Trouble From the Start Read online

He drummed his fingers on the table. “We’ll try this. Let your mom know when you think you’ll be home. Call if you’re running late. But we retain the right to set a curfew anytime we think it’s called for.”

  That was more than I’d hoped for. “Deal.”

  Then we started talking about sports and reality shows. As ready as I was to graduate, to move on, I also knew I was going to miss this so much.

  When I got back to school, I discovered Fletcher leaning against my locker. People were hurrying by, getting to their lockers, heading for their afternoon final.

  “Hi,” I said as I got closer.

  “Hey.” He held out a package of cream-filled cupcakes.

  I took his offering. “Tell me you didn’t have lunch at a convenience store.”

  “Grabbed a few things. Needed to ride for a bit. I’m sorry about earlier.”

  “It’s okay. I might be a bit obsessive about my reputation, about what people think.”

  “I probably don’t care enough.” He shook his head. “Nah, I’m fine not caring what people think.”

  He glanced around.

  “You know people are going to think you like me if you hang around at my locker,” I said.

  Pushing away from the locker, he swung his gaze back to me. “I do like you.”

  Then he walked away as though the world still spun on its axis.

  “He said he likes you?” Kendall asked.

  I’d held it in as long as I could. It was late the next afternoon. She and I had met up after our last class and were presently at a salon sitting beside each other in recliners while we got pedicures. We’d finished the manicures and our fingernails were now sporting purple and white stripes, our school colors, so we were ready for graduation.

  “In what way?” she mused.

  “I think in the way that I like rain.”

  “You love rain.”

  She was right. If it rained every day, all night, I’d be happy. “Okay, that’s not a good example. I don’t know. The way I like leaves in fall. They’re pretty but I wouldn’t miss them if they didn’t change color.”

  “How’s he been acting since he said that?” she asked.

  “That’s just it. I haven’t seen him. He wasn’t at supper last night. And I didn’t see him at school today. At all.”

  She gave me a puppy dog look. “Then, yeah, you’re probably an autumn leaf. Did you want to be more?”

  I shook my head. “We don’t have anything in common. Not like you and Jeremy. You study together, you’re going to the same college, you have plans, you talk about things. Fletcher doesn’t share things. Sometimes I think he’s going to but it’s like there’s this wall and he just won’t go over it.”

  “He doesn’t trust you. You can’t have a relationship without trust. That’s what my mom says. You need to find someone else.”

  She made it sound like I’d found Fletcher, like I was breaking up with him or something. One of the nail technicians dimmed the lights. It was time for my favorite part of the pedicure. Sighing, I settled back as she began massaging my feet. My mind started to drift to Fletcher working the cramp out of my calf, kneading my muscles. Why did I keep thinking about him? Especially when I knew Kendall was right. Fletcher wasn’t the one. He would never be the one.

  Chapter 16

  FLETCHER

  I’d been avoiding Avery. I had a lot going on in my life and I didn’t need complications. Avery would be a complication. Besides, when I’d said I liked her, I’d seen her eyes widen slightly, knew she was giving my words more weight than I meant.

  I’d meant that I liked her in the same way that I liked the pot roast Mrs. Watkins had cooked for dinner. Or at least that’s what I had intended it to mean.

  It was hard to remember that when I was sitting across from her. Her nails were painted with purple and white stripes, the school colors. She really was all about school. She was also comfortable with her parents, talking with them about her teachers, some of the kids at school, movies coming out this summer that she wanted to see. My dad didn’t care about any of that stuff. He didn’t ask me what I thought about anything. I always felt like a deer caught in the headlights whenever someone here at the table asked me a question.

  Avery stood and took her dad’s plate. I breathed deeply. I’d escaped tonight without anyone asking me anything. I got to my feet and reached for the little guy’s plate.

  “You have any plans for tomorrow night, Fletcher?” Detective Watkins asked.

  I froze. Okay, maybe not a deer. Maybe someone finally on the other side of the prison fence suddenly having the spotlights hit him.

  “We’re going out to eat, to celebrate the last day of school,” he continued as though he knew I was trying to decide whether to tell the truth or a lie. “We’d like you to join us.”

  I imagined the kind of place they would go, one that required button-up shirts. All I owned was T-shirts. “Actually I already made some plans.”

  “Well, if you change your mind, we’ll be leaving around six.”

  I wasn’t going to change my mind. I could take only so much family togetherness. “Thanks.”

  I carried the plates into the kitchen, turned on the water, and started rinsing them.

  Avery set the plates she’d brought in down on the counter. “Not a fan of Cheez It Up, huh?”

  Furrowing my brow, I looked over at her. It was a place with games, slides, mazes, and a mouse mascot. “That’s where you’re going? I figured you’d go someplace fancy.”

  “It’s Tyler’s last day of school, too. And he squirms a little too much for fancy.”

  “Yeah, I can see that.” It was also fascinating to see how they wanted to do something that included everyone.

  “So maybe you’ll change your mind,” she said.

  I shook my head. “No, I really have something to do.” Had an appointment with a bag of peanuts at the convenience store.

  She left to gather the rest of the dishes and I went back to work. I appreciated the invite, but I was used to being on my own. Things were starting to feel tight. Sometimes when I looked at Avery, it was like there was a huge rubber band around my chest, squeezing. It made no sense.

  When she brought in the last of the dishes, she stood with her hip pressed to the counter, watching me.

  “Am I doing something wrong?” I asked, not looking at her.

  “No, I just . . . I know it’s none of my business. I just wondered if you knew how you did on the algebra exam.”

  I slid my gaze over to her. “Better than I thought.”

  She smiled brightly. “That’s great! It’s one of those pesky credits you need to graduate.”

  “Definitely pesky.”

  She grabbed a washrag, leaned in, and placed it beneath the running water. Her arms brushed against mine and awareness zinged through me, in spite of the fact that she hadn’t done it deliberately. Not like Morgan, not with innuendoes and promises.

  She squeezed the rag and started wiping the counter. “So there are a lot of parties going on Saturday night,” she said casually. “I’m going to one at the beach. How about you?” Stopping her movements, she met my gaze.

  I knew this was my opportunity to let her know that I hadn’t meant anything by the like comment. “Probably going to Scooter’s.”

  “Looking to make some more money with another bet?”

  “I learned my lesson the last time.”

  She wiped, turned the cloth over, wiped the same spot again. “Morgan will be there, right?”

  “That’s what she said.”

  “You’ll have fun.”

  So why did I feel guilty? “Look, Avery, when I said I like you—”

  “I didn’t read anything more than friendship into it.” She released a light laugh. “And that’s probably not even what you meant. You were probably thinking more along the lines of casual acquaintances.”

  “It’s just a little awkward . . . all this.” I waved my arm, trying to encompass the kit