Chapter 20 #2
“Lila Jane’s been telling everyone,” Samantha explains.
At the sound of her formerly favorite model, Jess shifts in her seat. Currently and until further notice, Lila Jane is no longer invited to the inaugural Jessica Alexander-Ochoa fashion show.
I love my teammates. I’ve been playing with some of them for four years. They always have my back on the pitch. But right now, I want to get off this bus and not have to answer anymore questions.
“People saw you driving this car,” Lucia adds.
“And everyone knows he doesn’t let anyone drive his car,” Samantha points out.
Why does everyone know that? And why does he have to be so picky about his car? I should ask him that!
“Does anyone know the theme for the Gamma party?“ Jess asks, coming to my rescue.
The girls take the bait. For a while. Eventually, they circle back to all things Grayson Rhodes.
“Have you seen him in his uniform?”
“Hell yeah! I love those snug little baseball pants!”
“I’ve never been into guys’ butts, but have you seen his butt?!”
“Did you touch it, Selena?”
I roll my eyes, but I’m chuckling at their craziness.
“Grayson Rhodes is so sexy! And if he ever looks at me, I think my clothes would simply fly off!”
“I’d totally let him rearrange my insides!”
“Me too!”
The girls are all talking over each other, mentioning how ridiculously and unfairly hot he is.
“Selena is definitely stronger than I am,” Lucia says. “Because if he let me sit on his lap, I would’ve fucked him right there in the middle of Leo’s Burgers with everyone watching!”
That has everyone giggling. Except me. For some reason I don’t find the comment funny. Irritated, I grab my phone and text him.
Selena
why don’t you let people drive your car?
He probably gets a million texts from a million girls. This too bothers me...without reason, obviously. Especially because he’s not going to know it’s me.
Selena
btw it’s Selena
Alvarez
Ugh, I’m such a dork. Why would I text all that?! I squeeze my eyes shut and throw my phone into my backpack again.
After only a few seconds, my phone pings and my heart rate picks up. Jess is showing Samantha pictures of a new dress she’s sewing. Nervous, I reach for my phone.
I have one text from Passenger Princess. I didn’t think he would text back. He doesn’t seem like a texting kind of guy. Chewing on my bottom lip, I unlock the screen.
Passenger Princess
I know who this is.
Oh. Okay. This is okay. I’m okay.
I’m not okay. It’s not a big deal though. Why am I smiling then?
How does he even know it’s me? The three dots appear.
Passenger Princess
As far as your question goes, I’m not big on sharing.
That’s fair. The three dots reappear before I can turn off my phone.
Passenger Princess
And I don’t like people touching what’s mine.
He means his car, but my body feels all tingly because I can almost hear him say those words in that Grayson Rhodes gravelly voice.
Selena
i never pictured you as the possessive type
I hit send and regret it. Especially when he replies.
Passenger Princess
Do you picture me often, sweetheart?
Selena
no! and don’t call me that!
Emily’s talking about baseball again. Lucia brings up Trevor and Troy. Someone mentions my brother, which ew. Then they move on to the football team. The girls are all giggling and hollering.
I text again.
Selena
anyway how’d you know it was me?
Passenger Princess
I don’t give out my number.
Selena, do not read into it.
Selena
why did I make the cut?
Damn it.
Passenger Princess
Do you need to cancel this Friday?
He ignores my question, but I let it go because I want to forget I asked it too.
Selena
do you want me to cancel?
Passenger Princess
It’s your call.
He’s leaving it up to me. That means he’s okay going. If he wasn’t he would say so. I know this because he’s never spared my feelings before.
Selena
I don’t want to cancel
I take a deep breath and keep typing.
Selena
I have one question though, why me?
Passenger Princess
Convenience.
You hate me.
You won’t get the wrong idea about what this is.
And what is this, I want to ask, but after that answer, I don’t think I want to hear more. What for? I focus on the three dots.
Passenger Princess
It’s a favor. I’ll owe you for helping me out.
Let’s talk more about that.
Selena
you’ll owe me?
Passenger Princess
Yes.
Selena
owe me what?
Passenger Princess
Anything you want.
Selena
anything, anything?
Passenger Princess
Anything.
Selena
your hoodies!
Passenger Princess
Sure.
Selena
all of them?
Passenger Princess
You do understand what ‘anything’ means, don’t you?
I can picture his annoyed expression, the narrowed eyes, the furrowed eyebrows, the downturn of his mouth. I smile at my phone.
Selena
how about your car!??
He loves his car. There’s no way—
Passenger Princess
If you like.
Oh. He’s serious, serious.
Selena
how long is this offer good for?
Passenger Princess
Graduation.
That makes sense, I’ll probably never see him again after we graduate.
Selena
so I help you out and you owe me a favor that I can cash in anytime up until graduation?
Passenger Princess
Correct.
I’m not going to ask him for anything, but knowing that I can?! Well, that’s the reason I’m smiling from ear to ear.
Selena
I’ll let you know when I decide
That’s what I text him, but I know myself. I’m probably going to end up helping him anyway.