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“Don’t you think—” she starts, but my vibrating phone in my pocket steals my attention.
An unknown number pops up on my caller-ID with an area code from Greenway Grove. This could only be one person.
“I’ve got to take this.” Brushing past Shannon, my shoulder nudges her boney one, hopefully knocking her ass down a bit.
“What?” I deadpan, answering on the first ring.
“Do you answer all unknown calls with this much hostility?”
I scowl at his persistent need to always be so unserious.
“What do you want, Parker?”
“Where are you right now?”
A small echo, sounding like wind shifts through the speaker. Oh, what it would be like to live the life of a fuckboy, riding with the windows down without a care in the world.
“Just finished rehearsal at the arena.”
“Perfect. Pack your bags. I’ll be outside in five.”
He’s too excited for my liking, yet something about the manly command makes me unabashedly consider.
“I’ve got to go back with everyone else.” I try my best to lie my way out of this.
“No, you don’t.”
The wall nearest to me now holds me still as reality hits. Would they even notice if I went back with them or not?
My free hand falls inside the pocket of my sweats, and something clanking against my fingertips shifts my attention for a beat. Pulling it out, a neon keychain shimmers underneath the muted light.
“Tell them your boyfriend is here to pick you up.”
I hear Jett’s grin even through the phone—the piece of shit is loving this. And something about the campy keychain is making me follow his lead.
“You’re making this too big of a deal.” Keeping my voice low, I pace back into the shared locker room with the rest of the dancers. I’m careful not to reveal how agitated I am.
“Nah, I’m just holding up my end of it.”
I can’t fight back, because he’s right.
“See you in five, Sofia.” His brassy baritone bounces through my ears before the line cuts off with two beeps.
“Dammit,” I whisper to myself.
In a hurry, I gather the remainder of my stuff, slinging my duffel over my shoulder. Stares follow me to the double doors, as I try to sneak past it. The heat on my back is almost unbearable.
“Where are you going?” Taylor’s voice rises, a small look of concern ticking across her face.
“My boyfriend’s here to pick me up.”
I don’t wait for a response or stick around to tell Rika or Haven where I’m headed. I’ll text Haven to let her know I’m working on the dance.
For show or not, I can’t help but love the thrill that climbs through my body, or the corners of my lips from rising when I reach the other side of the door.
Calling him my boyfriend may turn my insides, but by the looks on their faces, it turns theirs too.
As promised, Jett’s outside the arena in a blacked-out Porsche. Irritation greets my chest the moment I see his shiny car, which makes for good prevention to keep my mouth shut on this drive.
