“It’s because of her, isn’t it?” she said, on the verge of tears.
“No, of course not. It was over before Mackenzie.”
Mattie got out of the car. “Is it because of Gus? I swear, nothing happened between us.”
“No. Look, I have to get going.”
She threw her arms around me. “Please, don’t do this Chase. We’re supposed to be together.”
“Mattie, stop,” I said, trying to push her away as she clung to me. I didn’t want to hurt her but she wouldn’t let go. “Enough!””
She stiffened up and before I knew it was hitting me in the chest and calling me names.
Shocked at her hysterics, I grabbed her wrists. “Stop it. What in the hell are you doing? Have you been drinking?”
Openly crying now, Mattie tried pulling away. “You asshole! Don’t think I don’t know you’re doing all of this for Mackenzie!”
I released her. “There’s nothing between us,” I argued.
“I’ve seen the way you look at her. You broke up with me so you could be with that… that slut!”
“It’s not true,” I said. “Calm down.”
“How can you stand to even be near her? She keyed your car. She’s spreading rumors about me. Nobody likes her. She’s a lying, conniving, little bitch.”
“Calm down,” I repeated, softening my voice. “This has nothing to do with her. I didn’t even know Mackenzie when we talked about this. Us just being friends.”
“Are you sure about that?” she snapped, backing away from me.
“Of course I am. Look, if you don’t believe me, then I don’t know what more I can say to you, Mattie.”
She got back into the Beemer. “You’re going to regret this, Chase. As soon as you’re bored with her, you’re going to want me back and it’ll be too late. I’ll be with someone else.”
“I hope that’s the case, Mattie. I really do,” I said sincerely.
Glaring up at me, she started the engine and then tore out of the parking lot.
I got into my Mustang and drove to the diner, my mind still on Mattie. Her refusal to accept that our relationship was over was both annoying and worrisome. I was beginning to feel that we couldn’t even be friends. But, we hung out with the same people and I wasn’t going to make anyone choose sides. I just wanted everything to be cool between us, but from what I’d seen tonight, it might not ever be the case.
Pushing aside the troubling thoughts, I arrived a couple of minutes early and headed inside. Mackenzie saw me and skated over.
“I’m almost done. I just have to punch out and change into my shoes.”
“No rush,” I replied, noticing that she looked a little anxious and disheveled. Something told me that she’d had a frantic night, even though the place seemed pretty dead at the moment. “Take your time.”
“Okay.” She skated away.
I walked over to the bulletin board, next to cash register, and began reading about the awards the diner had gotten. There was everything from Best Small Town Burger Joint to Best Fifties Diner in the Midwest.
“Hey, look who’s here,” said a voice behind me.
Fuck.
It was Gus.
I turned around and saw Gus with another guy from Lancaster. Both had on their letter jackets. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I dropped by Mackenzie’s place and her grandmother said she was working here. I thought we’d stop in and sample some pie.”
The other guy, Joe, chuckled.
“I bet,” I replied.
“Where’s the bathroom here?” Joe asked.
I pointed toward the back of the restaurant.
“I’ll be right back.” He took off toward the restrooms.
“So, what are you doing here, Davis?” Gus asked.
“I was going to grab a bite but then noticed she was working. I was just about to leave.”
“You’d better not be sticking around. Have you been keeping your end of the deal?”
“Yeah,” I lied. “I mean, we see each other in school, so I can’t avoid her totally. But, I haven’t made any moves or anything.” I noticed Mackenzie looking at us curiously from across the room and knew that I had to do something fast, before she came over. Gus could not find out that I was giving her a ride. An idea came to me. “Dude, you’ve got some shit in your teeth. You might want to check that out in the restroom.”
He tried picking at his teeth.
“It’s still there.”
“Fuck.” He took off toward the bathroom.
I hurried over to Mackenzie.
“I see Gus is here,” she said, not looking very enthused.
I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll meet you outside, behind the diner. Do me a favor and don’t tell him that I’m giving you a ride home. He might get the wrong idea. We’re not exactly friends.”
She nodded in understanding. “Oh, okay. No problem. I’ll meet you in the back parking lot. So he doesn’t see me get in.”
“Good idea.” I turned around and left the restaurant. As I was getting into my car, I wondered if he’d volunteer to drive her home.
What would she tell him?
I started the engine and drove behind the building. A couple of minutes later, she walked out of the back door carrying her skates.
“Hi,” she said, getting into the car.
“Hi.”
I waited for her to buckle up and then drove through the parking lot. I wasn’t sure what Gus was driving, but I assumed he’d stayed to eat.
“Did Gus ask if you needed a ride home or anything?”
“Yeah. I told him that I was getting a ride from a co-worker.”
“Good idea.”
“You really didn’t want him to know, huh?” she said, sounding more amused than anything.
“No. He wouldn’t like it.”
“I felt kind of funny lying. I could have just told him that my grandmother had set it up. Or, I don’t know, I guess I could have just accepted the ride and gave you a break.”
“It’s no big deal. I don’t mind picking you up.”
“Well, thanks again.”
“No problem. So, are you two officially dating?”
“No.”
“Does he know that?”
“God, I hope so,” she mumbled.
I smiled.
34
Mackenzie
He looked pleased, which didn’t come as a surprise. Especially considering they were rivals.
“I like Gus, but just as a friend. I’m only going to the dance because he asked and it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“And now it doesn’t?”
Not while I was sitting next to him. I knew that he was just doing my grandmother a favor, by giving me a ride. But, he could have made up an excuse not to. And maybe it was wishful thinking on my part, but I felt like he actually wanted to drive me home. He could have very easily bowed out when Gus had showed up at the diner.
“I just don’t want to lead him on,” I replied.
“Just be open and honest.”
“Yeah. I’m planning on it.”
“So, are you going to Jason Sharkey’s party tomorrow?”
“I think so.” The butterflies in my stomach began to dance.
Did he want me there?
“Are you?” I asked.
“I don’t know yet.”
“Do you have to work?”
“No.”
He was silent for a few seconds and then said he had some things going on.
“Another race?”
“Not exactly.”
Was he seeing Mattie?
“Do you know if Mattie’s going?”
He suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Probably. Another reason I probably shouldn’t go.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s pissed at me for breaking up with her.”
I bit back a smile.
Good.
“Honestly, I think she’s the one who keyed your car,” I said.
>
“No. It wasn’t her.”
I raised my eyebrow. “And you’re sure because...?”
“Of what was written on the door.”
“Which was?”
He hesitated and then sighed. “It said ‘Mattie’s Bitch’.”
I cringed. “Oh.”
He scowled. “Yeah. Pretty fuckin’ immature.”
“Well, if it would have been me, I’d have keyed ‘asshole’ or ‘prick’,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
He chuckled. “You and a lot of other people. I was actually thinking that Gus might have been the culprit. Especially after that comment he made the other day about seeing Mattie at some party last summer.”
“Yeah, he might be jealous. Maybe I can get him to confess to me on our date.”
“Will you tell me if he does?”
I nodded. “He’ll probably deny it later, but at least you’ll know.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
He turned on some music and we were both quiet for the rest of the ride. When we pulled up to my grandmother’s place, Chase turned the music back off.
“Well, thanks again,” I said, reaching for the door handle.
“No problem. Hey, can I ask you a personal question? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
I stared at him curiously. “What is it?”
“Where are your parents?”
My chest tightened. “They were killed in a car accident.” I looked away.
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry for your loss,” he said softly.
“Thanks.”
“When did it happen?”
“Just a few months ago.”
He swore again. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so nosy.”
“It’s okay.”
He reached over and touched my hand. It was meant as a comforting gesture but the contact sent a warm rush through me.
“I lost my mom when I was nine,” he confessed.
I looked into his eyes. The sadness there touched my heart. It had happened almost ten years ago but it was obviously still quite painful for him. “How did she die?”
“Cancer.”
“That must have been horrible being so young and all.”
He nodded. “She was everything.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I guess we have more in common than we thought.”
“Yeah.”
Chase stared off into the darkness. “The one thing I remember was how alone and sad I felt. My friends couldn’t begin to understand that kind of pain. Of losing the one person who mattered more than anything.” He swallowed. “One day she was there. The next, she was gone. Forever.”
This time it was me who squeezed his hand. “I know. That’s been the hardest for me.”
He nodded and looked at me. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you ever want to talk about it, or need someone to talk to, you can call me,” he murmured. “I don’t care what time it is.”
His offer made my heart swell. “Thank you.”
Chase nodded.
I looked up and noticed that my grandmother was peeking at us from one of the upstairs windows. I commented on it to Chase.
He chuckled. “I like her.”
“My grandma?”
“Yeah. She’s a no-nonsense-tell-it-like-it-is firecracker.”
I smiled. “Oh, you’ve learned that already, huh?”
“We’ve had some interesting conversations.”
“I can only imagine.”
Someone’s phone began to buzz. It was Chase’s. He looked at the screen and let out a sigh.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He showed me the text. It was from Mattzilla.
Mattie: I saw you at the diner picking up Mackenzie. Fuck you.
As I was reading, a second text popped up.
Mattie: You’re a lying asshole and I will NEVER take you back. I hope you and Bait Girl have a great life.
I frowned and handed it back to him. “Wow.”
“Yeah.”
“Looks like we have a common enemy now.”
He read the newest text and put his phone away. “Yeah, well… she’ll cool off. Eventually. I’m not worried about it.”
“What did she mean by you lying?”
“She thinks we have something going on. You and me. I told her that we didn’t.” He sighed. “She must have been following me earlier.”
I told him how she showed up at the diner with some of the other girls, but left out the cheese curd incident.
“That must have been before she came to the studio.”
I looked outside, into the darkness. “Hopefully she isn’t out there somewhere spying on us.”
Chase snorted. “No shit.”
We sat there for a few seconds in silence and then he yawned.
“I should get inside. We’re both tired.” I opened up the door. “Thanks again.”
“Anytime. Have a good night.”
“You, too.”
I closed the door and walked up to the house.
Chase waited until I stepped inside before leaving, which I thought was sweet. I’d dated other guys in New York and had barely made it to the front door before hearing them leave.
I closed and locked the door.
“How was it?”
I jumped. “Grandma,” I turned around and saw her standing there. She had on her familiar housecoat and fuzzy slippers. “You scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry. I’m tired. I wasn’t thinking.” She yawned to prove her point.
“It was fine. I had a few mishaps.” I told her about spilling the cheese curds.
She smiled and covered her mouth. “Oh, no. You must have been mortified.”
“At first. I got over it.”
“Good, I’m glad. You can’t be too hard on yourself, especially on the first day. Plus, you were on roller skates. I’m sure they understood. Other than that, how was everything? Did you make any tips?”
“A little. I didn’t get my own tables, but the waitresses shared some of theirs.”
“That’s nice. How much?”
“I made about twenty bucks.”
She smiled. “That’s great.”
I kicked off my shoes. “Yeah. Not too shabby.”
“When do you work next?”
“Not until Sunday.”
“Okay. Well,” her eyes twinkled, “I have some good news. I may have found you a truck to drive.”
“A truck?” I repeated, wondering how big it was and if I could handle it. “I don’t know.”
“It’s a smaller pickup. Two door. It’ll be great for the winter. I spoke with Lenny, Chase’s boss, and he said we could look at it tomorrow night if you want. After I’m done working.”
I told her about the party I’d been invited to.
“We can still look at the truck beforehand. So, who’s having this party?” She craned her neck forward and gave me a stern look. “Will there be alcohol there?”
I told her that I wasn’t sure about either.
She sighed. “Well, I trust you to make the right decisions.”
“Don’t worry. I will.” Although I knew I’d have a drink or two, I was definitely not planning on getting drunk.
“Who’s driving?”
“Kara.”
“Promise me that you won’t get into anyone’s vehicle if they’ve had anything to drink. After what happened to your mom…” Her eyes became misty. “I don’t know if I could handle anything happening to you.”
I gave her a hug. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
She kissed my forehead and then released me. “I’m glad you’ve made some friends.”
“Me, too.”
Grandma Rae yawned again. “I’m going to bed. See you in the morning.”
“Goodnight.”
I headed upstairs, took a shower, and slipped into my pajamas. As I was setting my alarm, I thought about the party. It didn�
�t sound like Chase was going, which would have made it far more interesting. None the less, I was excited about going and prayed that Mattie wouldn’t show. If that happened, I knew one of us was going to have a bad night. And the hell if it was going to be me.
35
Chase
Fortunately, I didn’t get any further texts from Mattie. I thought about sending her a message explaining that I was just doing Mackenzie’s grandmother a favor. But, deep down, I knew that it was more than that. I’d wanted to drive her. And then sitting in front of her house, I’d started thinking about what it would be like to kiss her. Hell, I’d started thinking about doing much more than that.
The news about her parents had been shocking. I definitely knew the kind of pain she’d gone through. As I thought about it, my phone started to ring. I checked the screen and saw a number I didn’t recognize.
“Hello?”
“Uh, is this Chase?” the guy on the other end asked.
“Yeah. Who’s this?”
“Jack Freemont.”
“Oh. What’s up?”
“I hope you don’t mind but Bruce gave me your number. He said I should call you.”
“What’s up?” I said, parking my car by the studio.
“I just wanted you to know that I definitely saw the new girl keying it last night. Mackenzie.”
“Yeah. You told me that already. I think you were mistaken though.”
“No. No, I wasn’t. It was definitely her. I know what she looks like. Everyone does. She’s hot.”
I frowned.
“I saw you two arguing in the parking lot, too. It was the same girl.”
He’d seen us arguing...
Then he couldn’t have been wrong, right?
Realizing that I’d been duped by Mackenzie made my blood boil.
“Okay. Thanks,” I muttered and hung up.
I got out of my car and slammed the door shut. I couldn’t believe I’d fallen for her lies. She’d been so fucking believable too. I knew that if I confronted her about it again, she’d just continue with the same story and without proof, there really wasn’t anything I could do.
Except for continue on with the contest.
This time… without any guilt involved.
After Burn (High School Bully Romance) (Diamond Lake High School Book 1) Page 15
