The Education of Hailey Kendrick - Eileen Cook [79]
“You’ve got some nice friends there, Prima Donna.”
“I do.”
“I’m glad things are working out.”
“Yeah, about that. Some things haven’t worked out.” I took a deep breath and reminded myself, no guts, no glory. “I need to tell you something. I don’t want to be friends with you.”
Drew blinked. “Sort of wish you had said something before I opened my big mouth to Winston and lost my job.”
This wasn’t going the way I’d expected. I tried to figure out how to explain everything. That I liked him. I wanted to be with him. I’d only slapped him because I hadn’t been expecting the kiss. I’d been confused, but I wasn’t confused anymore. I knew what I wanted. My brain scrambled for the words that would make all of this make sense and leave Drew with no choice but to throw his arms around me, but I couldn’t think of a thing.
I dropped one crutch and grabbed Drew by the shirt and yanked him close and kissed him. The entire world shrunk down to the point where our mouths met. I felt off balance, and not just because I had only one good leg. The air outside was cool, but I wasn’t remotely cold. I felt like my entire body was thawing out. The kiss lasted forever, but eventually we both pulled back. Drew was quiet.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” I asked. He remained silent, so I kept going before I could lose my nerve. “I like you. I was afraid to say anything, but something you told me stuck with me. How being brave is about being scared but doing it anyway. That’s why I kissed you. You may not want to be with me anymore, and I can understand that. I’m high maintenance, and it apparently takes me a long time to sort out what I want. Sometimes I come across as stuck-up, but it’s more because I only know my own world. I’m bad about trying new things unless someone pushes me. I’m a lousy cleaner.”
Drew put his finger over my mouth. “You also talk too much.” He leaned in and kissed me again. He pulled back and cupped my face in his hand. “It also took you long enough to figure this out.”
“You’re saying you knew I liked you?”
“Oh, yeah. Written all over your face. I figured you just needed to get to the answer on your own.”
“Is that right?”
“Yep. You were crazy about me from the start. You needed some shaking up, and I was just the guy to do it.”
“You got me. As soon as I saw your prowess with the floor buffer, I was yours.”
“Chicks dig men with mechanical skills. Evolutionary.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll have you know I don’t need anyone to buff my floors.”
“Very true. That’s one of the things I like about you.” Drew smiled. “I always went for the independent type. That, and I find plaid skirts and knee-highs hot.”
The bell tower chimed the hour. A few Evesham students started to rush for class.
“I have to go.”
“I know. You better buckle down. If I’m going to show you all the dive bars that offer karaoke around Yale, you’re going to have to do your part and keep your grades up so you get in.”
I took a few steps toward the dorm, but then turned back. Drew was still standing by the truck. It reminded me of how my mom would always wait to make sure I got inside safe when she dropped me off someplace. An idea came into my head.
“Hey!” I called out to him. “You want to come to a party later? My friends are throwing a thing, and I want you to meet them.”
“Sure. Count me in.”
“By the way, you’re going to have to wear a costume.”
Drew’s eyebrows pulled together. “Dress up? Like what? I don’t know—”
“What’s the matter? Are you afraid?” I held my arms out, using my crutches to wave around the quad. “You gotta live life, suck the marrow from its bones!”
Drew laughed. I headed back toward the dorms. It was going to be a busy day, and I didn’t want to miss a moment of it.
I didn’t plan to miss another moment of the rest of my life.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A writer without a reader is a lonely thing, so the first thank-you goes to you for reading this book. With so many good books and not nearly enough time to read