Soon we’re leaving the house, and I spend the whole drive to the soccer field hoping that Brayden will just stay home. Or find somewhere else to go. Besides, I’m sure he has better things to do then come to a lame soccer game.
“I have to use the bathroom!” Kyle exclaims, just as Dad pulls into a free parking space. “Like, super bad!”
“Ky-Ky,” Mom says with a sigh, “didn’t you go before we left? When I told you to?”
“Uh…” he trails off, squirming in his booster seat. “I can’t remember.”
Yeah, that’s a no.
“I’ll take him,” Dad says, turning the car off, “go ahead and get out, Ky.”
Which means I have to get out, because Hailee’s not going to let him out on her side. So, I click seatbelt off then get out of the car, and Kyle follows suit.
“Stop bouncing,” I tell him as I close the door, “you’re going to make it worse.”
“All right, bud,” Dad says once he’s also out of the car, “let’s go.”
Kyle takes his hand and immediately drags him over toward the bathrooms.
“Please, get out of the car,” I hear Mom tell Hailee as she closes the passenger door. “Megan?”
What nowwwwww?
I put on my best: “I’m-trying-to-be-a-good-daughter” face. “Yes?”
“Keep an eye on your sister, would you?” she replies before motioning past me. “I see Anna over there, and I just want to ask her something really quick.”
Who the heck is Anna?
Mom strides off, her perky ponytail bouncing with every step, and I roll my eyes. I shouldn’t even be here right now…
“Do you see him anywhere?” Hailee asks, coming around to where I am. “We need to be on the lookout at all times.”
“What part of let it go don’t you understand?” I hiss at her. “Quit. It.”
She tilts her black sunglasses down before carefully scanning the area. “Nope. No signs of him.” She pushes her sunglasses back up. “Don’t worry, Meg. He’ll show up.”
Oh my gosh. It never ends.
“Let’s just go find some seats,” I suggest, nodding toward the bleachers, “okay? Forget about Brayden,”
“As if I could,” she scoffs, thankfully walking beside me away from the car, “that man is straight-up gorgeous!”
A reminder I didn’t want, or need…
Hailee suddenly gasps, dropping a curse word as she jumps behind me. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“What?” I ask, totally lost. “What is it?”
“He’s here!” she hisses before muttering something else.
I quickly look around for Brayden, but don’t see him at all. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure!” she exclaims, sounding like she’s ready to strangle me. “I’d recognize those blue eyes and dimpled chin anywhere!”
Wait. Blue eyes and—
I turn around to look at her. “Who the heck are you talking about?”
“Ricky,” she whispers, moving to peek past me. “Oh my gosh…I can’t believe he’s actually here. He never comes!”
“Yeah, I know,” I drawl with an eye-roll. “Well, why don’t you go talk to him?”
She proceeds to look at me like I’m crazy. “Because he’s Ricky Vero, Meg. Who in their right mind would just walk up to Ricky Vero and talk to him?”
“He’s just another kid at your school, Hailee,” I tell her, raising an eyebrow, “not one of those celebrities you’re obsessed with. Go talk to him.”
“Yeah, no, I don’t think so.” She shakes her head. “I mean, I’m not even wearing the right—”
“Shut up and go talk to him,” I cut her off, stepping out of the way, “you look fine.”
She doesn’t move an inch though.
“All right, fine,” I say with a nod, “I’ll just go talk to him. Blue eyes and a dimpled chin? No problem.”
“Stop!” She grabs my arm, a panicked look on her face. “I’ll go talk to him, okay? I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
I snort at that. “Why, does Ricky have a thing for older girls?”
“You’re so embarrassing!” she wails, letting go of my arm. “Just stay here and pretend you don’t know me.”
Well, then…
“I am not that embarrassing,” I mutter as she practically runs toward some scrawny dark-haired kid. Is he seriously the heartthrob at her school? Not for anything, but he’s kind of dressed more on the nerdier side. Then again, I guess nerdy is “in” right now.
“Hey…Kyle’s older sister, right?”
My eyes widen at the sight of Lincoln’s older brother. Dang it! I never remembered what his name is.
“Yeah,” I reply somewhat hesitantly as I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans, “Megan.”
“Megan,” he echoes with a nod. “I wasn’t sure if you’d recognize me or not, to be honest.”
Oh, I recognize you all right—for sure—I just can’t remember your darn name!
I force a slight laugh. “Well, I’m pretty good with faces.”
Just not names, apparently.
“That’s cool,” he says, even though it’s totally not, “so—”
“Hey, Megan!” I hear a voice call from behind me. But it’s not just any voice…it’s Brayden’s voice.
Not now. Gah, he has the worst timing.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize to whatever-his-name-is, choosing to ignore Brayden. “What were you saying?”
“Meg!”
“Uh…” L-boy’s eyebrows crease, and his brown eyes look past me. “I think that guy is calling you.”
I clear my throat some as Brayden continues to holler my name. “Don’t worry about him. He’s just…some guy I go to school with.”
I can’t even believe this.
“Well,” L-boy drawls, now looking somewhat uncomfortable, “he’s coming this way.”
Of. Course. He. Is.
Why does this kind of crap always happen to me?
“I guess you couldn’t hear me again, huh?” Brayden asks, smirk intact as he appears next to me. “Maybe you should get that checked out, Meg.”
Maybe you should go away.
However, I bite back the remark and
