“Lucky guess. You said your parents go to bed early. Your window was the only one with the light on.”
I grinned at him. “You wanted a goodnight kiss, huh?”
“I think I deserve at least that much after being grilled by your brother.”
“At the very least,” I agreed as I closed the distance between us, slipping my arms around his neck and closing my eyes. Andy’s first kiss tonight was less hesitant than he’d started out the night before. In fact, it was pretty much perfect. I could get used to this. He pulled apart but stayed close enough that our noses were touching.
“I was also thinking that you should go ahead and skip correcting Nate on his earlier assumption,” he whispered against my lips.
“Which assumption are you referring to?” I prodded as I stole another small kiss.
Andy barely pulled away again so he could speak. “The one about me being your boyfriend.”
My heart sped up and my stomach turned, but in a good way. Like someone had released a dozen Mexican jumping beans inside and they were having a fiesta. Andy hesitantly grazed my lips, waiting for a response. I kissed him once more, before pulling away and giving him a cheeky grin. “Are you saying that you want me to not correct Nate about you being my boyfriend?”
“Only if you want to,” he agreed.
“Only if you want me to,” I rebutted.
“I want you to,” he whispered.
“Then I guess I won’t correct him.”
I felt Andy’s lips smile against mine. “Good,” he said, then pressed them to me one last time, much more passionately than he’d ever done yet. But as quickly as it had started, the kiss was over. Andy pulled out of my reach and gave me one last grin before heading to his car. Without a word, he hopped in, waved good-bye, and drove away. I pressed my hand to my lips, trying to relive the last five minutes. Sigh, I had a new boyfriend.
I sat in the student council room Monday morning, anxiously waiting for Lilly’s arrival. She bounced in a few minutes before the bell rang and plopped down in the seat next to me. I hadn’t told her about my exciting news yet, because I wanted to tell her in person. She opened her backpack and grabbed a folder, then looked up at me.
“How’s your morning going?” she asked, then paused to study me intently. “Wait a second. You look extra glowy right now.” She narrowed her eyes and scrunched up her face.
I grinned. “Glowy isn’t a word.”
Her mouth dropped, and her eyebrows rose up her forehead. “Does my vocabulary really matter when you have a juicy secret? Spill.”
I was so giddy I was wiggling in my chair. “I have a boyfriend,” I said softly so I wouldn’t draw attention to myself.
“Shut up!” Lilly yelled out, and everyone in the room stared. Unfortunately, it was right at that moment that Sophia chose to walk past us to her seat. She heard my announcement and snarled.
“Shhh,” I hushed Lilly. “I’m sure Sophia is in a bad enough mood as it is. I don’t want the claws coming out.”
“What happened?” Lilly asked.
Since I called her after Andy left yesterday, she already knew how my lunch date had gone. I quickly recounted the five-minute exchange in my front yard last night.
“That’s so romantic.” She sighed dreamily. “I wish something romantic would happen to me.”
“Whatever you and Jake have going on right now may not be romantic, but it’s exciting. And that’s just as good,” I reassured her. “Your stories are way more fun to hear.”
“Maybe,” she said thoughtfully. “But your experiences are leading to a sweet, potentially long-term relationship. Mine will probably only get me gossiped about.”
“You could always tell Jake to cut it out,” I suggested.
“Are you kidding?” Lilly asked like I was nuts, and I laughed. Being the focus of gossip must not have bothered her that much.
The bell rang, and Rob called the meeting to order. He was business as usual. He looked put together and completely unaffected by the drama that had unfolded in his life over the weekend. Sophia looked like crap. I still don’t know what happened or what they fought about, but the breakup was obviously bothering Sophia much more than it was bothering Rob. She spent the entire homeroom period seething at her desk.
With only a couple minutes left, Rob finally decided to include me in the meeting. “Ivy, do you want to make any announcements about the auction rehearsal?” I’d been kind of spaced out, so I was lucky I heard him.
I spoke up. “Just that the walk-through is tomorrow after school at three o’clock in the cafeteria. Everyone from the council needs to be there, not just the committee. With the addition of the dinner, we need all hands on deck for the evening. If you don’t already have an assignment for the event, we’ll give you one tomorrow. Check in with me when you get there.”
“Ok, thanks.” Rob nodded, then closed the meeting right before the bell rang. I noticed, that once he wasn’t in an official role, Rob’s demeanor changed. He seemed quieter than normal, and his confidence was…well, I don’t know a better way to describe it, but he was droopy. Maybe he’d been more affected by the breakup than I’d originally assumed. I don’t know what came over me, but I had a sudden urge to make sure he was ok.
I leaned over to Lilly. “Go on without me. I’m going to talk to Rob for a minute.”
Lilly looked at me as if I was bonkers, but she shrugged her shoulders and put on her backpack. “Suit yourself. It’s your funeral.” She grinned at me, then walked out the door. I headed over to Rob.
“Are you ok?” I asked. His nose was buried in some papers he had on his desk. His first class was in this room, so he didn’t have to pack up.
“I’m fine,” he said curtly without looking at me. I quickly became agitated but tried to squash it.
“Don’t be an ass,” I demanded, keeping my voice soft. “I’m trying to be nice here. I’m not civil very often. Don’t waste it.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up, and he finally looked at me. Now that I was closer, I could see his eyes were bloodshot. “I suppose you’re right.” Rob smiled sadly. “Who knows when this will happen again. Venus and Mars must be aligned today or some crap like that.”
I chuckled and took the seat next to him. “What happened? You look pretty miserable, and Sophia looks like she’s ready to kill someone.” I paused a moment, but when he didn’t open up, I kept going. “Did you hear about her run-in with Jake after the basketball game? He’s lucky to be alive right now. At least I think he’s alive. But, come to think of it, I haven’t seen him yet today, so I don’t actually know.” That comment got another small smile from Rob.
“Yes, I heard all about it. And he’s alive. Tell Lilly not to worry.” I made a mental note about the Lilly comment and stashed it away for later. Rob sighed and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb. Then he shook his head, opened his eyes, and continued. “The short version is that she broke up with me because she kept insisting that she didn’t want me to be in the auction. I told her when I signed up that it wasn’t negotiable. I feel like it’s my job as Student Body President to set the standard for participants. I can’t ask people to do something I’m not willing to do. She didn’t like that and told me that if I didn’t drop out, we were over. I tried to call her bluff and lost.”
I huffed inwardly at how conceited his comment sounded, set the standard? But it seemed his intentions were sincere, so I kept my mouth shut about it. Instead I asked, “You broke up because of the auction?”
“It’s not just that,” he replied. “She said it wasn’t appropriate for me to take another girl on a date if I had a girlfriend. It’s a fundraiser, for heaven’s sake, it’s not a big deal. What it really comes down to is that she doesn’t trust me, and she likes to be the boss of me. I care about her, and she’s really not as horrible as she wants everyone to believe…”
“I highly doubt that,” I interrupted under my breath, then clamped my l
ips shut. Oops.
“Are you finished?” Rob asked, and I nodded. “I guess I’m just sick of her trying to drive the relationship all the time. I want us to be equal partners. I want her to let me be me and just be happy with that. Otherwise, what’s the point? Why stay together?”
His words were not lost on me. He was such a hypocrite. The way he didn’t want to be treated by his girlfriend was exactly the way he treated me all the time. But I was trying to be a bigger person, so again I let his comments slide. The warning bell rang for our next class. I shouldered my bag and slapped his desk.
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry about Sophia.” It was the best I could do. Personally, I thought he was better off without her.
“Thanks,” Rob said as I headed toward the door. “And Ivy, watch out at the auction. Sophia’s vindictive. I wouldn’t put it past her to throw a lot of money down on Andy. Just to piss us both off. Hopefully you trust your boyfriend a lot more than Sophia trusts me.”
I nodded my head in thanks. How the heck did he know that Andy and I were dating? I didn’t think that Lilly and I had been talking about it that loudly. I shook off my curiosity and went to class.
Later, at lunch, Lilly and I were in line for food when Andy and Jake cut in line behind us. Jake used a cheesy grin and a wink so the girls they cut in front of let it slide.
“What’s up, guys?” Jake asked.
“Same old, same old,” Lilly hummed, without turning around. She told me that after Saturday night her goal was to play it extra casual around Jake. She didn’t want him to think she was starting to like him or that she expected anything just because he’d kissed her. Twice. And in public.
“How’s your day going?” Andy leaned in and whispered in my ear, sending goose bumps down my neck. I hadn’t been able to see or speak to him since last night.
“Fine.” I smiled at him. I think I was blushing, but I don’t know why. I thought people were supposed to be less nervous and shy once they’d defined the relationship. “How’s your day been?”
“Good. Especially now.” Andy grinned. He didn’t hold my hand or make any overtly affectionate displays in the lunch line, but I didn’t really expect him to. When Rob and I dated, he had no problems with PDA. I already knew Andy wouldn’t be like that. Part of me wished he would, but I’d have to be ok with what I got. At least he stood closer to me than necessary, so that we were touching. I’d take it.
After we got our food, we walked to the table we’d all been sharing for the last week. Normally, I sat next to Lilly and the boys sat across from us. But Lilly reached the table first and Jake sat down next to her, leaving Andy and I to sit across from them. I didn’t know if this arrangement was Andy’s doing or Jake’s. Lilly noticed the change, too, and raised one eyebrow at me, then stared at Jake with her peripheral vision. He dove into his lunch like it was no big deal. Maybe it wasn’t. I wasn’t going to complain, because Andy moved his leg over so it was leaning against mine under the table.
We’d fallen into casual conversation when I noticed Sophia on a path in our direction. “Incoming, six o’clock,” I warned Jake, nodding my head behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and frowned. Then he slipped his arm around Lilly’s waist and nuzzled his lips against her ear and neck. Lilly’s eyes went wide, and her cheeks turned pink, but she managed to remain calm. Once Sophia reached us, Lilly relaxed and pretended to enjoy the attention. Only, I knew she wasn’t pretending.
Sophia stood at the end of our table, arms folded across her chest, giving her brother the stink eye. Then she held out an open hand. “I forgot my wallet today. Can I borrow some lunch money? I’ll pay you back when we get home.” Her words were fine, but her tone was forced and rude.
Jake planted a kiss on Lilly’s cheek before pulling away long enough to reach in his wallet, grab a five, and put it in Sophia’s hand. Then, just for fun, I’m sure, he put his arms around Lilly, pulled her onto his lap, and rested his chin on her shoulder. He looked up at his sister. “Need anything else?” His smile was as fake as they get.
Sophia huffed out a big breath through her nose, rolled her eyes, and shook her head before stomping off. Jake grinned. “That was fun,” he said, like it’d been a game. Lilly tried to return to her seat, but he held tight. His blasé attitude was driving me nuts, and I couldn’t let the action go unnoticed.
“So,” I started, pointing my finger between Jake and Lilly, “is all this just to make your sister angry?”
“I’m not going to let Sophia walk all over the tiny one.” Jake squeezed Lilly, then set her back on her chair. I noticed that he didn’t really answer my question before he continued. “She’s being a bad word, and it’s not excusable because she has a stick up her butt over a breakup.”
Lilly finally spoke up. “Should I expect to get mauled every time she’s around?”
“Yep,” Jake answered simply, taking a bite of his pizza.
“And what if I don’t want to be mauled?”
Jake gave her a flat look. “Are you saying you don’t want me to kiss you anymore?”
Lilly shrugged her shoulders. “Whatever,” she said, shoving a piece of cinnamon roll into her mouth.
“That’s what I thought,” Jake replied smugly.
Lilly changed the subject. “Andy, are you excited for the auction rehearsal tomorrow?” Lilly was obviously teasing, but Andy looked confused.
“Crap,” I said. “I totally forgot to tell you. There’s a rehearsal tomorrow for all the participants. You’ll do a basic walk-through on the runway and then sit down with one of the council members to write your bio and sales pitch. You need to have a date idea ready by then.”
At the mention of a runway, Andy choked on his soda. He’s lucky it didn’t come out of his nose. “Runway?” he asked. Funny how one simple word could hold so much emotion.
“Yes,” I winced, “the runway. All the dates walk it while their info is being read. Haven’t you ever been to the auction?”
“What do you think?” he said sarcastically.
“I’m sorry.” I stuck out my bottom lip and batted my eyelashes. “I assumed you knew. It’s not that bad. I promise.”
“Sounds that bad to me. I expected to stand on the stage and wave, not walk down a freaking runway.” Andy grunted.
“No, it’s fun, really.”
“Yeah, if you enjoy being ogled like a piece of meat or looking like an idiot.”
“I do,” Jake chimed in.
“Good, then you can go up on the stage for me and walk the runway holding my picture over your face,” Andy offered.
Jake grinned. “If Ivy’s ok with that, I’m game.”
“Andy, it won’t be that bad,” I promised again. “We can practice beforehand, if you want.”
“I don’t think so.” He shook his head.
The ten-minute warning bell rang, and we all started cleaning up our lunches. Lilly and Jake walked their trash over to the can, and I took the moment of privacy to reassure my overly worked up new boyfriend. I grabbed his hand and got in front of his face so he was looking me in the eye. “I really am sorry you didn’t know. I’ll make it up to you. Anything you want.”
“Anything?” he asked, eyebrows raised.
“Within reason,” I replied, smiling. Jake and Lilly had returned.
Andy leaned in close and spoke low, so only I could hear. “You’re in trouble now.” Then he stood and spoke at a normal volume. “We’ll continue this conversation in sixth hour.”
. . . . .
I walked into art class, and Andy was already setting out our supplies. We were working on a still life painting. Fruit in a bowl, how original. I sat down next to him, and he looked around to make sure nobody was watching, then planted a kiss on my cheek. The gesture surprised me.
“Are you done being upset with me?” I asked.
Andy smiled. “No, but I spent fourth and fifth hours thinking about how you were going to make it up to me, so I’m in a much better mood.”
>
I laughed. “Within reason,” I reminded him.
“Reasonable by whose standards?” he countered.
“My brother’s?” I offered in jest, and Andy frowned.
We got to work on our projects and sat in silence for a while before Andy spoke again. “I was hoping now that we were dating, you’d get all jealous and forbid me from being in the auction.”
“Who do you think I am, Sophia?”
“Is that what happened with her and Rob?”
I nodded my head yes and recounted what I’d been told about their breakup.
“I promise not to dump you if you insist I drop out,” Andy vowed, tracing an X over his heart with his finger.
“Do you promise not to dump me if I insist you stay in?” I asked.
“That, I can’t be so sure of,” he answered, and I pouted.
“Really?”
Andy studied me for a moment before his shoulders slumped in defeat. “No, not really.” He sighed. Then he perked up again, like he’d just had a brilliant idea. “But you are planning on bidding on me, aren’t you?”
“Duh, silly. Just because I’m willing to let you be auctioned off doesn’t mean I’m willing to let anyone else win you.” I smiled, and Andy relaxed.
“I guess if I have to endure the spotlight, at least I won’t have to go on a date from Hades with Sophia, too.”
“Speaking of dates, what are you going to plan for yours? It needs to be good if I’m going to empty my checking account on it.”
“I was thinking a whole afternoon and evening. I’ll pick you up and take you for an early lunch. Then we can head over to the art museum. They have a couple of Picassos on loan from the Getty right now. Figured you’d appreciate those.” Andy smirked at me, and I kneed him in the leg. “Then we can go back to my place, where I’ll dazzle you with my awesome cooking skills. A five-course meal made by yours truly.”
Perfectly You (The Perfect Series Book 2) Page 14
