More than Friends - Monica Murphy (19 page)

I hope so.

“And that’s great, it really is,” Mom says as she sits across from me. “But is it enough?”

“I’m out.” Trent grabs his bowl and leaves it in the sink before he exits the kitchen.

“That boy,” Mom mutters under her breath, shaking her head, her gaze shrewd when it lands on me. “So. Where were you last night?”

Her quick change of subject has me floundering. “Uh, at the football game?”

“The game doesn’t last until midnight, Amanda. What did you do
after
the game?”

Got naked with Jordan Tuttle?

I can’t tell her that. Can you imagine?

“I hung out with Livvy.” Sort of the truth. Not really.

“Oh, that’s nice.” Mom pauses. “What’s going on with Tara? You’re never together anymore. I miss having her around the house.”

Mom has no idea that Thad and Tara cheated on me with each other. I never told her. I couldn’t. I was too humiliated. I just said I broke up with Thad and had a falling out with Tara. She never put two and two together.

“That friendship is over and done with,” I say firmly.

She sighs and shakes her head. “After all those years and all that history between the two of you. Please don’t tell me it was all over a boy, Amanda. I’ve often wondered if it was because of Thad.”

“Actually Mom, it
was
because of Thad. I caught them together.
Together
together,” I emphasize.

She frowns. “Kissing?”

“Worse.” I decide to go for it. “They were naked together. As in, having sex.”

“What?” Her mouth drops open. “And you caught them like that? Where?” She sounds positively scandalized.

“At—at Jordan Tuttle’s house.” Any excuse to mention him, huh? “He goes to my school.”

“They were having sex at another student’s house? Who is this Jordan Tuttle?”

Hopefully he’s my boyfriend. I know for sure he’s the boy who took my bra off last night. The boy I was wrapped around like a pretzel only a few hours ago. The boy who is slowly but surely stealing my heart and making it his.

“He’s a good guy, Mom. I promise. He’s, like, the most popular boy in school,” I tell her.

“And they’re usually the ones who cause the most trouble, especially if other kids are having
sex
at his house. Where are his parents anyway?” She sounds absolutely disgusted.

I have opened the most giant can of worms in the universe. Mom and Dad are pretty strict. They are firm believers in no sex before marriage and they would flip out if they knew I went to parties and drank on occasion.

The thing is, I never went to parties and definitely didn’t drink ever the first three years of my high school life. Tara and I were pretty much scared of everything. We weren’t part of the popular kids’ social circle, so I don’t know exactly how this happened but…

I’ve done a one-eighty compared to last year’s version of Amanda Winters. A different set of friends, a different extracurricular activity, and I sort of have a boyfriend. My parents would hardly believe it.

And if they knew I was with Jordan last night all by myself, pretty much naked in his bed with his hands all over me? Forget it. I’d be grounded for life.

“I’ll take the SAT again next Saturday,” I tell her, desperate to change the subject. “Maybe I can up my score.”

“Oh, I think that’s a really smart idea.” The relief on her face is evident. “Your father feels the same way. We know you can do it, honey.”

“Thanks.” The overachiever in me knows I should study all week and prepare. But that sounds so boring. I’d rather spend my time with Jordan, if he wants to spend time with me. I work this afternoon from noon to six but don’t work Sunday. Maybe we could get together then…

“I have something else I want to talk to you about,” Mom says.

Oh. She sounds serious. “What’s up?”

“Your brother needs to take your car back to school with him.” She holds up a hand when I open my mouth, ready to protest. “I know you need that car to get to work, but he needs it more to get to his new job, sweetheart. I hope you understand.”

I don’t. Yeah, I so don’t. “How am I supposed to get to
my
job? The job you made me get in the first place?”

“We did not make you get that job.”

“You so did! You told me I didn’t have a choice. That you didn’t have enough money to pay for my college education so I better start saving my money.” I stand, my blood boiling. “Now I’m going to have to quit!”

“You will not quit,” she says, calming studying me. “We’ll figure out a way to get you there. You can ask your friends. I’m sure they’ll help you.”

“Not like I have a ton of friends to ask, Mom.”

Ugh. My older brother is the biggest pain in the ass ever. He always gets what he wants, no matter what. Our parents always give in.

“Tell George thanks a lot for ruining my life,” I toss out as I stalk out of the kitchen.

“Quit being so dramatic,” Mom yells after me, but I ignore her.

Instead I go to my room and slam the door, falling onto the bed with a huff. It’s barely nine o’clock. I could go back to bed and sleep until eleven. Then take a shower, get ready and go to Yo Town—

I frown. If I even have a car to drive to Yo Town. I’m sure George is already gone, headed back to college with the car, firmly believing it was always his so he deserves it.

Whatever.

My phone dings from my bedside table and I grab it, melting when I see who the text is from.

Jordan.

I can’t stop thinking about you.

My smile can’t be contained as I read his text over and over. How should I respond? I need to say something cute. Something flirty. But my mind is drawing a total blank.

I can’t stop thinking about you either.

Not incredibly original, but it’s true.

He immediately starts to text me back. I see the gray bubble and wait, sliding under the covers and rolling on my side, my gaze never leaving my phone screen as I wait for his response.

You work today?

Nibbling on my lip, I answer.

From noon to six.

What are you doing after?

Hanging out with you? :)

He doesn’t respond right away and I wonder if I screwed up. Ugh. I’m still not confident with this dating thing, especially the dating Jordan thing.

A few minutes later he finally responds.

Want to go out to dinner?

I am giddy with excitement. It’s like a real date. I have to contain myself not to answer with a thousand exclamation points. I go for calm and collected instead.

That sounds good.

My phone buzzes with a text from Livvy as I wait for Jordan’s response.

Tell me you were with Tuttle last night after the game.

I smile.

I was with Tuttle last night after the game.

Yay!!!!!!! OMG!!!! What happened?????? I want deets!!!!

There’s nothing much to tell.

Meaning there is no way I’m telling her what happened between us last night. Forget that.

You’re being a tease. Are you two getting together tonight too?

I think so.

Let’s double date! I bet Ryan would be up for it. I can ask him.

I don’t know…

We’re doing it. Let’s go to dinner together or something. It’ll be fun!

Huh. Will he think it’s fun, to hang out with Liv and Ryan tonight instead of just the two of us? I don’t know.

I need to ask him first.

I already asked Ryan and he’s totally up for it.

Man, she’s fast.

Chewing on my lower lip, I go to text Jordan.

Want to go to dinner with Ryan and Livvy?

No. I’d rather be alone with you.

We can’t always be alone, Jordan.

Why not? That’s the way I like you. R&L will be a distraction.

I want to be alone with you.

I’m seriously blushing right now, and no one’s around to see it, so this is stupid.

What if I got hungry?

I’d always feed you.

Thirsty?

I’d bring you whatever you want to drink.

You’re being silly.

The phone rings, startling me. It’s Jordan.

“Why are you calling?”

“I needed to hear your voice.”

Everything inside of me goes warm at his admission. “You really don’t want to go out with Ryan and Livvy tonight, huh.”

He sighs, the sound rough and slightly disappointed. “Can’t we do that next weekend?”

“Come on, Jordan. What’s the big deal?”

He’s quiet for a moment and I worry I might’ve made him mad. My phone is dinging in my ear with new text alerts and I know they’re all from Livvy, but I can’t answer her.

“I’d rather go out with them another time,” he says quietly “I just—I want to get to know you better, Amanda. I want to spend time with just you and no one else.”

“Okay.” My heart is turning to mush. How can I make him go on a double date when all he wants is to spend time with me?

I can’t.

“What time are you done with work again?”

“Not until six.” Realization dawns. “I don’t even have a ride to work.”

“I’ll take you.”

“What? No, you don’t have to do that.” Panic makes my heart race.

“I want to. I’ll pick you up at your house.”

“Jordan…”

“What?”

“My parents don’t know we’re—seeing each other.”

“Okay.”

“So they’ll be here.”

“Do you not want me to meet them?”

I don’t know how I feel about that. Mom freaked out when I mentioned Jordan and the party and all that craziness. Then he’s the boy who comes to pick me up to take me to work? Talk about awkward.

“They sort of freak out when I date guys.” That’s not too far from the truth. They weren’t thrilled when I started dating Thad. But I’m seventeen—I can’t live like a nun my entire life.

“I’ll probably scare the hell out of them,” he says with a warm chuckle.

“You probably would,” I agree.

“How about I just pick you up? You can call me a friend,” he suggests.

“You are my friend.”

“Really?” His voice deepens. “Is that all you think of me?”

“Oh, you’re definitely more than a friend,” I tease.

I hope he feels the same way.

“W
hose car is that sitting out in front of our house?” Mom asks as she ducks and peers through the living room window.

I glance outside. Jordan’s black Range Rover is sitting there, idling by the curb. Within seconds of spotting him, my phone buzzes with a text.

I’m here. You ready?

“It’s my friend. He’s giving me a ride to work,” I say nervously as I type out my reply.

Give me a minute. I’ll meet you out there.

Mom, of course, picks up on my nerves. She studies me carefully, so carefully she freaks me out and I drop my phone on the hardwood floor with a loud clatter. “A
male
friend?”

I nod, scooping up my phone and checking it for damage. Thankfully, there isn’t any. “He’s in a few of my classes. We’re working on a project together. For English. It’s focused on great literary couples.”

Hitting her with boring stuff proves to be the distraction she needs. “English, hmmm? That’s nice, dear. His car looks very expensive.”