SOMETHING in me changed on the pier. I didn’t need to see the pictures to know that Beckett thought of me as beautiful. He’d shown me—with his words, his time, the gentle way he kissed me and adored my body. If someone like Beckett thought I was beautiful, who was I to argue?
I stopped at Ripe on the way home to pick up some food for my stash. If Mom was going to be watching me all hours of the day, I needed to have real food to eat. Something that had more substance than kale and grapefruit. Plus, if she found out and questioned me, I could say that I bought it organic. Play dumb, even though that food had just as many calories as the “real” stuff.
I walked inside, grabbed a basket, and went to the snack-food aisle. My high faded, being replaced with an ache as I picked out chips, candy bars, beef jerky, and other things my mom would die if she knew I had. Ginger’s parents owned this store. Being in here made me miss her and the other girls even more.
I wanted to make things right and see if we could have a real friendship outside of our mutual dislike for Merritt, but Jordan’s text made it clear she was done with me. None of the girls had stuck up for me.
With the weight of missed opportunity resting heavily on my shoulders, I walked to the checkout. The cashier had her back to me, but I saw curly red hair peeking out from under her cap…
“Ginger?” I asked.
She turned to me, then narrowed her eyes.
“Hey,” I said, unsure of what to do. I began unloading my basket on the conveyor belt.
She took in my purchases. “Your mom put you on that stupid hEAlthy plan, didn’t she?”
“Of course. You?”
She nodded, and I cringed. “Sorry,” I offered.
She shrugged. “One of our cashiers quit, so I’ve been able to snack while I cover shifts until my parents find someone else.”
“That’s good.” I lifted a corner of my lips. “How are…the others?”
She put my last item in a paper bag and shrugged. “Why do you care?
You got what you wanted.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “You guys were the ones who wanted to stick it to Merritt.”
“Forty-eight thirty-one is your total.” “Ginger,” I said.
“Card reader is right there.”
Frowning, I put my card in so the reader could scan the chip, and a receipt spit out of the register. Ginger snagged it and stuffed it into one of my recycled paper bags.
“The time is ripe for a healthy life,” she said with a fake smile.
Unable to meet her eyes, I turned my gaze toward the ground, grabbed my bags, and walked out. At least I made it to my car before the first tear fell.
How could I be so happy one moment and devastated the next? I rested my head against the steering wheel and breathed in deeply. I had Beckett. He cared about me. He’d called the moment we shared perfect. Having someone like him notice me that way was all I’d ever wanted. Or so I’d thought before I got a taste of what it was like to have girlfriends.
I shoved all my snack food into the bag with my homecoming dress, then started the drive home.
My family’s and Casey’s cars were there. They had probably just finished dinner. I didn’t want to see them, especially not after last night. Dad had left early for work, and Mom hadn’t made eye contact with me once in health class. This was new territory for our family, to stay angry this long.
Deciding I couldn’t stall in the driveway any longer, I turned off my car and walked inside. Dad was hunched over his office desk. Mom sat on the couch with a bowl of popcorn. Aiden and Casey were nowhere to be seen.
Tonight’s mission? Get upstairs without talking to Mom. She watched me pass but didn’t speak.
Good.
I went to the bathroom and showered the salt and windblown tangles from my hair. After changing into pajamas and a robe, I put some music on and lay in my bed. I should have been hungry, but I couldn’t find it in me to eat.
The truth was, I felt like I’d split up my family. My parents were fighting. No one was talking. My friends were ignoring me. All I had left was Beckett.
I got out my phone and sent him a text.
Rory: Thanks for tonight. I needed it.
Beckett: You’re welcome, Cupcake. I’m already going through these photos, and they’re beautiful, by the way.
Beckett: You’re beautiful.
I smiled at my phone. Couldn’t stop even if I tried. He always had a way of brightening my day no matter how dark it seemed.
Rory: You’re wonderful. Beckett: 🙂
Beckett: I can’t wait to show you off in that dress at homecoming. Rory: I can’t wait to slow dance with you.
Just the thought of us spinning slowly on the dance floor with my head against his shoulder had my heart pounding, beating in a rhythm of its own.
Beckett: Why wait?
I smiled at the screen.
Rory: What did you have in mind?
Beckett: I have to catch up on lit homework tomorrow night, but I want to see you before the game. Have dinner with my dad and me Thursday?
The thought of spending another meal with his dad wasn’t a positive one, but I wasn’t about to turn down time with Beckett.
Rory: Of course. Beckett: I’ll drive you? Rory: Sounds perfect.
Beckett: See you then, Cupcake. Rory: Goodnight, Beckett.
Beckett: Sweet dreams, beautiful.
I held the phone to my chest. I would have sweet dreams if they had anything to do with him.
