Becky sighs. “Doesn’t matter. The effect is lost anyway.” She hooks her arm through mine, and together, we start climbing the stairs to the school. “However, you, missy, have some explaining to do.”
“I’m sorry about missing lunch,” I say instantly.
No sense in beating around the bush, now is there?
Becky stops and looks at me. “How do you know about that?”
Somebody that was walking behind us crashes into us, stopping me from responding. I stumble a little, and Becky has to put her hand on my shoulder to help steady me.
“Hey, watch where you’re going!” the person protests, the irritation clear in their voice.
A somewhat familiar voice.
Becky turns around. “Well, you’re the one who crashed into us, Rose.”
Yup, I knew I recognized that voice from somewhere. Slowly, I turn around.
Rose pushes a lock of her hair back into place, glaring at us. “Maybe if you didn’t block the entrance, I wouldn’t have.”
Just then, the door opens—the second wing of the big double door—and a girl walks out, giving our little group a curious glance as she passes by.
“Again, if you watched where you were going, you’d see there is this whole other door available for you to pass through,” Becky says sweetly, pointing at the place where the girl just exited.
I nibble at the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from bursting into laughter. The sarcastic Becky always manages to crack me up. Rose apparently doesn’t feel the same because I can see the fumes coming out of her ears.
Rose takes a step forward, getting in our space. “Listen you…” she starts, pointing her finger at Becky as her voice drops low.
“Hey, I didn’t realize we were meeting up in front of the school today.”
A shiver runs down my spine at the sound of his voice. Rose immediately takes a step back as Emmett joins us, his eyes taking in our group.
“Ladies,” he says, nodding at Rose and her friends.
“Hey, Emmett.” Rose smiles extra wide as she looks at him. It’s unnerving the way she can just flip the switch and turn into a completely different person when she’s talking to him. “How is practice going?”
“Good.” He nods, a smile on his face. “We’re getting there.”
“I’m sure you guys are going to be amazing.” She puts her hand on his bicep, giving him a squeeze. Seriously, can she be any more clingy? She’s so obvious.
“They’re already amazing.” Becky loops her arm through Emmett’s, brushing Rose’s off. Rose’s smile falls, and I have to admit, I enjoy every second of it.
I’m not sure what the deal is between Rose and Becky, but there is some serious history between these two. Ignoring Rose’s scowl, Becky tugs Emmett toward the door. “Let’s go inside. I have to grab my books before class.”
Emmett looks between Rose and Becky one last time. If he can sense the tension in the air, he doesn’t say anything. “Sure thing, Becs.”
He pulls the door open for us, and Becky waves me over. “C’mon, Kate. We don’t want to be late.”
“Kate,” Emmett says as I pass by him. His voice is low and husky, barely a whisper.
“Emmett.”
Amusement dances in his eyes. “I see that Becky finally got her hands on you.”
I open my mouth to reply but don’t get a chance.
“And I’m not letting go until she promises that she’ll join us for lunch today.” Becky jabs me in the arm before turning her attention to her best friend. “And you shouldn’t have told her that I was upset yesterday.”
“I said no such…” Becky gives him a pointed look. “I haven’t!”
“Then why did she apologize?”
Emmett turns to me for help, but I just shrug. His eyes narrow at me. “Because she felt so bad for missing lunch?”
A group of young girls, probably only freshmen, passes us by, and they greet Emmett on their way. Seriously, how is this real? Does he also have grannies and babies wrapped around his finger?
“Well, I don’t want anybody’s apology if they don’t mean it.” She looks between the two of us, settling finally on me. “As for your reluctance, I really do get it, but the only way people will stop talking is when they get used to you, and they can’t do that if you’re hiding away, God only knows where.”
“I guess you have a point there.”
“Of course I do.” Becky grins.
“So humble,” I tease.
“Do you see now what I have to deal with every day?”
I turn to the side to look at Emmett. “Poor baby, I’m not sure how you manage.”
Our eyes lock, and I can see the amusement dancing in his irises. They are brown, but from up close, I can see a few deep green speckles scattered over them.
“Neither can I.”
The warning bell rings, breaking us from our eye lock.
I look away and take a step back. “I guess we better hurry to our classes.”
“Kate?” Becky calls out, making me stop in my tracks.
“Yeah?” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, turning toward her.
She’s watching me with a big smile on my face. “You forgot something.”
“Fine,” I sigh. “I’m going to join you for lunch today.”
Becky looks at me expectantly, tapping her foot, her smile not wavering.
Emmett leans down and whispers in my ear. “You have to promise.”
His warm breath touches my skin, sending a current of tingles running through my body.
“I promise,” I add, my voice coming out breathy.
“Great!” Becky claps her hands. “Now that’s settled, I’ll see you guys later.”
Emmett and I stay by my locker and watch Becky leave.
“She’s something else.”
“She most definitely is,” Emmett agrees.
“Look who’s here again.” I look up to find the guy from last week standing by my table. Bert? Ben? No, Bradley.
Bradley Jones.
The same cowboy hat he was wearing then is sitting on top of his head; this time matched with a different plaid shirt, washed-out jeans, and cowboy boots.
“It’s the only place that sells coffee in town.” I lift my almost-empty coffee cup in the air and take a little sip from it.
“Ain’t that the truth,” he chuckles. “I guess you’re used to something more fancy, though, coming from California?”
My brows shoot up. I don’t remember mentioning where I was living before, but then again, this is Bluebonnet Creek we’re talking about. For all I know, he probably heard it from somebody while he was stocking up on milk at the store.
“As long as it’s good coffee.” I shrug, letting the rest of the sentence hang in the air.
“Letty’s good people.” He looks at the table, where my books are scattered around, taking up most of the surface. “School done?”
“Yup, I figured I’d grab some coffee and finish my homework here before I have to go pick up my sister.”
I grab my phone to check the time.
“Oh, shit.” I jump to my feet and start closing the books and shoving them into my backpack.