Page 23 of The Stand-In Boyfriend

Today we didn’t do much except our usual warm-up routine, and then went through our standard cheer and dance setup.

Since school is long over, I don’t bother with changing, just start pushing my things into my duffle bag.

I hear steps and voices behind me, and I want to get out of here as quickly as possible. But I’m not fast enough.

“Jessy.”

My back goes rigid when I hear her breathless voice call out my name.

Did she really have to do it? Tammy tried reaching out a few times, just after I caught her and Jack at that party, but I didn’t want to have anything to do with her, and I made it clear to my mom that she isn’t welcome anymore.

“I think I was clear,” I force out. The words feel bitter on my tongue.

“Can’t we talk at least?”

“I don’t have anything to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything, just listen.” She puts her hand on my shoulder, but I shake her off.

Pushing the last of my things into the duffle bag, I pull the zipper and throw it over my shoulder. “That’s the thing. I don’t want to listen.”

More girls come inside, pushing Tammy out of my way. I wait for them to enter before leaving.

It’s just my luck to crash into Lisa in the hallway where she’s talking to Miss Lopez.

“Jessy.” She plasters on her fake smile as she takes me in. “Already done?”

“Yup, gotta run.”

Her brow quirks up. “Hot date?”

I can see she’s irritated at the idea, which gives me some kind of sick satisfaction. “What if I do?”

I don’t, but I’m not about to tell her that. I just want to get home and take a bubble bath so I can relax. School has barely started, and I’m already stressing with everything that’s been going on.

She tilts her head to the side, thinking. “When did you and Noah start dating?”

“A while ago,” I say vaguely and shrug. “I’m not one to remember dates.”

“Every girl remembers when she started dating somebody.”

“Not me.” I shrug, trying to play aloof.

I was that girl once.

The girl who believed in love at first sight and happily ever afters.

Not anymore.

Lisa gives me a curious look. “How did you guys meet even? You don’t run in the same circles. Weren’t you with that hockey player last year? The one who, well…”

I know exactly what she wants to say. The one who cheated on you in front of half the school with one of your close friends. For some reason it’s even worse that she didn’t finish the sentence. It feels condescending.

“As you pointed out,” I say super sweetly, moving closer to her. “He’s the quarterback of Greyford’s football team, and I’m on the cheer team. If that’s not running in the same circles, I don’t know what is.” I stop when we’re toe to toe. “And Lisa? If I were you, I’d keep your jealousy under wraps. Green isn’t your color.”

Not bothering to give her another glance, I walk past her and out of the school. There are some cars in the parking lot since the football team was still on the field when we left. I get to my car pretty quickly, but before I slip inside, something tucked under my windshield wipers grabs my attention.

A note.

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