My cheeks heat. “I actually didn’t go to Tuesday’s game.”
“Seriously? I thought you came to all our games. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you miss one.”
I laugh in surprise. “I had no idea you took such careful notice of my presence these days.”
“Oh, I’ve been noticing you for quite a while, Valentine. That, I can assure you.”
“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“You could never disappoint me.” He pauses. “That said… I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”
“Uh… actually…”
“Don’t tell me you aren’t coming! I was counting on you to cheer me on. And Tomlinson’s having a party afterward to celebrate the end of the season. One last rager before we head to playoffs. You can’t miss it.” His expression becomes almost bashful. “I thought… when the game ends… we could drive over together. And then I’ll bring you home afterward. At a reasonable hour, even — Scout’s honor.”
I blink, startled. I may be socially stunted, but even I know that in teenage-boy-speak, attending a party together is a big deal. A prelude to an actual date. Foreplay to the foreplay.
“You’re killing me with these long silences, Valentine,” Ryan says, his blue eyes dropping to his feet. “Don’t tell me that means you’re preparing to say no…”
“I’m sorry, Ryan, but I —”
“She’ll be there,” a cheerful female voice interjects from behind me.
“We’ll make sure of it,” an eerily similar voice adds.
Jumping in surprise, I whirl around. The Wadell twins are leaning against their lockers, blatantly listening to our entire exchange. Before I can ream them out for eavesdropping, Ryan extends one balled hand toward them.
They both fist-bump him, giggling.
“Sweet.” Ryan gives my shoulder a quick squeeze, winks playfully, and walks away. “See you tomorrow, Valentine!”
When he’s gone, I glance at Ophelia and Odette. They’re both sucking on lollypops — the big, pink kind with bubblegum in the center. They offer no explanation for their interference.
“Why did you do that?” I ask suspiciously.
“Because clearly you were about to say no to Ryan.” Odette shrugs.
“Total self-sabotage.” Ophelia nods.
“I still don’t see how it’s any of your business.”
“Sweetie, we all know at a private school, nothing is ever private.” Ophelia moves her lollypop into the side of her mouth, rounding out her cheek. “Ryan’s hot. And he likes you.”
Odette’s eyes narrow. “Don’t you want to go out with him?”
“I barely know him!”
“Is that even relevant?” Ophelia asks.
“Isn’t getting to know someone better the whole point of going out with them?” Odette adds.
She does have a point. “I… I’m not really looking to date anyone right now…”
“Date? Who said anything aboutdate?” Ophelia’s nose wrinkles. “It’s just a party.”
“Just a party,” Odette echoes, nodding.
“Right…” I find myself murmuring. I feel like I’m being conversationally bludgeoned into compliance. Resistance is futile.