Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The school day went by fast. While I don’t have A’s, I’m catching up enough to be passing my classes. Lunch wasn’t that exciting, but they did change up the menu. I can’t remember the last time I had nachos. I also brought my sandwich, just in case. I’m falling into a familiar routine again.
Today, Sadie asked me to meet at her mother’s restaurant because she has to cover a shift. She said it wouldn’t be too busy, and we could study in between the guests coming in.
We dropped Jordy off at home before driving there.
As soon as we pull up, Sadie runs out. She waves with a big grin stretched across her face. There’s a number two pencil tucked behind her ear and an apron wrapped around her waist.
I expect her to come up to my window, but she doesn’t. She stands by Caleb’s door and motions for him to lower the window.
I cringe, sinking lower. What is she about to do?
“Hello?” Caleb says.
Sadie smooths out her wild hair, but the static follows her hand. “Hi, I was wondering if you still play in a band?”
Caleb nods. “We practice every Sunday.”
I frown. I didn’t realize he played in a band. I literally live next door to him and had no idea.
Sadie leans her folded arms on the window frame. “Do you want a gig?”
Caleb smiles. “We’d love that. What’s it for?”
“The winter formal,” she says.
“I’ll have to talk to the guys, but I don’t think they’ll say no,” he replies.
She hops back. “Perfect!” She smacks the car, cringes, and then wipes the spot with her sleeve. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Caleb says.
She finally looks over at me. “I have to run back inside, but I’ll be ready whenever you are.” She runs off.
“You have a band?” I turn to Caleb.
He combs his bangs back with his fingers. “Yup. We've been playing on and off for a while now.”
“Are you guys good?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you could tell me.”
“What does that mean?”
He unbuckles. “If we go to the formal together, you’ll have a front-row seat.”
I gasp. “Oh, definitely not. Do I look like someone who wears frilly dresses and dances?”
“Maybe.”
I shake my head. “The correct answer is no. I’d rather fall into a patch of poison ivy than wear heels.”
He laughs. “You could wear sweats. I wouldn’t care. You look good in everything you wear.”
I blush, looking away. It can’t be because he thinks I look good. It must be from the embarrassing idea of wearing sweats in a sea of glittery dresses and suits.
“I’m not going,” I say.
He pouts. “You agreed to go on four more dates with me.”
“Dates, not dances.”
“Not even one?” he asks.
“Not even one.”
He sighs. “Okay.” He reaches for the door.
“Whoa, wait,” I say, grabbing his sleeve and tugging him back.
His eyes fall to my hand gripping the fabric of his shirt. He swallows, not saying anything, but slowly lifts his gaze to meet mine. My heart speeds up, and I jerk my hand back, rubbing it on my pants. Why do I keep touching him?
My eyes dart around the car. “I uh—why are you coming inside?”
“Because I’m hungry,” he says. “Besides, you’re going to need a ride home.”
“My dad will pick me up. We’re going to go see a movie.”
“Oh, that’s right.” He steps out of the car. “Well, I’m still going to get something to eat. Besides, maybe I’ll learn something.”
Maybe having him tag along isn’t the worst idea. He could act like a buffer between Sadie and me, making sure we stay civil.
When we walk in, Sadie points to the booth in the far corner. “That’s the best spot for us to study. That way I can see if anyone walks in or needs anything.”
“Could I get a menu?” Caleb asks.
“Sure,” Sadie says, handing him one.
As we start to walk toward the table, she pulls on my jacket, forcing me to fall a couple of steps back. “Why’s Caleb here?” she whispers.
“He drove me,” I say.
“You guys seem to be getting close.” She winks.
I roll my eyes. “It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure? It doesn’t look like nothing.”
“Maybe you should get your eyes checked.”
She overexaggeratedly blinks at me. “I’m pretty sure my eyes are fine. Besides, I can tell when you like something, and I’m pretty sure you like him.”
“Be quiet,” I hiss.
She bites her lip to try and stop her smile. “Oh, I’m right.” She looks over at him. “You two look cute together. Your kids would look even cuter.”
I cover her mouth with my hand. “What’s wrong with you?” I say, my cheeks turning an ungodly shade of red. “It’s not like that. You’re reading into things.”
She narrows her eyes and pulls my hand away from her face. “Am I though?”
“I like Caleb as a friend. That’s it.”
She crosses her arms and hums knowingly.
“You’re embarrassing me,” I say. “Let’s go study.”
She raises an eyebrow, giving me a look. “You can’t fool me.”
I ignore her and walk to the table. I sit across from Caleb because if I sit next to him, Sadie will flip.
Her math book is already on the table and open to the next section. She slides into the booth next to me, stealing glances between Caleb and me.
I keep my focus on the math book, smoothing the worn pages. “How did the last assignment go?”
“I got a B-minus, which isn’t bad.”
“That’s really good,” I say.
She sighs. “Well, I have a massive test soon to make up for everything I missed last semester, and I only know like twenty percent of it. At this rate, I’m screwed.”
“No, you can do it,” I say. “We’ll just go over one section at a time, and before you know it, you’ll understand everything.”
“I hope you’re right,” she says.
We spend about two minutes studying before a customer walks in, and Sadie has to jump up.
Caleb peers over his menu. “Have you been here before?”
I nod, still invested in the math book, trying to figure out the best way to explain the next problem when she gets back. “Sadie and I were joined at the hip growing up, and her parents own this place.”
“So I’ll take that as a yes.”
“You’d be right.”
“So what do you like here?”
“Easy.” I reach over and point to the best clam chowder in the state. “But be warned. Once you try it here, you’ll never be able to order it anywhere else. It’s amazing, and it’ll ruin you for life.”
“Is it really that good?”
“It’s my favorite thing here,” I say.
“Okay, I trust you.”
I can feel his gaze on me. It’s heavy, and I don’t dare look up because I’m afraid I’ll blush if we lock eyes.
“Why don’t you do more with Sadie? She used to be at your house all the time, right?”
“We haven’t done much since Ethan,” I whisper. My stomach churns just saying the words.
“I forgot they dated,” he says.
I nod, wrapping my arms around my middle. My head starts to spin as I picture Ethan laughing and teasing Sadie and me. Even after they started dating, I was never left out. My eyes sting, and I blink the tears away.
“Bec, look at me,” Caleb says. His voice is soothing, pulling me out of my thoughts. I settle on his dark brown eyes and his soft expression. “We don’t have to talk about this right now,” he continues. “Why don’t we talk about something else?”
“Okay.” I take a deep breath.
He scans the room before picking up the bottle of ketchup on the table. “Did you know at one point in time ketchup was sold as medicine?”
I half laugh, half choke. “Are you serious?”
“It’s true. I read it online, and you know what they say—the internet never lies.”
My brow furrows, and I break into laughter. “This is your plan to cheer me up?”
He smiles. “Is it working?”
I shy away, turning my head to hide my tiny smile.
Sadie slides back into the booth. “What’s so funny?”
“Ketchup,” Caleb says.
I giggle.
I giggle. Ugh.
“Ketchup?” Sadie asks. She looks between Caleb and me again, clearly forming assumptions in her head. “So, Caleb, who are you taking to the winter formal?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Well, I mean, I asked Bec, but—”
“What?” Sadie slams her hands down on the table. She turns to me, grabbing my shoulders. “He asked you to the dance, and you didn’t tell me?”
My jaw drops. “I said no.”
“What’s wrong with you? You two are sitting here flirting over ketchup, and you said no?”
“We weren’t flirting,” I stammer.
“Sure.” She rolls her eyes, unconvinced.
“I don’t think Bec is capable of flirting,” Caleb says.
Sadie laughs. “Now, that’s the Becca I know. But still.” She aims her big blue eyes at me. “Do you realize how long I dreamed of having a date to a dance?”
That’s right. She never got to go with Ethan. A rock sinks into my stomach.
“Then why don’t you go with Caleb?”
She glares. “Because he asked you.”
“Sadie?” I say, desperate to change the subject.
“Yes?”
“Do you want to pass your test or not?”
“Of course I do,” she says
I push the book closer to her. “Then let’s get back to work.”
She takes a deep breath, letting it out in the most dramatic way possible. “Fine.”
We study for the next hour while Caleb eats his soup and talks with me every time Sadie gets up to work.
I don’t know how much is actually sticking in her mind.
All the distractions are driving me up the wall.
The chatter around us and the constant movement is making my skin crawl.
I need peace and quiet to learn. Hopefully, Sadie is the opposite.
For the most part, she seems to be keeping up, but we’ll see if she remembers any of it tomorrow.
“What time is your dad picking you up?” Caleb asks as he scrapes the bowl with his spoon to get the last bit of soup.
“I haven’t heard from him yet,” I say. Not one notification has popped up on my screen, and I start to dread the idea of Dad forgetting about me again. Is he out somewhere drinking again? I thought he was improving. I thought he saw me again.
I send a quick text and set my phone off to the side. Nerves flood through me as I wait for his reply . . . or lack thereof. My phone buzzes a moment later.
Dad:
Sorry, but I won’t be able to go to the movies today. Something came up.
I rub my temples. He can’t be serious.
What happened?
Your mom needs help with something, but I’ll make it up to you.
“What’s wrong?” Caleb asks.