Least Likely to Fall in Love (17 page)

She glared at him. “Dad, seriously? I know you’ll never let me down.” She wrinkled her nose. “But…you gotta live. I’ve got some skills too, you know. I can take care of myself. A little, anyway.”

She was right. No matter how this thing with Lindy turned out, Maddie would be okay. “How about a game night? You could invite Eric. That is, if you’re still interested after he ditched you at the party.” Two birds. One stone. He was pretty proud of himself with that inspiration.

“Eric never intended to go to that party. He told me at the field house that he has a strong ‘no-jock’ policy. Now I do, too.” Maddie pursed her lips. “No offense.”

He blinked twice and then said, “Fine. Invite him over. I’ll order pizza and see if Lindy would like to come over to play with us.”

She punched a fist in the air like a victorious boxer and then held up her hand to give him a high five, but he launched himself at her and yanked her into a tight hug before he tickled her. When she lost her breath, he let her go. “But I can’t be held responsible if a ‘Bebop’ slips out now and then.” He ruffled her hair as he passed her. “I’m going to go on a run. Do your homework.”

Maddie did her best to straighten her hair. “I like Principal Mason. She’s good for you. Don’t mess this up.” Then she marched away.

Mess it up.
When Lindy wasn’t around, he had a hard time shaking the feeling that he’d messed it up a long time ago. He pulled out his phone and texted her about the plans for game night. Even if what they had was difficult, he wasn’t ready to give up. He’d just praised Maddie for not giving up. He couldn’t wimp out now.

After a particularly hard jab at the punching bag, Allison whistled and then paled in the face of Lindy’s growling glare. “Nice weather we’ve been having.” She steadied the bag and then stepped quickly back.

“Sorry.” Lindy shoved her wet bangs off her forehead and told herself to get it under control. “I’m in a mood.”

“A punching mood. Let me guess. Ryan Myers’s face is your target?” Allison folded one leg up and balanced perfectly on one foot. Before Lindy could take her bad mood out on her best friend for always being so calm, she stalked over to her water bottle. Allison didn’t even know she was doing it, the whole absentminded yoga pose thing.

Lindy slumped tiredly on a mat. “Why are you my best friend again? Don’t you get tired of listening to my problems?”

Allison walked over and slid down the wall to sit next to her. “Never. That’s how friendship goes. Now it’s your turn. You’ll sit patiently through mine when it comes around.”

“Patiently?” Lindy raised her eyebrow, but she hoped Allison was right. Anyway, Allison laughed which was the whole point. Whining about her problems was one thing. Boring her best friend was another thing altogether.

“Hit me with it.” Allison closed her eyes and waited.

“I screwed up.” Lindy had stewed in her own mistake until it got to be too much. Then she’d called her best friend, desperate to have anything to do to distract herself from her own thoughts, even if it involved exercise.

“Not on the job.” Allison shook her head. “So…”

“We went out. Had an amazing time. And then I had to open my mouth, bring up the past, which he’s
apologized
for.” Lindy thumped her head on the wall. “And it’s like he’s not even the same person anymore so he’s apologizing for some other guy that I knew but who no longer exists.”

Allison sighed. “I’ve loved you like a sister since we suffered through PE together. I can help you get strong. I can listen to you talk. But at some point, you’re going to have to let all that go or you’ll always be that girl.”

Stung by the matter-of-fact tone, as if Allison had seen this coming and hadn’t done a thing to stop her…except encourage her to grow, and try new things, and forget the old, every time they got together for years and years and years. “How the hell did you get to be so mature and I’m still stuck in high school? Aren’t you the girl who had to walk two miles to school because you were afraid to ride the bus?”

“That was good cardio work.” Allison smiled at Lindy’s rolled eyes. “I’m not saying I’m an expert, but it’s a lot easier to see the problems in other people.” “So what do we do when we screw up?” Allison asked as she stood to offer Lindy a hand.

“Fix it.” Lindy groaned as she stood up. Her arms would shake with the effects of this round of deep thinking for days. “Somehow, I’ll apologize before game night and then…”

“You won’t make the same mistake.” Allison handed her a towel.

“Is it that easy?” She hoped so. She really did. When she’d gotten his text about game night, the wave of relief had been intense. Since then, that wave had evaporated in the heat of her own worry.

“Uh, no, probably not, but that’s where you have to start.” Allison ducked as Lindy tossed the towel at her. “Grasshopper.”

Lindy laughed and some of the panic in her chest eased. Punching things was good for that. So was her best friend.

Seeing Ryan’s smile and Maddie’s beret again might be enough to get her back on track again.

The positive feeling held until she made it into school on Friday morning. Stacked on her desk were ragged sheets of paper, all of them showing a full-color photo of her and Ryan kissing good-bye with the pink sky at sunrise behind them. It would have been romantic except for the words underneath. “Mason Working What’s She’s Got.” She shook her head. “Punctuation and grammar are your friends, whoever you are.”

Sue leaned in. “Sorry about that, boss. I’ve got Johnny patrolling and pulling down any others he finds.”

As Lindy dropped into her office chair, she grimaced. “Thanks. I imagine the damage has already been done, but they need to come down.”

“Sure, but I gotta say…way to go.” She winked and then hummed as she settled back behind her desk.

Battling the old feelings of embarrassment and panic at what other people might say to her or about her, Lindy took a deep breath and opened her calendar. “Wonderful. Blake Stewart. Just what I needed to make this the best day ever.”

Her phone rang, her day started, and she didn’t have much time to worry about what she might say to Blake until it was time for his appointment. The wording on the sign was awfully close to the words Blake’s father spit at her at the football game. But it wasn’t enough evidence to…do what? What would she even do about it if she had proof? Anything she did would make the whole thing bigger.

Uncomfortably aware that she was using the same reasoning she had used when she was facing bullies as a kid, Lindy thought about picking up the phone to call Allison for advice. Or maybe Ryan. She was shaking her head when Sue buzzed to announce Blake’s arrival.

Blake hemmed and hawed in her doorway until she said, “Shut the door. Have a seat.”

He bumped the doorframe as he followed directions and then perched on the edge of his seat.

He’s just a kid, Lindy. Remember that.

Before she could come up with the right small talk, Blake blurted, “It won’t happen again.” He glanced over at the stack of signs she hadn’t quite decided what to do with and then added, “It was dumb, but…”

She pulled out her wastebasket and shoved the stack in before setting it back down with a thump. “I don’t want to talk about that now, Blake.”

He was a big kid, athletic, and scared to death. His hunched shoulders tightened just a bit and he wiped his brow. “Okay.”

“I want to make sure everything’s going well this school year.” Lindy had tried to come up with the right way to ask about how things were at home, but she knew better than to take the direct approach. “The Saturday detentions have added a lot to your schedule. Keeping up with your homework?” She knew he was. She’d checked with his teachers and his grades had improved.

He had to clear his throat. “It’s all good. Even detention. I’m happy to be playing football.”

“I bet you are. You’re good. Have you thought about college?” Lindy rolled her pen across her clear desk as if his answer didn’t matter much.

“Don’t care much where I go as long as it’s far away.” Then he gulped before returning his gaze to the floor. “But before you get all…teachery, it’s just that he expects a lot. That’s all.” He met her stare and seemed to try to convince her that everything was fine. “He doesn’t hit. Just yells.”

Lindy nodded like that was perfectly understandable when she wanted to track down Blake’s father and treat him to some of his own medicine. “You know, Blake, parents aren’t always right. And if you need to talk to someone, need help, I’ll get it for you.”

He shrugged. “I know, and since the thing with Maddie, Coach Ford has been talking to me. The guidance counselor has, too. And now you. I get it. Bullying is wrong. I’ll…do better.” He looked at the spot where the ugly signs had been when he walked in. “From now on.”

She smiled. “Unfortunately, standing up to bullies is part of growing up. We all have to learn as we go.”

He picked up his backpack. “Sure. I need to …”

Lindy took pity on him. “Fine. Keep your meetings with Mr. Thompson. Let me know if I can do anything to help. And do a turn around the school to make sure all those signs are down.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Then he jerked open the door, bumped the doorjamb, and made his escape.

Maddie Myers smiled brightly at him just before she breezed into Lindy’s office. “Got the latest version of the handout to show you, Principal Mason.” She closed the door and skipped over to her normal chair before she slid the mockup in front of Lindy.

Lindy blinked at the sudden change in atmosphere and then pulled it closer.

“Uh, sorry, I could go wait outside.” Maddie pulled out her phone. “I’m early.”

“No, it’s just been a long day.” Lindy studied the full-color pages, impressed at the photos of happy Lincoln High students and then read over the national statistics. The last page included four quotes, all anonymous, about how bullying made each student feel. Lindy blinked away tears as she read Rob’s description of being helpless to do anything different, and Maddie’s wise words about refusing to let the situation slide, out of fear. “Let me hold onto this over the weekend. I want to go through it one more time, with fresh eyes. I appreciate all your hard work. You’ve gone above and beyond what anyone could expect.”

Maddie shrugged one shoulder. “You started it. I was pretty sure you were crazy when you insisted that I talk to someone. Now I see.” They both looked around the room to give the emotion a chance to die down.

Lindy rubbed her forehead. “I guessed right, then. Don’t tell anyone, but adults are often just guessing.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” In the afternoon light, Maddie’s face changed from grown woman to little girl. “I know I’m lucky to have a dad who guesses right. And thanks for everything you’ve done. For him and for me.”

“I love my job every day, but my favorite thing is helping when I can.” She meant it. This was the job she was born to do. All her experiences made her good.

“So, the signs.” Maddie blew out a sigh. “Awkward, right?”

“Yeah. Awkward.” Lindy clicked her pen nervously. “Sorry if that’s caused you any trouble.”

Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Me? Nah. Most everyone I know was pretty sure my dad was a stud. Little did they know. He’s going to be majorly pis… I mean, mad when I tell him, though. He nearly flattened Blake’s dad at the football field for something he said about you on one of the workdays.”

Unsure how to answer that, Lindy frowned. She was not about to confirm Ryan’s studliness. Although she was very happy she could. “Really? I can’t imagine that.”

“These days, he’s kind of hero. Ready to charge to the rescue.” Maddie waved her cell phone. “I can handle myself, but I never have to worry I’m alone. He’s cool that way.”

“Let’s don’t tell him. I don’t want to be the cause of a fight. And it’s all taken care of at this point.”

Maddie wrinkled her nose. “O-ka-ay, but don’t let the bullies win.”

“Very good advice,” Lindy said.

She’d been on the verge of letting that very thing happen. No sane woman would let Ryan Myers go because of old news. And she looked forward to explaining that to him.

Right after she apologized.

And just like that Maddie was done with that topic. “You are still planning to come for game night, right? Chocolate would be an excellent addition to my junk food buffet.” She waggled her eyebrows.

***

When she rang Ryan’s doorbell, Lindy stood tall, prepared for whatever reception she got. No matter how things started off, by the end of the evening, she was going to ask for what she wanted: another chance, another date, another kiss.

Instead of Maddie’s exuberant bounce, Lindy got Ryan’s polite smile. “Hey, glad you could make it. Maddie’s been so excited that I’ve been contemplating tranquilizer darts.” He leaned closer. “But that has more to do with Eric than with you, so don’t be too flattered, okay?”

Lindy laughed as he took the pan of brownies that were her contribution. Then jerked back when he yelled, “Maddie!”

“Gee, you don’t have to yell, Dad,” Maddie said as she rounded the corner. She glanced over her shoulder and whispered, “So stop yelling!”

He handed her the brownies. “Take these into the kitchen.”

Maddie’s long-suffering face was funny enough to surprise another laugh out of Lindy. She hadn’t expected his serious expression but she was ready. “Before the games begin, could I talk to you…” She glanced around his porch and pointed at the swing. “Out here, where it’s quiet?”

Ryan flexed both hands. “Sure. Just don’t break my heart. I’ll never be able to win any trivia games if I’m sobbing into my popcorn.”

He was worried about his heart. That was a good sign, right?

They both sat down and Lindy tried to remember all the ways she’d rehearsed her apology. Finally she blurted out, “I screwed up. I won’t do it again. I promise.” She turned to face him and watched him consider her words.

“I’m guessing we’re talking about the note and all that.”

“Yes, but it’s like…” She stood up to pace. “I’m not that girl anymore. And you, you’re so different from that boy that I can’t even imagine how you could be related.”

He braced his elbows on his knees. “There’s still so much between us that it’s natural that sometimes the past rears up, but we’ll just have to—”

Lindy waved her hands. “No, it’s not natural. I don’t want it to be. You’re just so…amazing. And I’ve worked hard to know that I’m amazing, too. And I am.” She pointed at her chest and instead of waiting for him to agree, she added, “I’m using the past as some kind of weapon, a protection against getting hurt. Because for the first time in maybe ever, I’ve met someone who can hurt me.”

Ryan leaned back. “And I want to make Maddie my excuse. What if she needs me and I’m out with you?”