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Ken 1 says, “If we can’t win.”
“We’ll settle for bragging rights,” Ken 2 finishes the thought.
My pride demands I refuse their disgusting offer, but desperate times . . .
“Fine!” I blow out a breath. “Turn around, pervs.”
As soon as they comply, I reach an arm under my dress to shimmy my plain white Hanes down my legs. They hit the pavement at my feet and I step out of them.
I hold out my panties, and yank them back when Ken 2 reaches for them. “Tell the driver he works for me for the rest of the night!”
“You strike a hard bargain, Kennedy Beaman.” Ken 1 huffs.
As soon as he relays the information to the driver, I slide into the back of the limo.
“Call me when you find him!” Nicole demands, closing the door for me.
As we pull away from the curb, she screams, “Good luck!” at the same time Todd shouts, “Follow that car!”
The driver meets my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Where to?”
I give him the address and dial my mom’s number.
“Kennedy?” She picks up on the first ring. “Is everything all right?”
A hysterical laugh bubbles out of me. “I’m about to throw my entire education down the toilet for a guy. I love him—enough to give up my scholarship for him. But don’t worry. I’ll figure something out.”
Her breathing rasps down the line but she doesn’t speak.
“Mom?”
After a long silence, she sniffles. “I can’t let you do that.”
“I’ll get Hope, and loans, and if I have to work two jobs, I’ll do that, too. I’ll be fine.”
“I can’t let you give up everything you ever wanted to protect my feelings.” She heaves out a breath. “I’ll call your father.”
“No.” I laugh through a sob. “Don’t. I’ll call Dad myself, when I’m ready. I know he wants a chance to make things right with me, but not today. And not because I need money. I promise I’ll figure it out.”
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. Forget what I said. All of it. You go get that man!”
“I’m gonna try. I only hope he can forgive me.”
“You need more than any old standard-issue apology. You need to pull a Heath Ledger—when Patrick serenades Kat from the bleachers in 10 Things!”
“Or . . . a John Cusack.” I grin, pressing the button for the sunroof as a plan forms in my head. “I need to go. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too, baby.”
As soon as I hang up, I link my phone to the limo’s Bluetooth and pull up Peter Gabriel on iTunes. As soon as I queue up the song, I close the partition between the driver and me and blast “In Your Eyes” as loud as it will go.
Forget the boom box, Jordan. I’m coming with a whole damn limo armed with Bose speakers!
I kick off my shoes and balance on the seat, my heart pounding in time with the music as I poke my head and shoulders through the open sunroof. The chilly night air bites my cheeks and lashes my updo into a knotted mess. One by one, I pluck out the pins holding it in place, flinging them into the night until my hair whips around me like flames.
A nervous scream climbs up my throat until I can barely hold it in anymore. I can’t believe I hijacked a limo. Can’t believe it took me this long to get my shit together. I throw my head back and let the scream loose.
Behind me, horns blare, and I turn to discover a parade of traffic following me, with Todd’s black SUV leading the pack. Nicole’s red sports car comes up behind him, followed by several other cars I recognize from around the campus parking lot. Are all these people here for me?
