Chapter Thirteen

Luke

“Close the refrigerator,” Mom ordered. “You’re going to ruin your appetite.”

“Mom. When have I ever ruined my appetite?”

Ignoring the question, she said, “Go upstairs and change into something decent. The Winterses will be here shortly.”

I nabbed a handful of cookies out of the cupboard before her words hit me. “Wait. What?”

“Dinner. Tonight. With the Winterses.”

“Can’t make it.” No wonder the kitchen smelled like an Italian restaurant. My stomach rumbled, but I wasn’t going to stick around to see what Mom had in the oven.

“Luke.”

I stopped at the foot of the stairs.

Mom wore her stubborn face. “You will be here.”

“I have plans.” Plans that I’d just conjured up in the last sixty seconds, but still, they were plans.

“I told you about this.”

“Nope. Pretty sure you didn’t. I would’ve remembered. You trying to shove Jaclyn at me isn’t something I’d forget. Thanks for the warning though, I appreciate it.”

“You’re being rude. When are you going to stop behaving like such a child?” she scolded. “This dinner isn’t about you. You know your father and I enjoy George and Eileen’s company. We always have.”

“Perfect. Since this isn’t about me and you enjoy their company so much, there’s no reason for me to stay.”

“What am I supposed to tell them?”

“Tell them I have a date with my girlfriend.”

Her face twisted into a look of irritation. It was a look that said Just wait until your father gets home.

I wasn’t stupid enough to do that. I darted up the staircase, grabbed my phone and a few other essentials, and within minutes I was tearing out of the driveway.

I made a phone call, made a pit stop, and an hour later Meg and I were watching the waves roll in at the coast.

I called her, obviously very last minute. But the moment I mentioned the word “ocean” she was all in.

I shook out the green blanket that resided in the back of my SUV. Once we got settled I dug in my cooler and passed her a root beer before divvying up the food I’d picked up at the deli.

“I haven’t been here in forever,” she said. She wore a faraway look as she gazed out at the water. Too often I caught a glimpse of something dark behind her eyes. A sadness lingering right below the surface.

I got the impression there was a lot more to this girl than I’d first thought. At times I wanted to ask her about it. Common sense told me she wouldn’t appreciate it. Wouldn’t answer. It would do no good to ask.

“We hit a good day.” Soon the rainy season would begin, and the weather would cool off.

“What’s the deal with the baseball bats that were in your backseat? Those weren’t really all yours, were they?”

“That’s a random question.”

She shrugged. “Not really. I’m curious.”

The bats, the ones she’d automatically assumed were all for me. Because I was some spoiled rich kid. I hadn’t corrected her at the time because I’d told myself I didn’t care what she thought.

Apparently I cared now, whether I wanted to or not.

“They weren’t mine,” I confirmed. “I worked for a community project last summer. It focused on getting at-risk kids involved in sports. It was aimed at all sports but it’s not exactly a secret that I have a soft spot for baseball. I took my earnings and bought the bats with it. The sports shop in town gave me a discount because I ordered in bulk. The order had just come in, and I hadn’t had a chance to drop them off with the program director yet.”

“I heard a rumor that you might also be responsible for a large donation of equipment last summer.” Her tone held a hint of approval.

“A rumor? Did Nate pass that along?” She nodded. “The program is through a non-profit organization. Dad can be generous when something is a tax write-off. I’ve learned to make something sound as if it’s in his best interest.” Even then, I’d had to work for it.

“But the bats you bought yourself.”

“I obviously didn’t take the job for the money.”

“Why did you get involved, then?”

“Right now, baseball is just about the most important thing to me.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Why? It’s just a sport.”

“Not to me it’s not. What’s with all the questions?”

“It’s called conversation.” She threw a piece of crust at me. It bounced off my shoulder and instantly became a seagull snack. “Why is baseball so important to you? Are you planning on going pro? I’ve heard you’re good enough.”

“I’m good, but not that good. But baseball, it’s my way out.” The only way out I could think of.

“Your way out of where?”

“Out from under my dad’s thumb. He’s got my life mapped out. Ivy League college, then joining him at his law firm. It was the same for my brother. Now Gabe is miserable. He has a wife and a newborn baby girl he almost never sees. Dad sends him all over the country, has him work hours no human should have to work. He drives the car Dad wants him to drive, lives in the house Dad thinks he should live in. Dad controls his salary, his bonuses, where he’s going to be just about every hour of every damn day. I don’t want that. And that’s not even the worst of it.”

Once there was a crack in the dam storing my thoughts on the matter, I couldn’t stop them from dumping out.

“I don’t want to be a lawyer. I sure as hell don’t want to be a lawyer in his firm. Don’t even get me started on some of those bastards he represents. I couldn’t live with myself if I helped some of these corporations get away with doing the things they’ve done.” I dragged a hand through my hair. “Sorry. That was a little too much information.”

She smiled. “I like getting to know you better.”

As soon as we finished eating, Meg began scavenging for a stick. When she found what she was looking for, she took off toward the beach. I was curious enough to follow.

She began to swirl out lazy doodles and squiggles. The ocean crashed behind her, with the sun falling low on the horizon. The breeze toyed with her hair. I found myself wishing I was the one toying with that amazing hair.

Totally not allowed.

“Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

She paused with the stick in her hand. “Why?”

“It would make me feel better. I practically bared my soul to you just now,” I said, keeping my tone light.

Her brow furrowed as she set to work again. “You asked before about my parents letting me ride a motorcycle. What I didn’t say was that I’d been riding it for a few months before they found out.”

“You snuck it out of the garage.”

She nodded. “When Dad caught me, he was pretty mad. I was grounded for weeks. Eventually I wore him down and convinced him I respected the machine and knew how to be safe.”

“Wore him down?”

“I’m not proud to say I may have used a guilt trip or two.”

I glanced down and realized she’d just etched the image from her mural. Before I could ask about it, she was questioning me again.

“How is baseball your way out? You said you aren’t good enough to go pro.”

I was treading awfully close to a truth I couldn’t admit to. It didn’t stop me from spilling my guts anyway.

“Because if I don’t do what Dad wants me to do, he’ll cut me off financially. I should’ve spent my entire high school baseball career working on getting noticed by scouts. Now we’ve started senior year. I’m in a time crunch and playing catch-up. There’s a camp in Colorado over Christmas break. It could be my one chance to get noticed. There’s going to be scouts from a dozen or more universities. Some of these guys have been making a name for themselves for years, but it was only the last year or so that I realized baseball might be my ticket out. I have a good shot at a scholarship if I can just prove myself.”

“And if you don’t get a scholarship, you could always pay for college yourself. Lots of people do.”

“Pay for college myself?” I blurted. “How the hell am I supposed to do that?”

“Chances are, I’m going to end up with student loans.”

“Loans? I’d be paying off my education for years.” I was overwhelmed by the idea. But was it any worse than the alternative?

She rolled her eyes and whipped her stick into the ocean. “Welcome to how the other half lives.”

…

“Lucas.”

I clomped into the parlor. My parents and Jaclyn’s were sitting around, drinks in hand. All eyes turned to me when I entered. I gave the polite greeting I knew was expected. I felt a momentary burst of relief that Jaclyn was absent.

“I hope you had a good evening.” Mom’s tone was a contradiction to her words. “It would’ve been nice if you were home sooner. Jaclyn could’ve used your company.”

“Better late than never,” Eileen chirped. “I hope you don’t mind but your mother said she could watch television in your room. Our conversation bores her.”

My room? As if there weren’t half a dozen other TVs in the house.

I shot Mom a pissed-off glare, not caring who else saw, before storming up the stairs.

“Miss me?” Jaclyn cooed when I barged in.

The sight of her lounging on my sofa—bare feet on my coffee table while she watched some lame reality show—made my blood sizzle.

“Nope,” I tossed back. “Get out.”

“What’s the matter, Luke? Afraid I’m going to spill your secret?”

My eyes darted around. I hated that she’d been in here alone. Not that there was anything to find. My backpack—with the rules—was in my Navigator. My stomach twisted, knowing how smug she’d be. Jaclyn wasn’t book smart. But she was a world-class conniver. If she’d found anything, she’d have me on my knees already, begging for mercy.

She picked up my brand new copy of Cather in the Rye. “You are such a closet geek.”

“Whatever. Just leave.”

“I don’t want to.” She wiggled her manicured toes.

I stared her down.

She got to her feet, moving like a cat ready to pounce on a stupid, unsuspecting mouse. I took a step toward the door when she closed the distance between us.

“Haven’t you punished me long enough?” she pouted.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes and her voice became harsh. “Meg? Seriously? I’m not buying it. You’re pissed at me. So you decide to date the trashiest girl you can find? Fine. Yes. It’s humiliating that you have everyone thinking you prefer her. Isn’t that what you want, to make me look bad?”

“My life doesn’t revolve around you.”

“It should,” she purred. She reached for my cheek. I swatted her hand away. “We’re good together. You know we are.”

I was going to get whiplash from her constantly changing attitude.

“I don’t think so.” I laughed.

Frustration rippled below her artfully made up face. “You run around, have your fun. I can take it. But sooner or later, you’re going to come to your senses. We could be the sort of power couple that would put our parents to shame one day.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I’m right.” Her eyes dug into me. “Meg’s not good enough for you. Her dad owns a paint store. Her mother does nothing.”

“How do you know that?” I regretted the question instantly.

She flashed a wicked smile. “I’m resourceful. You’d be surprised at what I know.”

I had no idea if she was bluffing.

“Everyone has secrets, Luke.”

“Even you?” I taunted. “I mean, other than you hop into bed with any guy who makes you see dollar signs? Then again, that’s not much of a secret. Oh. Wait. I bet your prim and proper mother doesn’t know.”

“Do you think Meg’s any different?”

“I’m not discussing Meg with you.” I stepped out into the hallway. “Coming?” I didn’t wait for an answer. I knew she’d follow. She had to keep up appearances. It would look bad to her daddy if she sequestered herself away while I joined them.

I hadn’t even reached the staircase before Jaclyn scampered up behind me. I was choosing the lesser of two evils. Hang out downstairs with the parents, or hang out alone in my room with Jaclyn.

Parents won out. Obviously.