Page 24 of The Stand-In Boyfriend

I look around, but there is nobody in sight so I pick it up carefully.

The paper is just regular notebook paper. Nothing special about it. Holding my breath, I open the note to find a few lines written in a scrawly handwriting.

Sunshine,

Since you forgot to leave me your phone number in the blood-sworn oath you made me sign, I had to leave you a message like this. Now that I think about it, maybe I should have sent it to you by owl. Well, damn.

Anyhow, I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning for school. Be ready by 7:30.

N

P.S. Here’s my number. Use it.

Slowly, I fold the note like it was when I found it. For some reason my heart is beating hard against my chest, my cheeks flushed.

What is wrong with me? It’s just a damn note.

Huffing, I unlock the door and get inside, making sure to slip the paper in my notebook so I don’t lose it.

Fifteen minutes’ drive home passes quickly, and soon I’m parked in the garage next to my mom’s car.

I get out, making sure the garage door is properly closed before I slip inside the house.

“Mom, I’m home!” I yell, toeing off my shoes in the mud room.

“In the kitchen, honey!”

When I open the door, I can hear voices coming from the back of my house.

“Mom?”

Sure enough, Evie is sitting at our kitchen table, a cup of coffee in front of her.

“Hey, you’re back!”

“Sure am.” I look at her, raising my brows. “What areyoudoing here?”

A smile spreads on her lips. “Oh, you didn’t think I’d let you slide that easily, now did you?”

I glare at her, silently telling her to shut it. When I turn to Mom, she’s watching us curiously while working on dinner.

“We’ll be upstairs,” I tell her.

“Sure thing. Evie, you staying for dinner?”

“Oh, I don’t mean to impose, Mrs. Bryant.”

Mom waves her off. “Nonsense, call your momma and tell her Jessy will drive you home afterward.”

Evie nods in agreement. “Will do, thank you for having me.”

Together we get out of the kitchen and go for the stairs, but we’re not even halfway up when Evie nudges me. “Spill.”

So much for my relaxing bath.

Chapter Ten

JESSICA

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