Whoa, yeah, something is really wrong. “Are you sure? Did Dad do something?”

“Honey, I don’t want to talk about your father right now.”

“Okay,” I say, and I’m not sure what to say after that. Suddenly the words leave my mouth before I can stop them. “Can I fix whatever it is?”

When I hear her take in a deep breath, I know she is fighting back tears. “My Jude, always the fixer.”

“Mom, what is it?”

“Don’t worry, honey, it’s all okay.”

“Can I fix it?” I ask again.

“No, honey, but don’t worry, okay? I’m going to be fine.”

“I’m coming out there,” I say, standing up to get my keys.

“No, Jude, I promise I’m fine.”

“I don’t believe you, Mom.”

“I know, but I promise, everything is going to work out fine. No worries. How are you? How is the girl I keep hearing about? What’s her name?”

“Claire,” I say even though I know she’s just trying to change the subject. Maybe I need to let it go for today, but I’ll call again tomorrow and the next day just to make sure my mom is okay. I might even call my dad, but the thought of doing that makes my stomach hurt.

“You should bring her to dinner. How about next week sometime?”

“Yeah, Mom, sure, I’ll ask her,” I say, and I’m not sure why I said that. Maybe because I know she’s upset and I want to make her happy. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll find out and then I’ll fix it.

“Great, baby. I’ll talk to you tomorrow okay?”

“All right, Mom,” I say and then I hang up, telling her I love her. I know that she said everything is going to work out, but a feeling in my stomach tells me that something is really wrong.

Thoughts of my mom have played heavy on my heart all evening, but when I see Claire coming toward me, I welcome the distraction. She looks unbelievable. Her legs are encased in black tights with boots coming up to her knees, and she wears a large green sweater that goes to mid-thigh. Her hair is in a braid down her shoulder, and she’s wearing makeup along with the geeky glasses from when I first met her. Stopping in front of me, she grins, her lips so glossy and sexy.

“Hi, I’m looking for this über hot guy named Jude. Do you know him? We have a battle to get to,” she says in a high-pitched, Valley-girl voice.

I smile as my arm snakes around her, my gaze meeting hers. “I’m right here, baby. Come here, let me mess up that lip gloss.”

And then I kiss her. Hard. All the stress in my body just releases the moment our lips touch, and when her tongue moves along mine, everything inside me is hard. Moving my hands down her hips and then over her sweet ass, I pull her closer to me, deepening the kiss, not able to get enough. Parting only to breathe, I go in for another kiss, but she stops me, pressing her finger into my lips.

“What’s wrong?”

Confused, I ask, “Huh? Nothing, I’m kissing you.”

“Yeah, I know, but something is off. Are you okay?”

How does she know this? “Yeah,” I lie.

“Don’t lie to me. What’s wrong?”

“How do you know I’m lying?” I ask incredulously.

“I don’t know, but I know you are. What’s wrong?”

“Just worried about my mom. It’s nothing.”

She eyes me for a second and then asks, “Anything I can do to help?”

I shrug. “I don’t even know what’s going on, but when I know, I’ll tell you.”

“Okay,” she says and then she goes up on her toes, kissing my lips softly. Wrapping my arms so tight around her, I take over the kiss, lacing my fingers behind her back, holding her as close as I can.

When she smiles against my lips, I smile too, pulling away to say, “It’s so good to see you.”

“You too,” she whispers against my lips. But then she backs away quickly, her eyes bright as she says, “Guess what!”

“You look superhot in those leggings? I know. Come here, I’m not done kissing you.”

She giggles as she tries to stop me, but soon she’s kissing me, taking over the kiss I initiated. Moving her fingers through my hair, she cups my chin before pulling her mouth away. I try to chase her for another kiss, but she presses her finger to my lips again. After she sets me with a look that tells me I better listen, I smile and say, “Sorry, I can’t get enough of those lips.”

“You’re lucky you’re cute.”

I shoot her a cheeky grin and she rolls her eyes. “But really, guess what!”

“What, baby?” I ask, pulling her into my arms, cupping her ass as I meet her gaze.

“I’m going to choreograph for the dance team!”

Pride explodes in my chest as hug her closer, my face breaking into a grin. “I’m so proud of you!”

“Thanks,” she says before pressing her lips to mine for a quick kiss.

“That’s amazing. How did that happen?”

She shakes her head. “Wasn’t easy. Rachael called me dumb for trusting you, and then I told her that what I do outside of dance team is none of her business, and then I said that I can make this team better. The team was on board and voted my way. Rachael was the only one who didn’t vote for me – even her minions voted for me.”

“Wow,” I say, surprised that Ally and Mia went against Rachael. They have all been best friends since birth. “That’s ’cause they know you’re the best.”

“Aw thanks,” she says, leaning into me playfully. “I’m pretty excited.”

“I am too,” I say, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “I can’t wait for my baby to blow people away.”

She grins up at me, her cheeks flushing with color. It leaves me breathless when she looks at me like that. Like I’m the most amazing guy in the world, as if I’m worth it, when I know I’m not. I know I haven’t led the life a girl like Claire deserves, but for some reason she believes in me and trusts me. When I look in her eyes, I feel like I am the guy she deserves.

Clearing my throat, I say, “I know you’re used to winning, but I’m about to murder you in this karaoke war.”

She looks up at me, a gleam in her eyes that tells me to watch out. “We will see.”