Page 35 of The Perfect Steal

It didn’t take long to finish up the last of the homework I had, aside from our big project, and I started playing video games, trying to pass the time until I saw Brynn again.

After a quick break for lunch, microwaved pizza rolls, I checked my phone. Nothing. I opened up the text message from Brynn and debated whether or not to write her. Maybe she was out with her mom and I would be distracting her. But there was a strange excitement about getting a text from her, and I figured I’d risk it.

How’s GNO?

Seconds passed by before I got a response.

I don’t know. I tried to call my mom and text her, but she won’t answer. I just hope she’s okay.

I frowned, irritated that her mom wouldn’t respond to her when Brynn had been so excited about this.

Did she leave without you?

No, she was going to get groceries and said she’d text me when she heard about the pedicure appointment.

What are you doing right now?I bit my lip, trying to decide what I wanted her answer to be. I was kind of over playing video games for the day, and since I had my Hummer back, I was willing to head out and do something. I’d already contacted the guys, and they were either at family functions, doing homework, or with their girlfriends.

Not much. Just trying to get some homework done.

I glanced around my room, trying to find an excuse to hang out with her.

What if I came by until your appointment? We can work on homework together or even our assignment.I hesitated before sending it.

Was that too forward? Earlier at the park, she’d given me the look of a scared rabbit, ready to dash away from me. She had so many different sides to her that sometimes it was hard to tell which one would surface. There was the Defiant Brynn, who told me off that day we’d been paired up for the project. Then there was the Flirty Brynn I’d seen several times, most notably at lunch and at the old men’s basketball game. And then there was the Shy Brynn from today.

Hopefully, I’d eventually be able to understand what brought all of them out from time to time. But I was still drawn to her, and helping cheer her up if her mom didn’t follow through with their hangout time would be good.

I pressed send, placing my phone on the bed as I walked into my bathroom and brushed my teeth. Yeah, it was the middle of the day, but pizza breath wasn’t something I wanted her to think about if she said yes.

When I glanced at my phone, she still hadn’t responded. Reading over what I’d said once more, I typed,I can leave the minute your mom gets there or texts you or whatever.

That might have sounded desperate, but hanging out with Brynn made me feel more like me than I ever had, ever since moving to Pecan Flatts anyway.

Sure. I’m game for that.

Sweet! Send me your address.

Tossing a few books into my backpack, I headed out to the Hummer, anxious to get over to her. I just hoped I wouldn’t go too fast and get pulled over again.

21

Brynn

What was I thinking? Allowing Nate to come to my house was way too intimate. Should I text him and ask him to meet at the library or something?

I shook my head, knowing I needed to be here in case my mom came home and was ready to go out.

“Most girls stay home waiting for a guy to come to them,” I grumbled out loud. Then again, Nate was coming over. What a complicated turn my life had taken. I’d been anti-dating for months, and now I was hoping Nate would like me as much as I liked him.

When I got downstairs to the living room, I gasped. “Look who’s Mr. Messy now.”

John turned toward me, his fingers covered in orange from the Cheetos he was eating. Two cans of soda sat on the coffee table, along with a dozen wrappers from mini chocolate bars.

“I haven’t left the room yet. I’ll make sure to clean it all up before I go anywhere, unlike you.” He scrunched his nose and stuck out his tongue. Oh, the joys of younger brothers.

“Can you leave now? I need to clean this up.”

I grabbed a handful of the wrappers and shook one of the drink cans, finding it mostly full. The other can was empty, though.

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