“Erin!” Nate calls. “Wait!”
Shit. I can’t exactly ignore the guy the fundraiser is in aid of. He jogs to catch up, and I turn to face him. We stand in silence, waiting for the other to talk.
“I’m sorry about your house,” I say, being the first to break it. Thankfully, he doesn’t notice my insincerity. “I’m glad you aren’t hurt.”
“Thanks,” he says. “It’s been crazy.”
“I’ve got to find Mia,” I say, trying to make a polite getaway and avoid causing a scene. “I promised I’d meet her.”
“Before you go…” He grabs my wrist. “There’s something I want to say.”
His touch scorches my skin, and I wrench my hand away. The masked men’s threat screeches through my mind. Touching me once got his house burned down. I don’t want any blood on my hands.
“It’s about what happened at the Harvest Ball,” he says, then sighs. “Look, I was out of line. I had too much to drink and got carried away…” He looks away shamefully, tucking his hands into his chino pockets. “I really am sorry. Nothing like that will ever happen again, but… I really do like you. If you give me a second chance, I’ll?—”
“Look, Nate,” I interrupt. “I don’t date, and neither do you. The Harvest Ball was a one-off. I think we’re better off as friends. “
His eyes widen in shock. Did he expect I’d give him a second chance because of his current situation? Lindsay would give him a blowjob for less.
“Okay,” he says after a stagnant pause. “Just friends.”
“Enjoy the rest of your day,” I say, leaving him behind.
I know my worth, and an entitled football player doesn’t cut it.
“There you are!” Mia creeps up behind me, pinching my hips and making me jump out of my skin. “Whoa, sorry!” She frowns.“You’ve gone as white as a ghost. Are you feeling okay? I thought you were better after that bout of food poisoning.”
Since the ball, we haven’t had time to catch up about what happened. The school play is approaching, and she’s been busy rehearsing, which is a relief because it would have been hard to hide that I’m distracted.
“Sorry,” I reply. “You just surprised me, that’s all.”
“I saw you speaking to Nate,” she says. “How are things between you?”
“We decided that it’s best we just stay friends,” I say. “Nothing more.”
“Shame.” She sighs dramatically. “I thought you guys could go on a double date with me and Oliver. You seemed to get on well at the ball. Everyone saw you making out in the middle of the dance floor.”
I shrug. “I don’t have time for a relationship right now, and neither does he, especially after everything that’s happened. It’s better this way.”
“Well, Lindsay already hates you,” she says. “If you guys started dating for real, she’d smother you to death with her pom-poms.”
I roll my eyes and change the subject. “How are things with you and Oliver?”
“Great,” she replies, beaming. “I think things might actually work out between us this time. I know he can be a jerk sometimes, but…”
“Mia Jade Moldova!” Ms. Moldova joins us, wielding two empty vases. “Where have you been?”
“I’ve been catching up with Erin,” she says innocently.
“It’s great to see you again, Erin,” Ms. Moldova says, then her eyes narrow at her daughter. “Can you fill these up? People are going crazy because there isn’t enough water for all the flowers. You’re supposed to be helping.”
“But, Mom—” Mia whines.
“Mia!” Principal Wire intervenes, appearing from out of nowhere. Instead of his signature suit, he’s wearing a golf shirt and pants. Seeing teachers in their ordinary clothes is like seeing animals out in the wild. “This must be your mother.” He smiles, a little too widely, and holds his hand out. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced, Ms. Moldova. I hear Mia is doing wonderful things in our school play.”
“I’ll fill the vases,” I volunteer, seeing an opportunity to escape and grabbing it.
“I’ll help!” Mia offers, miraculously feeling more charitable.
