My chest contracts. Because I feel like I’m the lucky one.
I didn’t see Phoenix in the hallways after I spoke to Mrs. Herman, so I decide to wait by his car after school. This way I can tell him the good news in person.
Wanting to pass the time until he arrives, I pull my journal and a pen out of my bag.
Most of the lyrics I scribble down in here aren’t very good and I’d never share them with anyone.
Especially my dad because they’re nowhere near as great as his are.
I’d be afraid of getting his hopes up about his daughter sharing his gift…only to end up disappointing him once he heard them.
Not that he’d ever tell me that.
All that aside…writing songs is cathartic.
A way for me to purge some of the pain away.
Channel my emotions and feelings into something that heals me.
It’s like my own secret form of therapy.
I’m so into the one I’m working on, I don’t realize Phoenix has walked out of the building until he’s halfway to his car.
However, he’s not alone.
Sasha Williams is beside him. And just like her friend Sabrina—she’s beautiful and thin.
Unlike me, she looks like she belongs with him.
Someone he wouldn’t mind being seen with in public…and touching in private.
Feeling stupid, I head over to the bike rack so I can pedal my ass home and sulk over a tub of ice cream, but Phoenix spots me.
“Lennon.” His strides pick up until he’s in front of me. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
Sasha sidles up beside him then, and it’s clear my presence annoys her because she looks like she smelled something rotten.
I put in the combination for my bike lock. “I have some good news…but I can tell you another time.”
“Change of plans,” he says. “I’m busy tonight.”
Of course, he’d ditch me for Sasha.
“Okay—” I start to say, but then I realize he’s not talking to me.
He’s talking to her.
The look on Sasha’s face makes it clear she’s equally shocked by this. “Wait…are you for real?”
He doesn’t even look at her when he speaks. “Yes.”
Outrage spreads over her pretty features. “This is…you’re an asshole.” Tossing her auburn hair over her shoulder, she murmurs, “Have fun hanging out with butterball.”
“Points for creativity on that one,” I say to her retreating back. “Most people just call me fat ass.”
“Most people are dicks,” Phoenix mutters under his breath. “Anyway, fuck that bitch. What’s up?”
“I spoke to Mrs. Herman.” I can’t contain my smile. “She not only agreed to let you take the final while using the pen…she agreed to let you take it after class.”
His jaw drops. “What? Are you serious?”
I nod so hard I get dizzy.
And that dizziness only grows when Phoenix wraps his arms around me.
Oh. My. God.
Phoenix Walker is hugging me.
I swear my feet almost lift off the ground as I fill my nostrils with the earthy scent of him before he breaks contact.
“Thank you. So fucking much.” He gestures to my bike. “Let’s stick that thing in my trunk.”
“I don’t think it will fit.” I shake my head, feeling all sorts of perplexed. “And why?”
He looks at me like I sprouted another head. “So we can grab some food and head over to Storm’s. Unless you’d rather leave it here…just don’t blame me if it gets stolen.”
Grabbing the handlebars, I walk my bike to his car. “You sure you want to start studying this early?”
It’s still daylight out.
“Fuck no.” Opening the back door of his Toyota, he takes out a few bungee cords. “I’ve been doing enough of that lately. I want to hang out.”
Yup. This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
In the absolute best way.
“Oh.”
Taking my bike from me, he places it in his trunk and secures it with the bungees. “What? You got something better to do?”
“No.” I hike my purse up my shoulder. “I’m totally down to hang out.”
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling as I get into his car.
We really are friends.
CHAPTER 9
LENNON
“How come you’re not eating your burger?” Phoenix questions around a mouthful of the one he’s currently stuffing his face with.