Charming the Cheerleader (The Bet Duet Book 1)

by Maggie Dallen

  The next bit of info that came from Lars via eighty of Erika’s closest friends was a new rumor. The only reason I’d even been seen talking to him was as some sort of bet. It seemed my friends had bet me that I couldn’t take the cocky newcomer down a peg.

  I stared at the texts, scrambling to keep up with who was saying what until I realized that it didn’t matter. None of it mattered.

  I shut off her phone and handed it back to her.

  “He did that,” I said. “For me.”

  “Duh,” Allie said. “The guy is obviously crazy about you.”

  “Or just crazy,” Erika said with a laugh and a shake of her head as she replied to one of the texts.

  “Yeah, well, either way…” Allie fixed me with a stern look. “I’d say you need to talk to him.”

  I swallowed the panicky sensation that was rising up right alongside its dear friend hope. Why had he done that? If he’d wanted to fit in, to be cool, he’d had the slam dunk with me. The only thing that would have made him more beloved than dating the ice queen was humiliating the girl who thought she was too good for everyone.

  Trust me, I knew what people thought of me. I heard what they whispered when they thought I wasn’t listening. If he’d wanted an in, he’d had it. He would have gotten cool points even if the truth came out that he’d been using me, or if it hadn’t. Either way, he’d been on his way to the top and he’d ruined it.

  Why?

  I clasped my hands together, pretending to ignore the stares. I could ask myself all the questions in the world but I wouldn’t get answers unless I talked to him. And he was here. “I…I need to find him.”

  “That’s my girl!” Allie clapped a hand on my shoulder. “I knew you were stronger than that.”

  I sighed as I looked at her, uncomfortable with the praise. “I’m not that strong, Allie. I just…I just want to hear what he has to say.”

  “Exactly!” She rolled her eyes. “Dude, anyone can be all closed off and distant. You’re strong because you’re actually letting someone in. I’m proud of you.”

  Erika squeezed my shoulders. “I’m proud of you, too.”

  I was surprised to find myself blinking back tears at the unexpected praise. “Thanks, guys. I guess I never really thought of it that way.”

  Maybe I should have, but in my family the general rule seemed to be that strength meant not crying, not overreacting, being the calm, sane one, especially now when my parents were definitely not able to do it. I’d always thought being strong was not showing weakness, but maybe I’d gotten it wrong. Maybe right now it wasn’t about not crying, it was about being vulnerable. Letting myself be hurt, because if I didn’t take that risk, I definitely wouldn’t get the reward either.

  Love was the reward. A solid relationship with a guy I truly liked…that was the reward.

  But was it worth the risk?

  I spotted him. Or rather, he’d spotted me. When I looked toward the door leading to the kitchen I saw him standing there, his dark eyes fixed on me and no sign of his teasing, sexy grin.

  He looked serious. So serious.

  My heart lurched at the sight of him, and then it did a backflip as his gaze clashed with mine. Open, honest, not hiding behind any of his confidence or swagger.

  I wanted to believe him. I wanted to forgive him.

  Was this guy worth the risk?

  My heart did another backflip.

  Absolutely.

  18

  Conner

  This was it, now or never. Some might say give her time, give her space, but I couldn’t do that. I just couldn’t. I had to explain. I had to make her see…

  That was what spurred me forward until I was hovering over Rosalie and her friends. “Can we talk?” I was prepared to start begging, right then and there. On my hands and knees if need be. But she was already standing. “Yeah, let’s talk.”

  To my surprise she took my hand, and I barely even noticed the laughs and snickering that followed us as she led me toward a dimly lit, empty room near the back of the house. When she flicked on a table lamp I realized we were in an office.

  “No one ever comes in here,” she said. “It’s Danny’s dad’s office so off-limits, but…I figured we needed some privacy.”

  I was tongue-tied. If you’d asked me a few minutes ago what that term even meant I wouldn’t have been able to say. But now I knew. It literally felt like my tongue was tied up in knots as I tried to think of the words to say to make this right. She folded her arms across her waist like she was protecting herself. And that’s when I realized…I had no words to make this right. No smooth one-liners or snarky jokes would fix this. All I could do was speak from the heart and hope that was enough. “I am an idiot.”

  Her eyes widened slightly and to my surprise her lips twitched the tiniest bit. “Yeah, you are.”

  I let out a short laugh at that. “No, I don’t just mean because of the bet—although that was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done—I mean, in general. At school.” I shrugged. “If I make it through high school without being held back or failing out, it’ll be a miracle.”

  She frowned. “Just because you’re not good in school doesn’t make you an idiot.”

  I froze with my lips parted because I was so stunned to hear her sticking up for me at a time like this—a time when she was supposed to hate me. She should hate me. I deserved her hate. I gave my head a little shake. “Maybe not, but that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t really try.”

  She frowned and I felt her disappointment like a knife. I knew without a doubt that no matter how this talk ended, I would start trying harder at school just to avoid disappointing this girl. My girl. I pushed back that thought. Easy there, tiger. One step at a time…

  “My point is, I gave up on school because it was hard. Just like I gave up on playing any sort of sport because it didn’t come easily to me.”

  Her eyes were narrowed like she was trying to follow my logic. Understandably…I was going about this all wrong. I took a deep breath. “My point is—my stepsister pointed something out to me earlier. She said I only ever went after the easy targets…the low-hanging fruit.”

  “And that’s what I was?” Her tone rose in incredulity.

  “No! No, that’s not it at all. That was the reason she dared me to go after you, but she didn’t actually expect me to go through with it because she’s known me for years so she knows as well as anyone what a slacker I am.”

  “You’re not a slacker,” she said with another frown.

  “Don’t stick up for me,” I said with a laugh. “This is hard enough without you being nice.”

  She pressed her lips together and it was impossible to tell whether she was angry or trying not to laugh.

  “Anyway, one of the things that’s always been easy for me was fitting in, being liked, being liked…by girls.” I rubbed the back of my neck in discomfort at how that came out. When she didn’t open her mouth, I hurried on. “And for some reason I guess I thought that mattered. I thought it meant something if I didn’t have that going for me.”

  She didn’t say anything, just shifted her stance so she was staring up at me with folded arms.

  “Anyways, that was why I took the bet,” I said. “But then I got to know you and my pursuing you had nothing to do with the bet anymore. The challenge just became another excuse to get close to you.”

  I took a step closer and was heartened when she didn’t back away. “The thing is, none of that matters,” I said. “I realize that now. I don’t care about being liked by everyone, just you. I’d take you over everyone else any day of the week. Your opinion is the only one that matters.”

  I had to take a deep breath to keep saying it over and over in every different way. “I care about you, Rosalie. I like you…so much more than I ever could have predicted. So much more than I knew I was capable of and…all I’m asking for is one more chance.”

  She bit her lip and I took another step closer, wrapping my arms around her and l
oving the fact that she still hadn’t backed away. “I know I don’t deserve it. I hurt you and I hate myself for that. But I promise I won’t do it again—”

  “Yes, you will.”

  My chest felt like she’d crushed it with a hammer. I had to fight for my next inhale as I dropped my arms. She believed I’d hurt her again. And maybe I would. What did I know about relationships? I could be as big a failure at being a boyfriend as I was at calculus. Maybe she knew that, maybe—

  “You’ll probably hurt me again just like I’ll probably hurt you at some point or another.”

  I stared at her in confusion but her gaze was inscrutable; she looked lost in thought.

  “I think…I think maybe that’s all part of letting people in, right? Taking that risk?” Her eyes met mine and this time they were filled with question, like she was honestly asking me.

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Or…” I shrugged. I was hardly an expert here but I thought I knew what she was thinking. “I guess there’s always that possibility, at least. I would never intentionally hurt you, Rosalie. You have to know that.”

  She nodded. “I do.”

  That crushing weight on my chest eased slightly. “You do?”

  She nodded again.

  Hope had me reaching for her again. “I swear I’ll make it up to you. I don’t expect you to trust me right away, but if you give me a chance I’ll work for it. I’ll work for you. Not because you’re a challenge, but because you’re worth it. You are worth everything.”

  Her eyes were wide when she lifted her head up to meet my gaze. “Dinner,” she said.

  “What?”

  “You can start with dinner.” Her lips curved up ever so slightly and my freakin’ heart did a backflip in my chest. “You promised to cook for me, remember?”

  My laugh was filled with disbelief. “Are you saying…does this mean…?”

  She cut me off with a kiss that stole my heart once and for all. “I’m saying, I want to try.”

  “To forgive me?”

  “To be…open.” She gave me a cute little grimace. “It’s come to my attention that maybe, possibly…I’ve been a bit of a coward in the past.”

  I frowned down at her. “Who told you that? You’re not a coward, you’re the bravest, kindest—”

  She cut me off with a hand over my mouth and a sweet, sad little smile. “Thank you. I appreciate your confidence in me, I really do, but I think Allie had a point.”

  “And what point was that?”

  She licked her lips, her eyes darting over my shoulder and back again. “I think…no, I know…I have this tendency to hide. To avoid getting close and showing my feelings and…” She let out a loud sigh. “Oh man, this is hard.”

  I tightened my arms around her and dipped my head so my forehead rested against hers. “Take your time.” I kissed the tip of her nose. “We have all the time in the world to figure this out.”

  She sighed again, but this one sounded less exasperated and more…happy. “We do?”

  I grinned at the hopeful glint in her eyes. “I hope so.”

  She nodded. “Me too.”

  “Well then…” I leaned down to kiss the most kissable lips in the world. “I’d say that’s a good place to start.”

  19

  Rosalie

  One week later and we were official. Rosalie and Conner. The ice queen and the loser. The cheerleader and the slacker. Whatever people called us, it didn’t matter. We were in it together.

  “It’s my turn!” my brother Steven’s voice carried into Conner’s kitchen from the living room where he and Rodrick were battling over the controller.

  “Sorry about them,” I said, but I wasn’t too worried. Conner was so laid back, it was easy to be at his house, even with my brothers in tow. The debate about turns started to get louder. I was just about to head into the living room to referee when I heard Harley intervene instead.

  They quieted instantly even though she hadn’t raised her voice. I had a suspicion that they were intimidated by Conner’s odd little stepsister, and I was totally cool with that, especially if it kept them in line.

  Even better if it meant I got to stay in the cozy warmth of the kitchen watching Conner cook. The guy was sexy when he cooked. Weird? Maybe. But honestly, watching him move so easily in the kitchen, so at home and in charge, it was potentially even sexier than watching him play guitar.

  And my boyfriend was hot when he was playing the guitar.

  He glanced back at me over his shoulder as he paused in his chopping, honest concern in his eyes. “How are they holding up?”

  I shrugged from my perch on the counter where I was sitting and watching. “Okay, I guess. I mean, this separation isn’t easy on anyone but I think it’s easier on my brothers now that there’s no fighting going on at home.”

  He nodded like he understood, and I was pretty sure he did. He’d been spending a lot of time with me, my brothers, and even my parents this week so he understood my home life better than most. Although, I was making more of an attempt to be more open and honest with Erika and Allie as well, especially now that I knew how much it frustrated them when I shut down.

  I guess I’d always thought that I was protecting myself—that no one wanted to hear my problems anyway. I’d gotten so used to being the one who people told their problems to, my brothers, my mom, my friends…I hadn’t realized that it might hurt their feelings that I wasn’t doing the same in return.

  Anyway, I was a work in progress. But then again, aren’t we all? That’s what Conner would say. He’s rubbing off on me with his laid-back ways and I think I’m starting to rub off on him too. He’s taking our study sessions more seriously, that’s for sure—although that hasn’t stopped him from trying to end them early for some make out time as well. Not that I’m complaining, mind you… The only thing Conner does better than cooking? Kissing. Trust me, I’ve become something of an expert on Conner’s kisses.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked as he came over and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. His hands were dirty so he leaned in and kept it chaste.

  I grinned, not wanting to admit that I was already daydreaming about how we could sneak away from Harley and my brothers after dinner. His mom and stepdad were out for a date night which meant we had a little bit of freedom if we could shake the siblings.

  “Just thinking about later,” I said.

  His smirk said he knew exactly where my mind had gone. “Harley already agreed to watch the twins after dinner.”

  “That was nice of her.”

  His shrug was noncommittal. “I have to make her favorite breakfast tomorrow in return.”

  I laughed. “Fair trade.”

  He arched a brow and looked all put out but the funny thing was, the more time I spent with him and Harley, the more obvious it was that they liked each other. Give them a little time and they’d be calling each other family, mark my words.

  As if on cue, Harley entered the kitchen. “Ew, gross, get a room. We have to eat in here, you know.”

  Conner rolled his eyes and I laughed because she was clearly just trying to annoy him. I could totally get on board with that. “Sorry,” I said in my best ‘sorry-not-sorry’ tone.

  She winked at me behind his back and I grinned. Yup. I was really starting to like this girl.

  “You two are super nauseating, you know that, right?” she said to Conner.

  “If you’re feeling ill, you don’t have to join us for dinner. You know that, right?”

  I choked on a laugh because watching Conner turn into a twelve-year-old whenever he was around Harley was kind of adorable. Also, it helped to make it clear just exactly how that challenge went down a few weeks ago. I mean, really…the two of them were like siblings bringing out the most immature behavior in one another. I shook my head, oddly grateful that my brothers and I were way past this stage.

  I sipped the club soda Conner handed me and watched them with interest as Harley harassed Conner about the new
rumors spreading about him. None of them were good, but he just shrugged them off now like he didn’t care. And the most amazing part?

  He didn’t. He really didn’t care, because he was happy.

  We were happy.

  “The only reason you’re not dead right now is because Rosalie here has your back,” she pointed out.

  This was likely true. Danny and his friends—which was most of the football team—still had no love for Conner. However, he’d already started to win over my actual friends and having Erika and Allie in his corner was a pretty huge win. Dating the ice queen hadn’t hurt, either. I was pretty sure even the students who were afraid to outright like Conner lest they risk Danny’s wrath were at the very least impressed by him.

  As for me? I didn’t care what anyone else thought of him, me, or us. They could mind their own business while I finally enjoyed my time at Talmore High.

  “You’re just jealous,” Conner was saying. I met Harley’s gaze behind his back and rolled my eyes.

  She stifled a laugh. “I’m jealous, huh?”

  “That’s right.” He pointed his slotted spoon at her. “You’re jealous because I’ll have a date to homecoming and you won’t.”

  I cleared my throat. Loudly.

  Conner spun around with a guilty look. “Um, sweetheart?”

  “Yes, dearest?” I teased.

  “You will go to homecoming with me, won’t you?”

  I pretended to think it over. “I suppose.”

  Harley groaned. “You could have made him work for it.”

  “Nah,” I said. “He’s already my personal chef for the month to make up for that stupid bet you guys made. I think that’s punishment enough.”

  “Speaking of…” Conner said, his voice slow and deceptively sweet as he turned toward Harley with a wicked grin.

  Harley frowned. “Don’t look at me like that.”

  I looked from one to the other. “What’s up? What’s going on?”

  Conner smacked his spoon against his palm. “Harley here lost the bet.”