SKYLAR
The minute I stepped out of my third period class, Zoe pulled me into the bathroom. “Okay, spill, because my head is about to explode.” Her hands made a boom motion before she continued. “You’re with Cody now? How in the world did this happen?” Her fists dropped to her hips like a scolding grandma, and all she needed to complete the picture was a bandana and rolling pin in her hand.
I fumbled with the buttons on my shirt, uncomfortable under her I-think-you’ve-lost-your-mind stare. “I told you I liked Cody. Turns out he likes me too. It’s not really a big deal.”
“It is a big deal. Especially when he still walks Lindsay to class. Call me cynical, but this move feels very calculated.”
“The only thing calculated is the way everyone is treating him. Even Ms. Yarnell moved him from our group. Cody didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t know who started the rumors, but they’re not true.”
Zoe stepped closer, took my arms in her hands to make sure I was paying close attention. “I’ll be the first to admit I don’t trust anything when it comes to Lindsay, but I also don’t want to see you hurt.” Her sigh implied she didn’t want to fight with me, either. “I’m sorry. I’m just disappointed I guess.” She walked over to the mirror and patted down a few stray strands of hair. Two girls walked in and disappeared into the stalls. She waited until their doors were shut. “Chugger finally asked me out.”
My mouth dropped as our eyes met through the mirror. She bit her lip and then burst into a huge smile. I felt like a terrible friend. I’d been so caught up in my drama, I missed the biggest detail in Zoe’s life.
“Zoe, that’s awesome.”
She spun around and clapped her hands. “I know.” Her voice turned dreamy, and she closed her eyes.
“When did it happen?”
Her lids popped back open, exposing two dark, infatuated eyes. “This past weekend. And we’ve talked every night since.”
I embraced her and let go. “I’m really happy for you.”
Her chest deflated. “Me too. I just wish…” Toilets flushed in the background. Zoe shook her head. “Never mind.”
She pulled on the heavy bathroom door and the sound of footsteps and voices replaced the sudden strain between us. Neither said what I knew we were both thinking—how different this conversation would be if I’d picked Blake. How, now, there would be no double dates or group outings. Our boyfriends were enemies.
We turned the corner, and my moment of sadness flew away like chaff. Cody stood by my locker, waiting. He stared at his boots, his hands deep in his pockets. The droop in his shoulders said the morning had been hard on him. I walked faster, moving two strides ahead of Zoe and headed straight for my target.
He glanced up, and I was quickly encircled in broad strong arms. Cody held on like I was his energy source. His nose brushed the side of my face and dipped into the curve of my neck. “You are so who I needed to see.” His lips touched my skin and an electric charge exploded between us that made me wish we were back at the park, naïve to the chaos our relationship would bring.
Zoe’s exaggerated, “Excuse me,” made me realize we were blocking her locker. Cody glanced around for teachers trolling the hall and seconds later, my back was against a different locker, and his lips against mine. He was asking permission without words and I pressed in, craving reassurance.
Zoe cleared her throat, loud and drawn out. “You’re gonna get detention if you keep that up.”
Cody pulled back, but his grin lingered over my flushed skin. “So worth it.”
I straightened, my mind clearing of the smoke and heat. I’d kiss Cody all day if it didn’t mean an hour serving time in detention.
He held my book while I opened my locker, and I didn’t miss the dejected look on Zoe’s face as she waited. I wanted to reach out and assure her somehow that our friendship would sustain this challenge.
“Are you eating with us?” she asked in a tone that implied she already knew my answer would be no.
But I didn’t want to say no. I wanted to go to our table and joke and laugh. But I also wanted Cody with me. I peeked his way. He waited too, his jaw tight. I knew he’d never ask me to choose.
“I will tomorrow,” I said, hoping that would ease the worry in Zoe’s eyes.
“Okay.” Her shoulders fell as she slowly walked down the hall toward the lunchroom. Cody slid my book into my open locker and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder.
“It’ll get easier,” he whispered.
I choked on a humorless laugh. “I feel like I’m going to lose her as my friend.” I knew that sounded selfish, but Zoe was important to me. And now, her dating Chugger made everything more complicated.
“You won’t.” Irritation leaked into his voice. “I’ll eat alone a couple days a week so you can hang out with her at lunch.”
I turned in his arms, surprised. “You would do that?”
His thumbs pressed a comforting circle into my back, and I wanted to drown in his soft brown eyes. “I never wanted to stick you in the middle.”
A low buzz of conversation was around us. A few loners, their backs against the lockers, sat on the floor eating. A group of girls to our left eyed our embrace.
We walked toward the exit, hand in hand, and I lay my head against his shoulder, allowed his warmth to calm the anxiety brewing inside me. “Will the rumors ever stop?”
“Probably not.”
I shouldn’t have asked. Knowing the rest of the year was going to be spent defending lies and whispers reminded me too much of the fame. I never wanted my dad’s world to collide with this one, and now, it was all a blur of lines. “Why is everyone so obsessed with you and Lindsay? I mean, what is the big deal?”
Cody opened the door and held it until I stepped through. “It’s not often that people defy the king of the school. Two of us within months of each other started to rock the ground this school is built on.”
“So, this is about Blake?”
“No, it’s about control. Madison thrives on rules and hierarchy. This school has been around a hundred years. Traditions don’t die easy.”
“What do we do?”
He kissed my fingers. “We trust each other.”
The parking lot was nearly empty, minus a few nicotine addicts getting a hit in their cars. He pulled me between his truck and a red sedan and tucked me in front of him. Tenderly, his lips touched mine. My fingers curled into his t-shirt, my heart pounded from his touch and the adrenaline of possibly being caught. Strong arms wrapped around my waist and the kiss shifted deeper, desperate. The closer I moved, the closer Cody pressed in until there was no beginning or end.
A car door slammed in the distance and we reluctantly parted. “You keep kissing me like that and no one will even mention Lindsay’s name,” I said like I was waking from a dream.
The muscles in his shoulders flexed and the smile that had been there seconds earlier faded. “That was irresponsible of me. I’m sorry, Skylar.”
Talk about a cold splash of water. “Sorry? Why?” My dad had said a man who cares would never hide me in the shadows. I loved that Cody was so openly affectionate.
“Because shoving our relationship in Blake’s face will do nothing but bring new rumors. Ones that could be about you, and that’s unacceptable.” He put more distance between us. “It’s one thing to be together. It’s another thing to give them ammunition.”
I felt a wave of disappointment, but seeing the almost explosion between Blake and Cody in first period, I knew he was right.
“But I have an idea to pass the lonely days.” His hand slid into mine, and he pulled me toward the sidewalk leading to the outside picnic area. “Tell me something about you no one knows. Something that’s just mine.”
I smiled because I desperately wanted to be inside his head. “Okay, but tomorrow is your turn.”
“Sure thing, Rock Star Princess, but my life is sadly vanilla compared to yours.”
Maybe it was the slight hesitation in his voice, but somehow, I knew that wasn’t true.