Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“Yes, ma’am,” we all call out in unison. Coach Jordan nods to Nadine, who’s stuck doing boom-box duty thanks to her messed-up arm. She rolls her eyes but hits play on the music, and the routine starts.
Two dramatic beats, and then Kayla counts it off, “Five, six, seven, eight!”
My hands under my chin, I clasp clap and set, and my bases do the same, ready for my foot. We bounce once, and Tonya gives my hips a shove, and I’m up in the air, hitting my liberty with the toll of the bell in the music. The other flyers beside us hit their marks, too, and then we all full down to cradle as the crescendo builds. I’m moving quick, ready to hit my mark for my tumbling pass, but the music scratches to a stop and Coach Jordan is yelling again.
“Back to the beginning! McKenzie, your hands were all over the place, and Beth looked like she was on a carnival ride with all that wobbling. We’re not moving on until we hit this perfect!”
Kayla rolls her eyes as we get set again, but after a quick glance to Coach Jordan, shifts her face to serious. “Hey, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I remark, rolling my shorts higher on my thighs so they stop riding up.
“Are you sure? You’ve seemed upset at every practice since last week. I just want to make sure—”
“I’m fine, Kay,” I cut her off. I know she cares, and I know it’s rude of me not to give her any credit for it, but if I think about the fact that I’m in love with Finn and he hates me and Finn’s dad is Professor Winslow’s dad and an obviously really shitty guy, I will most definitely start to cry. And that isn’t going to help any of us hit this stunt well enough to leave practice at a reasonable time tonight.
I messed everything up. I have to deal with the consequences. Even if that means I have to plaster a fake smile on my face and find a way to carry this utterly devastating heartbreak that’s had me crying myself to sleep every night.
“Come on,” I say and force myself to look happy. “Let’s do it again. Perfect this time.”
Kayla nods, but I can tell by the look in her eyes that she knows something is up with me. Which means, to her, the matter isn’t officially closed. She’ll be asking me again, and frankly, I can’t blame her. I’d do the same if our roles were reversed.
It’s what good friends do.
But I have a feeling my mood isn’t going to change anytime soon—I’m afraid there’s no coming back from what I did to Finn.
Friday, November 15th
Finn
“I told you I’m not going anywhere.”
“Listen, Finn, you’ve been a mope-oppotamus for the last two weeks, and I’m done with it. I’ve never had a wingman like you, and I refuse to let you fall through the cracks.”
“You’ve got Blake.”
“He’s busy with football and shit. And he’s no Finnley Hayes, do you hear me?”
I roll my eyes and go back to changing the channel on the TV. Ace steps right in front of me to block my view.
“Get up, Finn. We’re going out.” I ignore him, so he waves his hands in front of my face. “It’s not here at Dickson, so you don’t have to worry about running into pretty, doe-eyed cheerleaders or anything, okay? My parents are having a Halloween thing with some of their friends, and they’ve insisted I attend. As such, you will be attending with me.”
“A Halloween thing?” Nausea rolls my stomach immediately. “No way.”
“Trust me, buddy, with the way you’ve been looking for the last little bit, it’s not like you need a costume or anything. You look scary enough as it is.” Ace misinterprets the situation entirely. “But my parents were in Cabo at the end of last month, and my mom’s upset they didn’t get to have their normal party. Now, get up, get dressed, put on some DO for your BO, and let’s roll. Gary’s downstairs with the car already.”
I sigh deeply and close my phone out of the text messages I’ve been staring at for the last hour. I’m not going to do anything with them anyway.
Scottie: I’m so genuinely sorry for invading your privacy, Finn. I realize you may never forgive me, but I don’t think I’ll ever stop caring about you.
Scottie: I know you think you know me and my whole story, but you don’t. You’d be surprised how much we have in common.
I think I have a good enough bead on Scottie Bardeaux to know that she is truly sorry. But she played me—gave me her fucking virginity—knowing damn well what she’d done, and I can’t seem to find a way to get over it.