CRUSH (6 page)

“Hey, Goody,” I said as I sat down in the chair
right next to her. “I guess I don’t know you so well after all. I never pegged
you as an action adventure kind of girl.”

Her face was a mask of complete surprise as she
turned to look at me.

“Popcorn?” I asked her innocently, tipping
Russ’s bag toward her.

She shook her head. “No thanks.” I saw what I
was looking for after the shock wore away. Relief. It was plain—there was
no way I was leaving.

“Can we help you with something?” Clay said
leaning forward, annoyance written all over him.

“I don’t think so. Just settling in to watch
the movie here with my good buddy, Cami.” I turned and glanced up behind me to
where Russ was sitting with his mouth hanging open. “Come on, dude. These seats
are
way
better than those up there. I
told you they would be.” I shoved a handful of his popcorn into my mouth,
chomping happily.

Russ got up, moving in our direction. He ripped
his popcorn out of my hand when he sat down and gave me a glare followed by a
questioning look.

Cami was still staring expectantly, as if she
were waiting for me to say something else.

I flashed her my most winning smile, hoping
there was nothing stuck in my teeth. I was going to lay on all the charm I
could and do some messing with Clay boy. “So how’s your weekend been going,
Cami?” I cast a glance over her
rockin
’ body. “Looks
like you got a little sun since the last time I saw you. That dress shows it
off
very
nicely.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, and I thought I
actually saw Clay bare his teeth at me. I had to work hard not to laugh out
loud.

“Um, thank you.” A smile faltered on her lips
as if she weren’t really sure if I was messing with her or not.

I needed to make things a little more clear. I
was trying to send a message here. “I’m sorry I didn’t get another chance to
talk to you at school on Friday. I wondered if you’d like to go on a date with
me sometime? Maybe get a burger or something—go to one of those art
galleries you told me about?”

Russ choked on his popcorn again for the second
time tonight as the previews for the movie started.

Cami was staring at me like I was someone who
had just crawled out of a foreign film and she had no idea what I was saying.

“Cami,” Clay growled, nudging her a bit. That
brought her back to life.

What the hell was I doing? What part of ‘no
girls’ was my brain not understanding? I hurried to amend. “No rush or
anything. I shouldn’t have put you on the spot like that. You can think about
it during the movie and tell me afterward.”

“Oh, okay,” she spoke in almost a whisper and
reclined back into her seat.

Clay hissed something in her ear I couldn’t
understand. He was not happy by any means, and I was irritated when Cami
visibly became rigid.

She tapped me on the shoulder, and I leaned
over so I could hear her better. “I don’t need to wait,” she whispered. “I
would enjoy going out with you. Thank you for asking.”

I smiled softly, wondering briefly why my heart
sped up so much at her simple words. “I’m glad. I promise we can do something
fun together. Nothing that will make you uncomfortable.”

She nodded and returned my smile. “That sounds
good.”

I pulled out my cell phone. “Can I get your
number so I can set things up with you later? You can have mine too.”

“Sure.” She pulled hers from her bag and handed
it to me, taking mine, and we typed our numbers into them and switched back.

“Thanks,” I said again. “Do you mind if we sit
here with you for the show?”

She shook her head. “Not at all.”

Clay huffed, sitting back into his chair,
crossing his arms as he obviously pouted. Cami glanced at him, but he wouldn’t
acknowledge her, so she turned and watched the movie.

I leaned back into my chair feeling satisfied.
She’d definitely needed some help. I looked at Russ who was watching me in
shock.

“You’re one crazy S.O.B. You stole her right
from under the guy she was with,” he whispered in awe. “I can’t believe you got
her to go out with you. How’d you do that?”

“I paid attention to what was going on around
me, which is what you need to do. Then you’ll start seeing the things you’re
missing.”

“I have no idea what you mean, but feel free to
teach me, Master Obi-Wan.”

I snorted and Cami looked at me. I smiled and
she gave me a shy one back before turning toward the screen again.

“You already have her wrapped around your
finger.” Russ said in a low voice with a laugh.

I elbowed him in the ribs. “Shut up and watch
the movie.”

“Yes, Master,” he groaned, and I couldn’t help
the chuckle that burst from my lips. I faked a cough, lifting my hand to cover
my mouth.

My humor didn’t last long, though. As the movie
started I couldn’t help the guilty feelings, which coursed through me, and I
found I had a hard time concentrating. Yes, this girl was beautiful, and it was
obvious I liked her
 . . .
a lot. The truth was I really had no business
messing with her. Red warning flags were dropping all over, and suddenly I felt
like I was standing right in the middle of a potential mine field. One wrong
step and everything would explode in the worst way possible, and it would be a
bloody,
friggin
’ disaster.

I glanced at Cami again, watching her stunning
eyes flash in the lights coming from the screen. I wasn’t sure what was going
on between her and her friend right now, but I promised myself I was going to
find out. For some reason, I needed to make sure she was all right. One thing
I’d learned was always listen to my intuition, and right now it was speaking
loud and clear, telling me there was a big a problem.

I hope
she’s worth it,
spoke
that nagging internal voice again.

“She is,” I whispered, answering myself back.

Cami-

I wasn’t sure what had just happened. Had I
just agreed to go on a date with Hunter Wilder? The guy I swore I’d never go
out with—even if we
were
both
from the same social class? Not only that, but I was clearly excited about it,
much to the dismay of Clay who felt it was his moral obligation to remind me
Hunter was only after one thing. His plan backfired, though. As soon as he said
it, I made up my mind I’d do it, just to tick him off.

I sighed heavily. This day had started out okay
and gone to utterly confusing. Nothing and no one was where they should be. It
was like living in the middle of the Twilight Zone. I kept expecting the creepy
music to start playing any minute.

When the movie ended, Clay got up and stalked
from the theater, pausing only to cast an angry glare, first at me and then at
Hunter, before he continued on his way.

“What’s his problem?” Hunter asked softly as
his friend Russ left the aisle and headed down the steps, leaving the two of us
alone.

“It’s a long story. Maybe I should tell you
another day and go catch up with Clay.”

“He likes you a lot. You know that, right?”

“No. I didn’t. I mean I do now, but I didn’t.
He just showed up at the house with no warning all . . .
different. It’s like he’s not the same person anymore. I can tell he expects
something from me, but I’m not sure what.”

“I think he wanted you to be amazed—to
finally see him in a new light. People at school told me they thought you two
might be an item because of the way he acts about you. He’s very possessive.”

I was shocked. “Really? I had no idea.
Honestly, I never got that vibe from him until today. Then something changed
when we were swimming. Even then, I wouldn’t have put the pieces together until
my mom pointed it out. I didn’t want to believe it.” I stared at him for a
moment. “If you thought we were a couple, then why did you come and ask me on a
date?

He shrugged. “I could tell something was going
on, and you looked extremely uncomfortable. I wanted to make sure you were
okay.”

This revelation didn’t fit into the previously
judged category I’d placed Hunter in. It was . . . nice. Did
popular bad boy partiers
do
nice?

“Well, I appreciate your help, Hunter. But
let’s get some things straight right now. I don’t party, I don’t use illicit
drugs, and I won’t be a notch in anyone’s headboard.”

He choked and sputtered before smiling widely.
“Wow. You’ve been reading the daily rumor mill, haven’t you? You’ve already
decided what kind of guy I am.”

He looked disappointed, and suddenly I felt
horrible.

“I’m sorry if that sounds harsh. It had to do
with something Clay said earlier.”

“Something about me, I gather?”

“Yeah, he told me to stay away from you.”

“Really?” Hunter grinned. “So you were talking
about me then?”

I blushed hard. “Um, I better go before Clay
leaves me.”

“Let him leave you. I’ll take you home.”

I shook my head, wishing I could do exactly
that. “No, it would be even more unfair. I feel bad about screwing up whatever
dreams or plans he had for this moment. I love him. He’s like my brother. I
don’t want to hurt him—I just don’t want to date him either.”

“I thought he had a girlfriend.”

“He does, but she doesn’t live here.”

“Ah, long distance relationships, huh? Those
never work out.”

I smiled. “I couldn’t say. I’ve never had one.”
I stood and reached for my sweater.

“Here, let me help you with that,” Hunter
offered. He took it and held it up, allowing me to slip my arms inside,
then
he adjusted it on my shoulders before letting his hands
smooth over it and down my arms.

“Perfect,” he muttered, almost like he’d
forgotten I could hear him.

“Thanks,” I replied and his head popped up in
surprise. “That was sweet of you.”

“Just calling it like I see it.” He grinned.

We were standing so close together now I could
see some of those caramel highlights in his eyes.

“Hello, Cami! Are you coming or what?” Clay’s
voice interrupted us.

“Be right there,” I called back before
addressing Hunter again. “Sorry. I
gotta
go now.”

“No
worries,
but do me
a favor real quick. Can I see your phone again?”

“Sure,” I replied digging in my purse before
handing it to him.

He pushed a few buttons and gave it back.
“Number 7. Just remember Lucky Sevens. That’s my number on speed dial. If you
ever need any help just call me, and I’ll come get you.”

I blushed.
Wow.
This guy was beyond nice.
“Thanks, I will.”

“Good. Text me and let me know you got home
okay.”

I laughed. “Clay would never hurt me.”

“That might be true, but you
see . . . I don’t know Clay that well, so just humor me, okay?
I’ll rest better.”

“All right. Thanks again for asking me out.” I
gave a little wave and walked away.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said softly,
not moving as I made my way down to my very angry, best friend. At least I
hoped he was still my best friend.

It was bound to be an interesting drive home.

Clay turned and huffed out in front of me. I
followed him quietly to the parking lot, and he opened the door for me.

We didn’t speak as he drove and soon pulled up
in front of my house.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said as I fumbled for
the handle.

“Why’d you do it?” he asked.

“Do what?”

“Agree to a date with him.” His hands were
gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“Because you were scaring me and trying to tell
me what to do. It made me irritated, and then he showed up and offered a way
out.” I was being brutally honest.

“So you just did it to make me mad?”

“Yes, partly. I like him too, I think. At least
I like what I’ve seen so far, and I’d like to know more.”

“I know everything there is to know about you,
Cami, and I’d like to learn more about you still. I’ve wanted to for a long
time.” He looked and sounded so sorrowful.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you felt that
way.”

“Well, now you do. Will you give me a chance at
least? Can I show you how good I think we’d be together?” He stroked the side
of my cheek.

My shoulders tightened, and I felt the panic
coming on. I shook my head. “I’m sorry—so incredibly sorry, but I don’t
think I’m on the same page. You already have a girlfriend, and I don’t want her
to get hurt. Plus, it would be so awkward for me. You’re my best friend. You’ve
seen and heard all my flaws and secrets. I think of you like my brother. I want
things to stay as they always have been.”