I broke.”
My lips parted in astonishment. Jimmy had put a lot on the line by confessing his crime. But then again, I shouldn’t have been so surprised. Jimmy was a good guy. The best. It had taken me a lot of years to realize it, but now I knew how blind I’d been.
“And that’s also why I’m here.” He handed me one of the white cups. It was cold, the insides sloshing around a bit as I looked inside. “To fix the other thing I broke.”
“Your dad’s famous shake?” I glanced up at him to see him smiling at me in a way that made my heart flutter.
“It’s only ice cream, until there’s no more ice cream,” he said, tilting his head to one side, so his black hair fell onto his forehead in a sexy way that made me want to run my hands through it. “I’m here for you, Mia, always. Even if I’m on the other side of the world, or just a few states away at college. You can count on me. As long as I’m around, there will always be ice cream. I’m your people.”
My chin trembled as his words sunk in. I’d been struggling alone with everything for so long that I’d forgotten what it felt like to have people on my side. Raquel, my mom, and now Jimmy. It was going to be tough with my dad gone, but now I knew for sure I could face it.
There was only one thing left to do.
Taking the cup from his hand, I set them both down on the grass beside us. With a glance up at Jimmy’s guarded expression, I ran my palms along the sculpted muscles of his arms and draped my hands over his neck. Our chests pressed together, and I wondered if he could feel how fast my heart was racing.
“Thank you,” I said, staring up into his green eyes. “And I’m sorry for everything.”
His fingers sunk into my wild hair, his gaze filling with heat. “I’m not. I’m only sorry I didn’t chase after you that night at the dance.”
I snorted softly. “Are you telling me that if you could go back in time, you’d still be my fake boyfriend?”
He smirked in a way that made my stomach heat. “Yep.”
I traced my finger down his jawline to his dimpled chin, my gaze zeroing in on his mouth. “And you’d still kiss me in front of all of your friends?”
His jaw clenched and un
clenched as I heard him swallow. “Definitely.”
My eyes flicked up to his. The smoldering expression I saw there turned the heat in my gut to a full-on inferno. His grip tightened in the baby curls at the back of my neck as he leaned in closer.
“What am I going to do with you?” I whispered.
His lips twitched with a smile. “How about a little quid pro quo?”
I laughed softly. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. You scratch my back, I scratch yours, right?” He licked his lips, making my knees go wobbly. “Although, I’d prefer the version where we kiss.”
I couldn’t help but smile. It was an amazingly cheesy line, and it was perfect. I tipped my head up, rising to my tiptoes. Jimmy bent down to meet me half-way and captured my mouth with his.
The impact was electric. It was a lightning storm in my veins. An electric shock that nearly stopped the heart. His arms tightened around my back, pulling me in closer. His lips worked gently over mine, teasing me with a soft tug on my lower lip. I repaid him by gently biting his own lip. He growled into my mouth, deepening the kiss until I was thoroughly dizzy and weak in the knees.
Jimmy kissed me as if to make up for lost time. And when we finally pulled apart, we walked hand in hand up to my porch to sit on the steps, sip our milkshakes, and sneak flushed glances at each other. I hid partially behind my curtain of curls, feeling a mountain of emotions and thoughts, the first of which was very much a desire to kiss Jimmy again, and again, and never let him go.
“You’re leaving,” he said in a dejected voice, staring out at the street.
I squeezed his hand, not entirely sad. Maybe I was leaving, but it felt good to have someone who’d miss me, who’d think about me when I was gone.
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
He glanced over at me, his eyes narrowing in a question.
I smiled at him. Honestly, at this point, anything in the world felt possible, including Mia Jackson staying in Sweet Mountain just a little while longer.
My Fake Boyfriend Page 13
