“I’m not popular.”
“Oh, I’m not looking for popularity.” Emmaline made a sound of disgust. “I live in the same house and share the same DNA as Nolan Martin. That hasn’t helped me.” She nodded with conviction. “I don’t want you to teach me to be like my brother.”
“Well, that’s good, since I can’t.”
“You . . . you’re better than popular.”
Better than popular? Hayden gaped at the girl next to her, convinced she had lost her mind. If there was something better than popular, it sure wasn’t Hayden.
“Okay, you’ve piqued my interest. What’s better than popular?”
“You’re . . . legendary.”
Legendary?
A long pause fell between them. For some reason, Hayden’s palms felt clammy on the steering wheel. “I’m not sure what even to say right now . . . I don’t know how to teach you anything. Whatever I am is just what I am.”
“Then just let me spend some time with you so that I can pick up on your . . . you-ness.”
Hayden shook her head in rejection of this. “This is crazy.”
Emmaline stared bleakly ahead, looking through the windshield at her house. “Just hang out with me and let me observe you.”
“I’m not some freak for you to ogle over,” Hayden snapped.
“That’s not what I mean!” Bright color spotted Emmaline’s cheeks.
Right then a truck pulled up in the driveway alongside Hayden’s car. She leaned forward slightly to peer around Emmaline at the driver, and her gaze collided with Nolan Martin’s.
Great.
His expression revealed nothing, but just the same, she felt displeasure radiating from him. He didn’t like her. He didn’t like her talking to his sister. She didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that.
Well, she didn’t like him either. Judgmental jocks weren’t her cup of tea.
“The police just arrived,” she muttered sarcastically.
Emmaline rolled her eyes. “No kidding.”
Nolan climbed out of the truck. Another door slammed shut, attracting her notice. It was the homecoming queen from the other night. Hayden really should know her name . . . but the information never stuck. Clearly, they were a match made in heaven. They’d probably be engaged in their second year of college and married immediately after they graduated. Kids before thirty. Vomit.
“Well, this is my cue,” Hayden announced. “My time to go.”
“No! Don’t go. Come inside.”
“Uh. That’s okay. I’ve got to get to work.” Even if she wanted to come inside, which she did not, Nolan Martin and his girlfriend did not look especially keen on her proximity to them. The girlfriend stopped in front of the hood of Hayden’s car, propping her tiny hands on her hips.
“Ugh.” Emmaline groaned. “Too bad it’s illegal.”
“What is?”
“Running her over.”
Laughter bubbled out of Hayden. She couldn’t help it. Emmaline Martin was feisty. “Yeah, probably not a good idea. I like living the life of a free woman. You don’t like her?”
Emmaline shrugged. “She’s okay. I mean, everyone loves her. So.”
“So,” Hayden echoed, understanding that even if she never much cared what other people thought. It was hard to go against what everyone else liked. She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel and glanced pointedly at the passenger door. “So. You gonna get out of the car or what?”
Nolan moved past his girlfriend, stopping in the front walkway and turning when the cheerleader said something to him. She gestured to where Hayden and Emmaline sat inside the car. It was clearly in reference to Hayden. Homecoming Queen didn’t even bother pretending otherwise, sending a pointed glare at Hayden.
“Okay,” Hayden began. “This has been fun and all, but I’ve really got to get to work.”
Emmaline looked desperately between her brother and his girlfriend, and Hayden had the weird and unwelcome sensation that she was throwing the girl to the wolves by pushing her out of the car. “What can I say to convince you to help me?” Emmaline asked hurriedly, an undercurrent of desperation in her voice.
Hayden shook her head. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Please, get out of my car. I can’t be late for work. I need this job. I don’t get an allowance, okay?”
“I’ll pay you,” Emmaline blurted out.
Hayden pulled back slightly. “Excuse me?”
“You don’t know me. You don’t owe me anything. I get it. I will pay you for your time. It’s only fair. I do get an allowance, and I’ve hardly touched it. I get birthday money and Christmas money from multiple grandparents, aunts, uncles. They’re generous.” She snorted. “It’s like their generosity is going to make up for the fact that my dad is dead.”
Hayden stared at her, marveling at what it must be like to have relatives sending you cold hard cash for things like your birthday and Christmas. Her mom’s parents were dead and who knew if she even had grandparents on her father’s side. That entire branch of her family tree was a mystery.
“Hello. You in there?” Emmaline waved a hand in front of her face. “Will you do it? Will you let me hire you?”
Hayden was torn. It might be the easiest money she ever made. She thought about her meager stash she was saving for after graduation. She needed money. She always needed money, but it would be especially nice to grow her little nest egg. The more she had when she moved to Austin, the better.
Still, it meant she was going to have to spend time with a girl who she wouldn’t normally even talk to. “I don’t know.”
Emmaline plucked her phone out of her bag and unlocked it with a couple of taps. “What’s your phone number?”
Hayden hesitated.
Emmaline looked up at her impatiently. “Number?”
Hayden took a breath and decided giving Emmaline her number wasn’t a commitment. It wasn’t like she was entering into a contract with the girl. Hayden rattled off the digits and watched as Emmaline typed them into her phone with speedy fingers. Almost immediately her phone pinged from inside her backpack on the floorboard behind her seat.
“There,” Emmaline said. “You have my number now. Think it over. Let me know.”
Hayden released a huff of laughter. The girl was determined. “Okay,” she agreed, although she doubted it would ever happen. Right now she just wanted to get to work on time.
Emmaline beamed, her cheeks as round as apples. She was pretty—and amusing. She shouldn’t need any tips on attracting boys.
“You’re funny,” Hayden declared. “Are you like this with everyone?”
“You mean with boys? No, I tend to clam up around them.” She nodded solemnly. “I turn into a mannequin if I’m around a boy I find even remotely interesting. And if he’s cute? Oh my God.” She rolled her eyes. “Forget about it. I’m a mess.”
“Hm.” Maybe she was right then. Maybe she just needed to learn a few tricks to be more confident. Hayden gave herself a mental kick. She wasn’t doing this. It was ridiculous. She wasn’t an authority on anything, much less an expert on being irresistible.