“You shouldn’t care what other people think,Amber.” Then he kissed me, hard until I pulled back and huffed.
“Viktor. I’m going to have to teach you somemanners.” I trudged off, and I heard him snigger behind me.
I was invisible to Mikado, as I’d alwaysbeen, but Carson wasn’t about to let me slip through his fingers.He caught up with me between classes.
“You can’t seriously be with him. Out ofeveryone in this school, you choose him? Even after I warnedyou?”
I had to get him to buy my relationship withViktor, at least for a few more days, but I wasn’t sure what wouldconvince him that I, nice Amber, would choose such a devil as aboyfriend.
“I just don’t see it, Carson. You’ve got himall wrong. Seriously. He’s so good to me.”
“It’s all an act. I’m telling you. Saveyourself some grief and end it now before it really begins.”
“I like you, Carson. You’re a good friend,my best friend here. It’s nice of you to want to protect me, butI’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself.”
“That’s just it. You are my friend, and Idon’t want to see you get hurt.”
This wasn’t working. I was going to have tobe mean to the one boy who had been so nice to me and was onlytrying to help. “Look, Carson.” I adopted a stern tone to my voice.“I appreciate you and everything, but I like Viktor.” The wordswere thick in my mouth, and I wondered if they rang true. “And I’mwith him. You are going to have to accept that and come to termswith the fact that nothing is going to happen between you and me. Isee you like my big brother. Nothing more. I’m sorry.”
Just then, a hand grabbed mine. I jerked myhead around. It was Viktor. “What would you have to be sorryabout?”
“Oh,” I said, pushing the fake anger out ofmy tone. “I got a drink from the fountain and when I turned around,I ran right into Carson and made him drop his stuff. I’m soclumsy.”
Carson’s face was a mask of hurt. My insidesswirled like a tornado.
“You’re not clumsy, Amber. I’m sure Carsonwas to blame. He should have been paying better attention.” Helooked pointedly at Carson.
“Whatever,” Carson said, looking at me, hispained expression turning to indignant anger as he stalkedaway.
I wanted to reach out to him and take backeverything I’d said, but I couldn’t. I had to keep Viktor believingI was with him one hundred percent. I needed to get into hisuncle’s house.
“We better hurry, or we’ll be late.”
We sprinted to class and stepped inside justas the bell rang. At the end of it, we headed for lunch. “I’m soexcited to meet more of your family Sunday.”
“About that, I’m not so sure this week wouldbe the best week.”
My heart leapt into my throat. “Is youruncle not having the dinner?”
“No, he is. He just suggested we wait untilnext week. He’s got a lot of stuff going on at work this week andwants to be able to give you the attention you deserve.”
“Did he really say that?”
“What?”
“That he wants to give me the attention Ideserve?”
“Not in those exact words, no.”
I sighed. “I guess we’ll have to lay offuntil then. I mean, we really can’t be together until he approvesour relationship, right? It’s going to be terrible to wait for afew weeks to be together again.” I looked up at him.
He scrunched up his face in thought. I hadhim. “I don’t think it means that. I mean—”
“You can’t tell me that now you think he’dbe okay with us. It’s been, what, a day? And you think he’schanged?” I stood there, exasperation on my face.
“No. I mean…he’ll never know.”
“Are you kidding? Several people havealready congratulated me on snagging you, and I haven’t said a wordto anyone.”
“You’re right.” He sighed. “I’ll see if Ican’t bring you and then leave right after dinner.”
“Yes. Please. Ask him again. I don’t want toput things on hold between us.” It would be too late if we waiteduntil next Sunday, I just knew it.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
I flung my arms around him and gave him akiss on the cheek before saying, “Thank you! Thank you!”
I saw Jericho staring at us, a sour look onhis face until he noticed me notice him. Then he smiled at me andwalked away.
***
I got a text at eight that night giving medirections to my next lift. Viktor had explained to me that S-Dubwould need me every day this weekend in order for him to meet hisquota of cars, so I wasn’t surprised when the text came in. Iwalked briskly through the cold, a chill wind numbing my face as Ihurried to my destination to meet my lifting partner. However, whenI got to the place, I was met by Viktor, not Jericho or Mikado.
“I didn’t realize you lifted cars with therest of us.”
“I don’t. I wanted to see you for a fewminutes tonight at least.”
“All that effort, for little old me?” Iflirted, though I was cringing inside as he once again led me undera tree and kissed me. This time, Jeremy’s face came to mindimmediately, and I found myself almost enjoying the kiss, untilViktor’s hands began exploring my back, breaking my foolishillusion. I couldn’t match Jeremy’s face with Viktor’s insistentfumbling—his hands inside my jacket, only my shirt keeping themfrom my skin. He was searching for the hem of my shirt, I was sure,trying to push his way even closer.
I had to find a reasonable way to end this,preferably to make him end it. I had been covertly sniffing for thelast minute or so, my nose running thanks to the cold night air.Now, I sniffed hard, allowing a tiny snort to come through. Viktorpulled away, and I made a move
