Chapter Thirteen
–Fletcher–
“Seriously, Kayla… Stewart is only gonna wait so long before he finds someone else. What are you so afraid of?”
“Shut up,” Haley says. “She’s ready when she’s ready. Leave her alone.”
I’ve been forced to eavesdrop on their conversation for thirty minutes. Okay, forced is not entirely truthful. My vehicle is still mid–tire rotation across the street, and my headphones are in, but the battery died on my cell and I don’t have an outlet at my table. If it wasn’t pouring down rain outside, I would have left the second Leslie called me an elf. What the fuck?
I’ve sat in this same booth so many times—my great uncle Manny works in the kitchen—during the two-hour gap I had last year when I went from community college classes to JFH classes in the afternoon. Manny always makes sure it’s wiped down for me, no trace of anything anywhere. No one seems to care if all I order is bottled water.
“Haley’s right,” Leslie says. “Stewart is a punk-ass if he keeps pressuring you. You guys do other stuff, right?”
Jesus. Ear plugs. Now.
I shove a few books into my bag and glance out at the rain. Maybe it’s not coming down that hard.
“Hey, Scott, how’s it going?”
Startled, I jump and look up. Tate Tanley is hovering in front of my booth, preparing to slide in across from me. He’s wearing a bright-blue T-shirt with Critter Crusader written across it. Several mice and a raccoon hang from a ladder at the bottom of the shirt.
Tate points to the seat across from me. “Mind if I sit?”
“Go ahead.”
We’re both quiet for a long minute, and then Tate picks up my British Literature textbook and flips through it. “College course, right?”
I nod.
“I think Claire has this book for a class at Northwestern.” He glances at the redhead behind the bar and then back at me before setting the book on the table again. “I heard Jamie and Leo ran you through the ringer last night. Are you really trying to get Red’s spot?”
Apparently, it isn’t such a secret practice, after all.
“I’m not gonna say anything,” he offers, then after waiting a few seconds for me to respond, he adds, “besides, I might join you guys next time. I wouldn’t mind some practice without Bakowski breathing down my neck.”
I twirl a pen around my fingers, imitating Haley’s restless behavior. I don’t have a concrete reason not to trust Tanley, but all I’ve done for years is avoid being noticed in Juniper Falls. Still, it was my choice to play varsity hockey; I’m the one who set that ball in motion. I guess it comes with the territory. In fact, it’s a big problem if I go unnoticed on the ice, especially with Coach Bakowski. I kind of need him to notice me or else I’m stuck riding the bench all season. Or worse—I’m cut before the season even begins.
“You’ve got the old house out in the country with the lake view, right?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You know where I live?”
“I was over there last week,” Tate explains. “Mice under the stove, I think?”
Oh, right. The exterminator Grandpa called. “Didn’t realize you were part of the Critter Crusaders.”
Tate grins. “If I wasn’t, you wouldn’t catch me anywhere near this T-shirt. The job’s not so bad, though. I’ve been using the money to fix up cars. My stepdad and I are working on a 1965 Mustang.”
“Seriously?” My guard drops a bit. I lean forward in my seat. “You guys know what you’re doing?”
Tate shrugs. “We’re learning. After the Mustang, I want to work on a Dodge Dart I saw at the junkyard last week, but it’ll be like starting over. Every engine is a different animal.”
“Yeah, I bet.” I debate adding that I love old cars, but it feels weird, sharing anything personal with one of my teammates.
“You gotta check out the Mustang,” he says as if sensing the words stuck inside my head. “If you’re into that sort of thing.”
Both of us stop talking when Kayla and Leslie pass by. Seconds later, Haley appears in front of us, her gaze following her friends until they’re out the door and then falling back on me. Her hair is up in a ponytail, her tight pink tank top hugging her in all the right places. I glance lower and get a nice view of her legs in those short cheer shorts, but I quickly force my gaze up. Tate lifts an eyebrow. Caught in the act by the girl’s ex. Real smooth. What the hell is wrong with me?
I’m no stranger to hot girls and usually have plenty of self-control, so I don’t know why I keep finding myself in these situations when Haley is around.
“Hey, Fletch,” Haley says, oblivious to this silent exchange I’m having with her ex. “Got a minute for our Civics project?”
Tate’s eyebrow shoots up even higher, but he stands, preparing to leave us alone. “Come check out the Mustang sometime if you want. Roger likes to show it off.”
“Yeah, okay,” I say, though I’m not sure if I will ever take him up on that offer. I know we’re practicing together and all, but that’s just about hockey, not about changes to my Juniper Falls social life. I like it just the way it is.
Tate surprises me by resting a hand on Haley’s shoulder. With his girlfriend behind them watching. “You all right? Leslie and Kayla giving you a hard time?”
Haley flashes him a smile that I’ve come to recognize as her more forced effort. The Princess Smile. That’s what I’m calling it from now on.
“They’re here to remind me what a shallow bitch I used to be. It’s karma, right?” She shakes her head. “I’m kidding. They aren’t that bad. They’d commit murder for me.” Her forehead wrinkles. “Well, maybe not Kayla, since that’s against the Ten Commandments, but she’d wish she could murder for me. The sentiment is there.”
Tate gives her a squeeze and then releases her. “Jamie and I would murder twice for you. Each. So, you’re completely covered.”
She gives him a sad-but-real smile this time. “Thanks, Tate.” Haley waves both hands. “Now go see your girlfriend and quit feeling sorry for me. Fletch and I have work to do.”
He stares at her for a beat longer and then turns around. The smile immediately fades from Haley’s face. She slides into the booth beside me, but keeps her eyes on Tate and Claire. My muscles are screaming at me to flee or at least appear busy with my notebook, but instead, I’m studying Haley, studying her ex and his new girlfriend. I can’t tell what she’s thinking, but when Tate touches Claire, an almost wistful look fills her face. My stomach twists in knots. This bugs me. I don’t know why.
I pick up my pen and twirl it again. “Karma, huh?”
Haley jolts out of her haze and looks at me. “I went to the dark side for a little while last fall. The whole Juniper Princess race was an ugly obsession.”
“And now?”
“Well, I won, so maybe I didn’t learn my lesson.” She sighs. “I don’t know…I like it for different reasons now. Less for the title and more for the influence I can have on people, on the town. And hopefully something bigger. Someday.”
“Very diplomatic answer. Maybe we should include this in our Constitution project.” Over at the bar, Tate has his hands in Claire’s hair. He’s twisting it in a knot on her head, securing it with an elastic band. I turn my attention back to Haley, watching her eyes gloss over a little. The sunshine fades from her face. I nod toward the lovebirds behind the bar. “What’s that like? Fighting the urge to commit one of those murders?”
“I don’t hate either of them, if that’s what you’re wondering.” Haley grabs a strand of hair that fell from her ponytail and twists it around her index finger. “I hate that I thought I understood everything and then…well, it turns out I didn’t know anything about relationships or love.”
This reminds me of our text exchange yesterday. I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with a return to that conversation.
“I’m not even sure I knew much about Tate,” Haley admits. “But Claire did. Claire does. And that’s the most difficult part. I thought he was mine, but he’s not, and he never was.” She plasters on a smile. “Which leaves me with no one to bitch to and to control, right?”
“You do have a way of forcing people into things,” I say, thinking about our academic partnership. “Do you always get your way?”
She rolls her eyes. “Not without great effort and persuasive skills.”
I lean on one elbow, studying her. “See? That’s scary.”
Haley’s face fills with mock surprise. She leans into my personal space, her eyelids fluttering, all innocent looking. “Are you scared of me, Fletch?”
Afraid of sharing space with the Princess of Juniper Falls? Definitely. Afraid of a beautiful girl leaning closer? Not even a little. “No. I’m immune.”
“Immune, huh?” She touches my wrist and slides her fingers higher.
My heart gives a loud thud, like it’s jolting to life for the first time. I attempt to pull my hand away, but Haley applies more pressure, preventing this.
Her face breaks into a grin and then she laughs. “I’m kidding. It’s not like that with me.”
“Just so you know, I don’t believe a word you say,” I tell her. “Not after I’ve seen your manipulation tactics—fancy calligraphy and glitter can influence the masses and establish world peace. I bet that was your princess campaign platform.” I nod toward the bar again. “I bet you even use homemade invitations to get guys to ask you out. ‘To my future boyfriend, here is a list of when, where, and how we will meet and fall in love’—since you’re so into the love thing.”
“I am not into the love thing!” She looks both annoyed and surprised by my lengthy speech. Hell, I’m surprised by it. Guess I’ve stowed up a lot of Haley Stevenson details over the past week.
“Right,” I say. “So, if I were to ask your ex if you’re into the love thing, he would tell me—”
Haley presses her palm to my open mouth, cutting me off. The tip of my tongue touches her skin, and I taste both salt and something else.
“Leave Tate alone,” she orders. “And for your information, I have zero interest in inviting or being invited to date anyone at the moment—” Her voice cuts off, concern filling her face. Her fingers touch the collar of my T-shirt, pulling it aside. “Fletch, you’ve got red—”
My heart takes off in a whole different kind of race. After shoving Haley’s hand away, I flip my arm over and nearly panic when I see the red welts forming. As if on cue, my throat tightens, my tongue now thick and fuzzy.
Shit. Oh shit.
I stuff the loose items into my bag and push Haley hard enough to send her out of the booth. She stays on her feet and unfortunately follows me out the door.