Chloe spins around and gives me a dreamy smile.

“Did you just hear that?” She jumps with a little squeal and does a twirl. “Holden Carter asked me to homecoming!”

Yeah, only to piss me off.

I saw that look on his face. He’s not asking Chloe because he particularly likes her; he’s just trying to get me back for calling him out on his bullshit.

I can’t hide my disgust. It comes out in this kind of groan that has Chloe jerking to a stop.

“What?” She frowns at me.

I seriously do not want to disappoint her, but this cannot happen. If Holden legit liked her, then yeah, I could maybe find it in me to ignore this. But that isn’t what’s happening.

“He’s such a jerk. I can’t believe you said yes.”

“Of course I’m going to say yes. He’s gorgeous.”

“Yeah, and that’s about it. There’s more to a guy than the way he looks, Chloe. Why are you being so shallow?”

Her scowl is sharp as she crosses her arms. “And why are you being so pissy? It’s not like he asked you.”

“Thank God!” For some weird reason, my cheeks feel hot. I don’t get why. It’s probably just anger, still fresh and raw, bubbling beneath the surface.

Chloe’s eyes narrow and she tips her pretty little head. “You’re not jealous, are you, Mads?”

“As if!” I throw my arms wide. “What do you even see in that douchebag? How could you agree to go with him?”

“He’s hot, he’s sexy, and he asked me.” She counts off on her fingers and holds them up to my face. “Three perfectly good reasons.”

“Three perfectly lame ones,” I mutter.

“Oh, you are so jealous.” Chloe starts laughing at me.

I give her a pitiful frown. “I am seriously not jealous. I’m worried. I don’t want you getting caught up with someone like that. He’s arrogant, he’s cocky… He’s just so…irritating!”

“Well, I don’t care what you think. I’m going to homecoming with the hottest guy in school. So you can stick it.” She pokes out her tongue, looking adorable in spite of her insult.

Max snorts and cracks up as Chloe spins and practically skips towards the parking lot.

I throw my sister a warning glare, but she just swings her arm around my shoulders. “Don’t worry. We’ll keep an eye on her. You know Little Miss Stubborn. You’re not going to bend her will by acting like an irate mother.”

My shoulders sag, my anger being replaced by an ugly feeling I don’t like. “I hate this. I want to go back to Columbus.”

Max’s lips twitch as she squeezes me against her. “I know. You hate not being in control.”

I shrug her off me. “Great, so now I’m a control freak, irate mother. Thanks.”

“Don’t get your panties in a twist. This is hard for all of us.”

“You seem to be doing okay.” I give her a glum smile that quickly fills with gratitude. “You saved the game for us. You basically found us a spot on the team.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t about to let Holden ‘Asshat’ Carter make the Barlows look bad.”

Looping my arm through hers, we walk in step out to the parking lot. “You’ve just been biding your time, haven’t you? Waiting for that perfect dramatic moment to let your true colors shine.”

Max snickers and looks to the ground. “Maybe something like that.”

I watch her face carefully, waiting for that mischievous wink, but it never comes. She keeps her gaze on the concrete. It’s so unlike her and I’m about to ask what’s going on, but I’m interrupted by my thundering father.

“Hurry up, you two!” He’s standing by our family car with his arms crossed.

Oh, shit. Here we go.

We shuffle towards his marked frown and it’s not until we get closer that I feel the full impact of it. His laser eyes are drilling holes straight through my forehead.

“What the hell was that today, Madelyn?”

My mouth opens to reply but I don’t have a chance.

“Fumbling the ball the first chance you get to show the team what you’re made of? And then arguing with the pitcher in front of everybody. What was going on?”

In spite of the fact that I want to, I still can’t bring myself to tell on Holden. It seems so immature and second grade. Biting my lips together, I shake my head and shrug.

“How am I supposed to be an authority figure in this town when it’s obvious my daughter can’t even control herself? You need to pull it together. I expect more from you.”

Okay, ouch! Like in a big way. And so monumentally unfair! It’s not my fault Holden was acting like a first-class jerk.

I wish I could say that, but Dad will just see it as some lame excuse.

“If it wasn’t for your sister, you’d be benched for the rest of the season. I fought hard to get you girls on that team.”

“The rest of the game was good,” I mumble, but Dad doesn’t hear me.

His anger has already disappeared and he’s grinning at Max. “Great job today, kid. You made us all proud.”

Max gives him a weak smile, which looks dim beneath the solar beam he’s throwing her. She’s always been his favorite, which usually doesn’t bother me until moments like this when I come across looking like the big letdown.

Stupid Holden Carter with his smug smirk and electric blue eyes.

I cringe, hating that I can’t seem to insult the guy without throwing in a compliment at the same time.

Huffing around to the back seat, I climb in and am met with a sympathetic smile from Chloe. She mouths, “Sorry.” I know what she means. She hates being told off by Dad as much as I do.

Reaching for my hand, she gives it a little squeeze and I’m melted by her kindness.

She seriously is the nicest person I know, which means I can’t let Holden hurt her. I’m just going to have to find him and ask him to come up with some really plausible excuse not to take her to homecoming. We can think up something that won’t make her feel bad and then maybe put together a group of people to go. She and Rahn are hanging out a lot. Maybe I can arrange something there.

My mind shifts into planning mode as I dodge thoughts of Holden’s smug grin.

I won’t have him stringing Chloe along. She has a soft, romantic heart. She’ll fall in love with him, when all he’s trying to do is get me back for telling him the truth.