Page 83 of The Apple Tree

“I broke up with you,” I whispered.

He chuckled. “I’m not asking you to go steady with me again. I’m asking you to homecoming because I don’t care to take anyone in my class. But I’ll probably be homecoming king, so I think I should have a date. You know?”

I barely registered what he said because Kyle and Josh headed toward us.

“Ask Erin,” I quickly said with a stiff smile.

“No offense, but I’m not that into Erin.”

“Drew,” Kyle said, putting his hand on Drew’s shoulder and giving it a firm squeeze. “Did you ice your arm after Friday’s game?”

Drew nodded. “Yes, Coach.”

“Hey, Drew?” Marcus, Drew’s friend, yelled from a small huddle of guys, all seniors like Drew. “What did she say?”

They all snickered.

“Your friends are laughing at you.” Kyle gave Drew’s shoulder another squeeze.

Drew rolled his eyes. “Uh …”

“He asked me to homecoming,Coach,” I said, batting my eyelashes.

Drew blushed, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.Coach Collinsintimidated him with nothing more than a shoulder squeeze. But he no longer intimidated me.

“And what did she say?” Kyle looked only at Drew for the answer.

“Uh, nothing yet. But she was about to say yes.” He smiled so wide it made the corners of his eyes crinkle like he was giving his coach a wink, like he thought his coach would be proud of him.

“Is that so?” Kyle eyed me with peaked brows.

“I’m hungry, Daddy,” Josh said, pulling on Kyle’s leg.

I held open my arms to Josh, and he let go of Kyle’s leg so I could pick him up. “Are you coming to my house for dinner?” I asked Josh in my sweetest voice, before turning my back to both arrogantboysand carrying him toward my parents.

Hugging me with his arms and legs, he mumbled a “yes.”

My mom smiled while we approached her. “He’s like the little brother you never had,” she said.

I bit my tongue and returned a smile.

“Buddy, you’re going to get Eve’s dress dirty from your shoes,” Kyle said. I knew he’d be right behind us.

Josh’s tiny fingers dug into my neck for a quick second. Then his body jerked. I felt something warm and wet pool around my neck, oozing into my dress and sliding down my back.

“Oh no!” my mom said.

“Oh, jeez, Josh.” Kyle quickly took him from me as I stood unmoving like a board.

Josh wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, smearingthe vomit.

“Oh!” Gabby turned green and cupped her hand over her mouth and nose.

“Poor thing. Was your tummy hurting?” Mom handed Josh a wad of tissues because he had a little vomit on his face.

Kyle grimaced at me. “Eve, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s nobody’s fault,” my dad reassured Kyle. “Eve, let’s take you around back. There’s a spigot. We can get you rinsed off before you get in the car. Gabby, grab some paper towels from the bathroom and a choir robe your sister can wear home.”

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