The Heartbreak Cure

by Ashby, Amanda

  Not that he could blame her. His mom had put Birdie through hell and back, and yet still his grandmother kept smiling. No way was he going to be the one to break her heart.

  “Alex,” Joe called. Crap. Another reason not to piss Joe off was that he was also Alex’s landlord, the only guy prepared to let a seventeen-year-old kid stay in the tiny apartment above the garage. Joe said it suited him to have extra security. It suited Alex even more, and without it, who knew where he would’ve ended up after Birdie had moved into her assisted living apartment.

  They didn’t think I could look after her.

  “Coming.” He stalked across the neat workshop to where Joe already had his head buried under the hood of a sunflower-yellow Golf. Cat’s car. He tensed as he spun around to see her leaning against the side door. Shades of purple smudged her eyes, and her nut-brown hair was scraped back from her pale face. All his anger at Bennet returned. “You okay?”

  “Yup. My life’s a joyous bubble of fun right now,” she replied before sighing. It resulted in the denim shirt pulling against her chest. He swallowed hard and tried not to notice. He failed, which was a problem. He couldn’t remember how long he’d had a thing for Cat Turner, but there was the long list of reasons why he could never act on it.

  Number one: she deserves someone better.

  It was why, when Birdie had summoned him to deliver the brownies, he’d tried his hardest to get out of it. Though, anyone who’d met Birdie knew how pointless it was to resist. Which was how he’d found himself sitting under the tree, trying not to react to how gorgeous she was, even dressed in her pajamas with a tear stained face.

  Trying not to care she was heartbroken over a guy who wasn’t fit to breathe the same air as she did. Frustration raced along his skin like a bushfire, but he shook it off.

  “Fair enough.” He shrugged in agreement. It was pointless to put a positive spin on a shitty situation. “What’s wrong with Lulu this time?”

  “She started okay, but then as I drove along, she began to jump like a frog. Can you believe it?”

  Actually, yeah.

  Lulu was an ancient VW Golf held together by luck and a promise. If it had been anyone else, Joe would’ve refused to keep working on it. The only thing Alex could figure was that the normally brash mechanic had a crush on Cat’s mom.

  “Doesn’t look good. Cam belt’s gone, and I’ll need to check the rest.” Joe emerged from under the hood, and Alex winced. Cam belts weren’t cheap. “I’ll call your mom, and in the meantime, you’d better sweet talk this guy into giving you a lift to school.”

  “Oh. It’s okay, I can walk.” Red splotches colored her pale cheeks. He couldn’t blame her. They’d been friendly enough when they were younger, but ever since Birdie sold the house next door, he’d tended to ignore her. It was mainly to keep himself away from temptation, but it probably meant she thought he was a prick.

  It’s safer that way.

  “Sure. Except you’d end up at the town library and ditch your first day back, and I’d have to deal with your mom,” he retorted, while trying not to notice the way her mouth pushed together when she was thinking. Tried and failed. His eyes drank in her glistening lips, full and tempting. He swallowed and turned away.

  “Am I that easy to read?” she said, her dark eyes wide.

  Only to me.

  Only because that’s what I wanted to do after the accident.

  He shrugged. “Just a lucky guess. We should get going if we don’t want to be late.”

  “Yeah, wouldn’t want that.” She hooked her backpack over one shoulder and walked over to his old Ford. It might not look like much, but he’d rebuilt the engine, and it worked like a dream, was cheap on gas, and got him from A to B.

  He held open the door, and she looked up at him. His fingers tightened on the handle. It took all his willpower not to touch her.

  “How’s it really been?” he asked as he joined her in the car.

  “Crap, with a side dose of blah.” She leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes, as if unsure how to answer, before finally shrugging her shoulders. “The school called. Even though the clip’s been taken down, they were concerned and wanted to offer me counseling. They’ve also spoken to Bennet, and he has to attend some program on positive behavior.”

  “That’s good, right?”

  “Not so much. Now everyone will think I complained about precious Bennet. Not that he didn’t have it coming, but it’s just going to make me the center of attention.”

  “It might not be that bad,” he said, not quite believing it.

  “I had to do a booth for my mom on Saturday. Every time someone from school walked past, I could see them on their cell phones typing so fast the hashtags and troll comments were almost floating above their heads. All because I was stupid enough to think Bennet Miller was interested in the books on my Goodreads list.”

  “That’s how you met?” Alex raised an eyebrow, since Bennet wasn’t known for his love of reading. Annoyance slammed at his ribs at how she’d been played.

  “Don’t say it,” she warned, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I was buzzed he liked the same parts of the book I did—obviously, he must’ve read the review I’d posted. My mom thinks everything’s fixable with a positive attitude, a motivational quote, and an ostrich mentality. That I just need to ride it out.”

  He clamped down on his mouth. Yeah, it wouldn’t last forever. It’d just feel like it. “It sucks, but they’ll eventually find something else to talk about.”

  “Promises, promises. The worst of it is Mackenzie wants to see me, which means she’s heard about what happened.”

  Alex swore.

  It also explained why she’d been so freaked when he’d visited her.

  Mackenzie Withers was an overachieving type A who’d been preparing for her college application since she was in diapers, an ice-princess blonde with a charcoal soul who’d cut anyone if she thought they might ruin her reputation. Ever since he’d met Cat she’d had a pen in her hand and a notebook by her side. She’d once told him it was the only way she could make sense of the world.

  “So? Convince her you’re fine.”

  “Yeah, and if it hadn’t spread through the town like a zombie apocalypse, I might’ve stood a chance. I’ve been wracking my brain all weekend, and I haven’t come up with anything.” She quickly blinked, and then wiped at her eyes with her hand. Crap, he’d made her cry. “The worst of it is, before Bennet came along, I’d spent the summer working on great feature ideas. I have a folder full of them.”

  “Cat—”

  “It’s fine,” she said as she reached for the glove box. “I’m fine. Well, I will be as soon as I find a tissue. Do you have any?”

  “Sorry.” He shook his head, too late realizing she’d already opened the glove box. The glove box where he’d stuffed all of the college and scholarship rejections he’d received.

  “You’ve started your applications?” Her eyes widened as at the pile of thick creamy paper—as if using nice stationary might soften the blow. “I take it you’ve haven’t had good news yet.”

  “It’s still early.” His hands tightened around the steering wheel as the houses on either side flashed by. His grades were good, and he was confident he could nail the SATs, but the essays were screwing his chances. None of which he planned on telling her. “And stop changing the subject. We were talking about how you’re going to convince the world you’re fine.”

  “And when we’re done, we can sort out global warming and genetically modified food.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose.

  Alex beadily stared ahead.

  They spent the rest of the journey in silence, which suited him just fine. Less talking meant less thinking about Cat and Bennet together.

  About how she fell for a guy who’d hurt her even more than I could.

  They just needed to get to school, and everything could go back to normal. No more heartbreak brownies, no more staring into eyes the color of swirle
d maple and honey. No more wanting to kiss her, to touch her.

  Enough.

  He eased the car into the parking lot as Cat squirmed in her seat and sucked in some air, as if gathering up her nerves before she opened the door. He climbed out and joined her.

  “Crap, crap, crap.” She muttered under her breath as a group of jocks started to rap along to the song Bennet had used on his douchebag summer challenge. He’d only managed to watch it once and had almost broken his computer when the shot of her tearstained face had flashed onto the screen as proof of Bennet’s success.

  He glared as heads turned. She was right. The clip might’ve been taken down, and Bennet punished, but the damage had been done.

  The world really was a shitty place.

  He clenched his fists by his side. “You boys got a problem?”

  “No problem. Just wondering if you were about to do the challenge? Heartbreaker number two?” one of them sang out, followed by a lot of back thumping and laughing. Alex narrowed his eyes. At six-foot-two, and with an unwanted reputation that followed him around like a shadowy cape, it would give them pause.

  Next to him Cat stiffened, anger radiating off her like a microwave. He threw a protective arm around her shoulder. Mistake. Fireworks smashed through his chest, prickling his skin and almost causing him to gasp. She stepped closer, oblivious to what it was doing to his heart rate.

  “Do I seem like a jerk to you?” He held the other guy’s gaze, while fighting down the adrenaline pounding through his temples, urging him forward. He swallowed hard.

  Remember the plan. Don’t screw it up.

  There was silence as the guy seemed to weigh up his chances before dipping his head.

  “Sorry, man. My mistake.” The jock held up his hands and the group wandered off to the main building. As soon as they were out of sight Alex dropped his arm and stepped away. His breath was shaky as the blood continued to pump through him.

  Hell. He should’ve just let Cat ditch school.

  “You didn’t need to do that.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “I know how much you hate drawing attention to yourself. It’s against the plan.”

  Yeah. Then again, the plan didn’t involve someone as sweet as Cat getting treated like a piece of dirt, either.

  Or touching her.

  “Just getting them to back off.” He shrugged, dredging up all his skills to make his face like stone. To save her from the unwanted truth. That she attracts loser males like a magnet attracts steel.

  “And I’m grateful.” She hooked her backpack over her shoulders, making her seem smaller. More vulnerable. Alex tightened his fists. Had he mentioned Bennet Miller was a prime dick? “But you can’t follow me around school all day, so I might as well get used to—”

  She stopped speaking, and her mouth dropped into a small circle. It took all his self-control not to lean forward and kiss her. Then she rubbed her hands together.

  That’s never a good sign.

  “What’s going on?” He stepped back, hoping for some clarity, but all it did was let him admire the way her eyes widened as she lifted her chin up. Like someone who wouldn’t be beaten.

  His pulse hammered so hard his vision blurred.

  “I have an idea. Now, I’m not saying it’s a great one. Not even a good one. But considering I’ve had zero other ideas, it’s at least something.”

  “I see. So, what is it? Do you want me to ask Birdie for more brownies?”

  “Hell no.” She shook her head. “That’s the last thing I need. The problem is everyone thinks I’m heartbroken—this fragile flower just moments away from a meltdown.”

  “No one who knows you thinks that.”

  “Yes, but all the people who don’t know me totally do. Including Mackenzie. No way will she let me back on the paper while everyone’s talking about the damn clip.” Her dark eyes shimmered. “I need to show them I’m not. Which is where you come in. If you’re with me all day, they might change their minds.”

  He sucked in a sharp breath. “You want me to follow you around like a bodyguard?” Shame plucked at his temper like a guitar string, and he clenched his knuckles. It was his dark shadow. He was a thug. No point trying to hide it.

  “Actually.” She studied her fingers. Was she nervous? “Not many people have bodyguards at school. I was thinking something a bit more low key. Like a boyfriend.”

  “What?” The word was out of his mouth before he could stop it. Color rose on her neck as if he’d just rejected her. Shit. He ran his hands through his hair as his mind whirled. “That came out wrong. How could being your boyfriend help?”

  “Don’t you see?” Despite the red stains on her neck, her eyes sparkled. “If I have a new boyfriend, I can’t be heartbroken. And if I’m not heartbroken, then Mackenzie can take me seriously. And then I can help you with your scholarship essays.”

  “Who says I need help?” The words were sharper than he intended. He hated people feeling sorry for him. Their unwanted sympathy was even worse than their contempt.

  “No one,” she said quickly. “I just meant if you wanted a sounding board. Someone to bounce ideas off. We could help each other. It’d be a win/win. So, what do you say?”

  No. Worst idea ever.

  The last thing she needs is me in her life. But without me in her life…

  “I’m not sure.”

  “You won’t need to”—she sucked in a deep breath, dark eyes not quite meeting his—“well, you know. It’s just to get Mackenzie Withers off my back.”

  Shit.

  There was only one answer he could give her. But that would leave her to the wolves.

  Just like I did when I told my mom I couldn’t babysit my sisters.

  Nausea jabbed at his stomach like a boxer against the ropes. He licked his lips. “You really think it’ll work?”

  “I don’t know,” Cat said, as brutally honest as ever. “But I can’t let this go without a fight. We could at least try it. Just for a couple of days. Three max.”

  “I’ll do it,” he said and was rewarded with a dazzling smile. His heart pounded.

  “Really?” A flash of something crossed her face as some of the tension left her shoulders. “Wow, that’s amazing. If you’re sure.”

  “No problem,” he lied, wondering if it was too late to back out. Too late to explain the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to forget about all the crap in his life. The bell rang, and the shuffle of feet increased as students surged forward. “So, what’s the plan?”

  “Right now, we should go to class. But what if we meet up at lunchtime? It will be two birds, and one stone. We’ll be together and look like a couple, and we can figure out the details.”

  “Okay.” He nodded as they reached the entrance of Franklin High. Heavy red brick, broken only by steel-framed windows stared back at him, more like a prison than a high school. If he could stop her from getting just some of the crap he’d received, then it would be worth it. He plastered on his best game face.

  I’m going to need it.

  “Thanks,” she said. She stuck out her hand expectantly. Her slim fingers were tanned from a summer of sitting in her backyard writing, with ink smudges here and there. Honey and warmth prickled his skin as he slipped his hand into hers.

  Yeah, this wasn’t going to end well.

  Chapter Three

  “So, to recap—between when I spoke to you yesterday and eight-thirty this morning, you’ve managed to gain a hot new boyfriend,” Nikki said in a low voice as their homeroom teacher read out a list of notices.

  “Fake boyfriend,” Cat corrected for the third time “I’m not sure why you keep omitting that part.”

  “Because it’s irrelevant.” Her best friend fluffed her hair, which she’d dyed green during the summer, almost matching her leafy eyes. It wasn’t a look everyone could pull off without coming across like a Disney princess. But then again, Nikki Mathews wasn’t most people. Her dad was the local sheriff, and her mom was an accountant, and
they’d given their only daughter a combination of sass, brains, and tomboyish energy. “I always knew Alex Locke had a thing for you. It makes sense.”

  “Again, apart from the fact it’s fake. I already told you, he only agreed under duress to help. You should’ve seen his face.”

  “Trust me, I’ve seen his face plenty of times. Alex Locke is a work of art. And he doesn’t strike me as someone who does random good deeds. He only said yes because he likes you.”

  Correction. He only said yes because he knows what it’s like to be the butt of everyone’s jokes.

  It wasn’t the first time her friend had floated the idea that Alex had a crush on her. Cat had long since stopped correcting her, not because it was true, but because there was more chance of seeing a dodo walk into the room than of Nikki changing her mind once it was set.

  Besides, the idea was crazy.

  Alex wasn’t only standoffish and not remotely on the lookout for a girlfriend, but he was hot. As in way-out-of-my-league hot. All dark hair, olive skin, and lashes that could hypnotize a girl if she was dumb enough to look at them for too long.

  I’ve had my quota of dumb things, thank you very much.

  “Let’s just agree to disagree.”

  “Fine.” Nikki let out a long-suffering sigh to a backdrop of their teacher’s voice. “But at least tell me why you picked Alex, out of all people, to play the role of boyfriend.”

  Cat gulped. It was a very good question. If only had she an answer.

  She certainly hadn’t intended to ask him. Or anyone.

  The original plan had just been to ride it out, but the reality was it would come with a lot of pain.

  She’d needed a hack to get her back to her regular programming—where she was focused on her future, where she sat in the background and made up stories in her head. It was a hell of a lot less exhausting. And in her own stories, she always got the ending she wanted.

  “It was a spur of the moment decision. Right guy, right time. And it’s only going to be for a couple of days, until I’m back in Mackenzie’s good books.”

  “You say that now, but once you kiss him, I bet everything changes,” Nikki said, obviously adding selective listening to her qualities.